I'm headed to Kansas on Sunday for my first archery whitetail hunt. I'm told I will be in a treestand. I don't hunt out of treestands here in New Mexico. So as a newbie what do you guys do while in the treestand? Anybody read? Do I just sit there? I figure I need a pee bottle. What else?

Just don't walk to far.    

Sit (or stand) and scan, scan, scan. You can see a lot farther in the tree and see the deer coming. If your not used to shooting from up high, practice a bit before you go.

Stay still as possible, I like a book as my iphone drains battery too fast.  Just if you do read go through the steps and figure out where the book is going before the shot presents itself.  Don't want to ruin a moment because of too much movement.

Pee out of the tree. It's fun.

Reading is good as long as the book is small. A small pair of binos is handy as well.

Bend at the waist when you shoot.

Dress warm....it's windy in the trees.

If you're there all day, bring a snack and something warm to drink.

Dress warmly, especially the feet and hands.

Any movement should be slow and deliberate.

This is time for the rut, so expect activity at anytime.

personally I don't climb a tree to read, I am there to hunt, things can happen quick if your not paying attention it can be to late. I personally still use the Pee bottle, brought up being taught you don't pee around your stand and still won't.
x2 on the binos, a snack and a drink can be good if you are sitting long, I like a pack with an extra jacket or wool shirt.
good luck, trees are fun.

Oh yea, a safety harness is a good idea.

Hey Eric! Carry a couple of screw in hangers..one to hang your pack and one to hang your bow.  Look at the extended forecast to determine if you need to take rainwear or extra clothes. If it is gonna be an all day sit or a 4 or 5 hour sit, carry stuff to munch on..peanuts, trail mix, etc and a bottle or two of water. Carry binoculars. If you read or get on tradgang on your I phone, read a half page and then scan around you slowly. Carry a safety harness and a pull rope for your bow. When you get set up with your harness on, draw your bow back in every direction you will be able to shoot. That will let you know if you have limb clearance, etc. Carry some hand snippers and a little handsaw if you have it to do any pruning up in the tree after you get set up. Imagine where your arrow is gonna exit on the deer and aim accordingly. Take a small camera for the hero pics you are going to post when you get back!
Good luck to you!

Thanks Randy, Marley or no Marley! LOL

I always like to carry an arrow with a judo point and after I'm set check to make sure no deer are around and take a shoot to make sure all is good.  Like others said, practice shooting from a stand if possible, things are different up there.  Bend at the waist!  Happy hunting.

When I'm in a tree I just sit there, ponder life, solve all the world's problems, dream of past hunts, and stand up and wizz when I have to.

Oh, and I keep an eye out for deer too.

x2 on the tree steps although I use rope on's, also make sure you have a harness.  I shoot from my kids tree house deck to get ready, it works great and means I don't have to climb up and down in my climber over and over again!

Every thing above is great advise I also take along a peice of carpet and zip ty it to the plat form for 2 resons 1 it keeps stuff from falling threw the great and making noise 2 if it turns off cold in the mornings or eveings it helps keep your feet from getting so cold sounds silly but it works

Rastaman covered a lot of good stuff, so pay close attention. The only thing I can emphasize is don't fidget. Don't make unecessary movements, and be very slow and cautious if you do have to move around.

QuoteOriginally posted by TxAg:
Pee out of the tree. It's fun.

I completely support this statement    

x3 pee out of the tree, i will not bother them

Walk around on the stand to make sure it "settles" and that you are aware of any potential for noise.  Practice standing and manipulating the seat if it folds up.  Make sure this can be done quietly.  Take your own safety harness and make sure you are familiar with how to use it in a way that does not restrict you from drawing and shooting.  Screw in hangers are a good idea for your gear.  Binoculars are a plus.  I situate my pack (haversack actually) so that I can instantly drop my phone, grunt call, camera, or whatever I may have in my hand into it at a moment's notice.  I very rarely hang my bow on a hanger unless I am in VERY good cover.  Stand up as soon as you see a deer.  Pee out of the tree.

Take a thermos of coffee and you can pee all morning. I too pee out of the tree and have not had any problems with it. Had deer come thru and smell of it and not spook.

I do love the coffee on those cold mornings. The coffee mixed with a sighting every so often can keep you up there till noon. I usually pull out about 11am though, rut or no rut it does not hurt to get a 2-3 hour break in.

I have to admit I didn't think peeing out of the tree was acceptable. You guys might have just saved my water bottle!

I have to admit I didn't think peeing out of the tree was acceptable. You guys might have just saved my water bottle!