What do you do While Hunting?

[Tim Fishell]

I was thinking about this and was just curious what others do.  I have been bow hunting for 14 years now all with tradition equipment but have yet to take any game other than a few rabbits.  I was wondering what some of you do while on stand and game walks by that you have no intention to take.  For example if you are sitting on stand and a group of does walk by and you are holding out for a buck.  Do you still treat it like that is an animal you are going to pursue and if so do you still draw your bow on it just for the sake of the experience?  Or while turkey hunting if a group of hens walk by will you draw your bow on them to see how much you can get away with?  Just curious what others do on stand in these situations.  

Tim

[Crash]

I was taught not to aim at anything that I wasn't going to kill.  I would hate to shoot something out of season and sometimes with instinctive aiming, I drop the string before I know it.

[gregg dudley]

I always have a camera with me that is out and handy when I am in a treestand.

[Chris Surtees]

Most of the time I just sit and watch. I personally find it interesting to see how animals act and react. Learn a lot by watching.

At times I may take a picture or two. About 90% of the time I do not think about it until it is too late though.

[Jedimaster]

Sit very quietly and watch.  If I expose myself they'll run off and tell their friends - Well it does feel that way sometimes.  I just don't want to do anything that might disturb the natural game habits so I try to do nothing at all except listen very close and watch.  I have been so intently focused on a doe or squirrel or whatever that I nearly miss the buck sneaking in.

[Wednesday Caste]

"I was taught not to aim at anything that I wasn't going to kill. I would hate to shoot something out of season and sometimes with instinctive aiming, I drop the string before I know it."

Excellent lesson for a newbie hunter like me. Thanks.
Quinn

[JL]

I just check em out,up and close with my bino's. I have been entertaining the idea of trying to video tape these sightings to show them to my family and friends, who are interested in seeing them.

JL

[bow loving man]

That just gave me an idea Gerald, I inherited a set of binocs that have a digital camera in them...I need to take them to the stand with me!  I can observe up close and personal and take a pic if I want to...thanks

[DRR324]

Tim, pm'd ya.

I also take pics, but occasionaly I "count coup" on them.  Practice picking my spot, focus, draw, let down and then mentally say- mmmmmm, you'd have been tasty.....  

[backwater]

WHEN IM HUNTING AND EVERY THING IS QUITE AND NOTHING IS GOING ON I THINK HOW BLESSED I AM  THAT GOD HAS ALLOWED ME TO BE ABLE TO WALK IN THE WOODS TO OBSERVE AND ENJOY THE WONDERFULL THINGS HIS HANDS HAVE MADE AND I STOP RIGHT THEN AND THANK HIM.

[JEFF B]

i have been knowen to fall asleep under a teetree bush in the sun. but i just sit and watch things go by untill the right one gives me a clear shot. i never shoot anything that i would not eat. if i shoot it i eat it end of story

[carparcher]

I usually draw on legal animals.  It's great practice and keeps you "in tune."  Be careful not to educate them though, as they can learn from an experience if spooked.  This is especially true w/ jake turkeys.  I usually take the first deer of the year and then hold out for a "big-un."  Cameras are also a great way to literraly record the hunt.  I know my wife likes to see what I've been up to when I stay out late!  "See honey, I was bowhunting... Honest, just look at this squirrel picture!  I almost had to shoot that tree rat in self defense he was so close!"

[Bowman0202]

Watch and enjoy God's creation. Much of the time, the things/animals I see apart from the game I'm hunting provide more memorable moments than the actual quarry I'm hunting.  I only aim at and shoot at what I can eat.

[Tim Fishell]

Originally posted by HO'NEHE JEFF:
i never shoot anything that i would not eat. if i shoot it i eat it end of story

I totally agree with you Jeff!!    

Thanks for the replys so far.  I really like the camera idea as well.  Great way to get some great pics.

[OkKeith]

Well... to be honest I try NOT to take a nap! The hardest time for me to stay awake is the last 15 min. before shooting time, and between 830 and 900 in the morning.

OkKeith

[madness522]

I try to keep from giggling.  I get a big smile when I see an animal walking near me and the closer they get and not have a clue that I'm there that smile gets bigger and bigger until its all I can do not to laugh out loud.  The closer they get the harder it is to keep the giggles down.  But I don't ever remember getting the giggles when one comes by I intend to take a shot on.

[WidowEater]

Are you guys crazy, or havent you been married for long enough, I sleep and sleep.

[Fritz]

I try to pretend I'm just there as an observer and not hunting. Sounds crazy, but seems like I see more animals when doing this.

[pdk25]

I usually don't draw.  Not because I'm afraid of accidentally releasing (I don't snap shoot), but because I'm too paranoid that what I'm actually hunting for is looking at me from behind a brush pile or something.  I also have problem with squirrels and such.  I bring a judo tipped arrow with every intention of shootinq squirrels, but when the time comes I am too worried about spooking deer to take the shot.

[Bonebuster]

I have a very hard time with letting legal game pass.

I love big bucks as much as anyone, but with lots of tags available, any adult doe that walks too close is gonna get watched alright. Then concentrated on, and then shot.

Only during those magic days in November do I let legal does walk, and then they better not get broadside for too long.