The waiting game

[iron_llama]

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.

[FarmerMarley]

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.

[Flying Dutchman]

Mostly I fall into sleep and then fall out of the three. Killed quite a few animals this way....  

[JohnnyWayne]

Originally posted by Flying Dutchman:
Mostly I fall into sleep and then fall out of the three. Killed quite a few animals this way....    

[hammer08]

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.

[USN_Sam1385]

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.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

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.