So, you've scouted out your monster buck. Found his trails, learned his patterns. Opening morning you settle in to your spot/stand nice and early and you wait...and wait...and wait...
What do you do while waiting, how do you pass the time while you wait for mr. monster to come strolling through?
I always have a paper back book with me. I tried the internet on a smart phone thing, didn't do anything for me. Tiny buttons, tiny screen, tiny type.
I pretty much just sit with my thoughts. There are usually enough birds and little critters to watch. That and deep thoughts...
I stand most of the time- but just become one with the woods around me and enjoy every bit of it. I often envision where the deer will come from and keep a watchful eye- I also say my prayers and give thanks!
TIM B
hand held video games like solitaire
I just watch the doin's going on around me. Birds, chipmunks, bugs. I try and figure out why they're doing what they're doing. They do a lot of trial and error. Mostly error. I was in a ground blind in NW Oregon once and heard something coming down the trail. It took forever. I imagined... bear, bull, buck... and it was a coyote. He walked right by me and then came back. That was an error.
Hunting from a stand is exhausting for me. I have tried to take a book, but every last sound or movement puts.menon high alert, so I never can read. I guess I pass the time by concentrating.
I enjoy what's going on around me. Even if there are no deer around there are plenty of animals, insect to watch.
i havn't every understood why guys take books and other things with them hunting. i have to watch every bird, squirl, criter thats around me. i hunt/fish to get away from all the hussle and bussle of life. i love the feeling of blending in with nature. if you watch and listen to them enough they will tell you more then you think.... to each their own though.
Scanning the woods and try not to move a muscle with the mosquitos flying around my face.
QuoteOriginally posted by KentuckyTJ:
Scanning the woods and try not to move a muscle with the mosquitos flying around my face.
Repel: 40% Deet. :D
I have tried taking a book but felt like I might miss something. Usally if its a weekend there is someone texting me but other than that I take it all in.
Whittle or sleep
Try and pay attention to everything I can, and run shot scenarios through my head to keep mentally keen...that being said, I usually last about 3 hours on a stand. I certainly can't stand all day.
I always take a book like mentioned above. But I don't ever crack it until I have mentally noted everything around me. The book is mostly so I can sit still as long as possible. I put it away as soonas the lighting starts to fade. Mike
Just try to become one with the woods, never tried reading while on stand. Spend most time scanning woods and envisioning game coming in.
Semi nap quietly and listen to the sounds of the woods
I relax. take it all in.an its also a nice time to talk to GOD quite an by myself.
i cant read while hunting,im like a crack addict when i hear something,looking around trying to find the source of the noise...
I find myself total entertained while I sit and wait. I just sit and take in the my surroundings and enjoy the peace around me.
I simply observe and think.
I have tried reading because I love to read. However, like some above I can't do it. I read a sentence or two, look around and read the same sentences again.
Last year I tried to do a little e-mail or solitaire on an IPhone. It cost me a shot but the deer returned a moment later and I killed him. The little screen really messes up my vision when I look at it too.
This year I'll have the phone for emergencies but I'll try to leave it put up.
I bring a softcover book and/or an old Game Boy. When it's too dark to read it's too dark to shoot so I start walking out of the woods then. The Game Boy is quieter than turning pages even though I hate the idea of taking electronic distractions when out hunting. I try to avoid napping; I've woken up one too many times looking at a deer that would have been a good shot if I'd been awake to shoot it.
I am entertained with what is going on around me. I try to practice my eyesight by picking out details, scanning, trying to identify far away objects, glassing.
Like someone else already said you can learn a lot by watching the other creatures, and imagining shot scenarios is a good idea too.
I can't imagine reading or playing electronic games, I would not get very far. But it could be a good way just to keep you on the stand longer.
Mostly I fall into sleep and then fall out of the three. Killed quite a few animals this way.... :)
QuoteOriginally posted by Flying Dutchman:
Mostly I fall into sleep and then fall out of the three. Killed quite a few animals this way.... :)
:biglaugh:
I'm very content just looking through the woods and investigating every sound. Whenever i'm hunting it's very relaxing and my thoughts are very peaceful. I also like to read at times, but often get sidetracked by the sounds around me.
I hear a lot of guys doing things to help keep them on stand longer.
If you think about it, you are forcing yourself to stay there longer, by using a distraction. This means that you don't FULLY and completely WANT to be in the stand.
So get down at that point.
I used to do the same thing, and FORCE myself to stay in the stand longer, hunt more days, get out of bed if I didn't want to, etc. I was very result oriented, and generally defined success or failure by how many deer I saw and/or killed.
That took a lot of the fun out of hunting for me and made it more like a job. Now, if I feel like getting out of the stand then I do. If I don't want to wake up, then I don't, etc. etc.
It has taken the pressure off of hunting and put the fun back into it for me. That's what its all about anyway right??
Believe it or not, I kill 3x the deer that I used to now that I don't overdo it and try to force things.
When I am in the stand I get into this sort of 'predator mode' where I feel completely in tune with the woods around me. It is a very calming and deeply satisfying feeling.
The kill is such a tiny tiny portion of the overall experience. It literally all happens in a matter of seconds or minutes at the most. If your main focus is simply on the 'kill' itself, you are missing out on 99% of the joys of hunting.
The leaves, the breeze, your thoughts, silence, the sunrise, animals, etc.
I take a lot of naps. I find that sleeping in the woods is very enjoyable. I love waking up in the woods.
I prefer to hunt on the ground so sleeping is not as scary.