Hunting hungry or full.

[Recurve50 LBS]

In cold weather I like to put a little bit of food in my tank. Generaly I hunt hungry, unshaved face....makes me try harder to make a kill. It's something primevil inside of me I guess. I do try to bring water with me though.

[ishiwannabe]

I always have food in my gut. Water in my pack, and candy in my pocket. I have been on too many hunts that somehow lasted longer than intended. Helping friends track deer, tracking my deer, etc. Being hungry and dehyrdated makes for a longer drag, colder sit, and a less enjoyable hunt IMO.

[Chris Lantz]

You don't want to be so full that you feel that you feel sluggish, but if I try to sit on stand on an empty stomach after a couple hours I won't be able to concentrate on hunting and all I think about is my stomach lol. If I'm not hungrey I sit and stay in the woods for longer periods of time.

Walking is a different story, usually if my mind is occupied by something I don't even think about food. Most of the time when packing a lunch rabbit hunting or trout fishing I never end up eating it until the end of the day because I just don't think of stopping and eating.

[the not so straight arrow]

i never notice my stomach untill i get back to camp. thats a bit of a problem for me, i go fishing or hunting and get so into the moment that i forget about everything else, often meals included. so i gotta watch it with that. but i personally think my appetite has nothing to do with how well i hunt.
-cory

[Cory Mattson]

I like a snack or late lunch before afternoon hunts - food helps keep me awake - that and coffee.
Once cold weather hits I add a half a baked potato to my breakfast - helps a lot keeping warm. Then always taking a drink (pint of 1/2 tea, 1/2 lemonade) - a pint of hot coffee - salty snack (corn chips, smoked almonds) - and an orange. Yikes this stuff tastes amazing when in a treestand - and I can even stay till noon! Cold afternoon hunts for me are short - I go in with nothing but half a bottle of water ------ Pig Out when we get back to camp.
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[Bill Tell]

I like hunting hungry.  I learned as a wrestler you can do amazing things when hungry.  Plenty of H2O though!

[adkmountainken]

thats what coffee and doughnuts are for!!! i don't go ANYWHERE without a hot cup or 3 in the morning!! i like to bring Werthers candy and some kind of bread with me too.

[Brian Krebs]

I was walking down to check the mail box last evening; and saw some deer headed towards a spot I have ambushed them in the past; so I grabbed two arrows and my longbow- and my three legged double bull chair; and sat waiting in my ambush spot until dark. I had elk burger in the oven; and was going to sit down for dinner; but the deer gave me another idea.

 Thing was I was hungry when I left; and good heavens did I get ~really excited~ sitting there while coyotes chased the deer off. I was indeed more alert; and although I didn't get a shot; that elk burger tasted mighty good when I got home.

 I had read this thread before I saw the deer; and now I feel the expert on it LOL

[GingivitisKahn]

I've fasted for multiple days before and am flirting with the idea of doing that before some hunt at some point, but not in the cold weather.  Without some fuel in the tank, you get much colder much quicker - forget that.

Typically though - I like taking a pocket full of apples when I am out for a morning hunt.   Mmmmm apples.

[deadpool]

I need the energy from a good meal to get me through a days hunt, If I dont eat, my head starts pounding and I feel weak, plus a full belly is a warm belly =]

[trapperzeke]

Think like Goldilocks...not too much, not too little, but just right!  I like pasta the night before to carbo-load for morning energy, avoid the traditional and oh-so-yummy greasy eggs breakfast 'cause the fat makes me lazy while digesting, usually go with oatmeal.  I carry hi-energy granola and chocolate for quick boosts during the hunt.  Steak dinners are taylor-made for the end of long day's hunt.  I always seem to regret having the 15-bean chili while in camp, too.  Almost forgot...water water water (to offset the evening cocktails).