Let’s face it, sitting in a tree stand or blind can get a bit monotonous, and sometimes frustrating. You’re looking around, checking your perimeter, turning your head every few minutes, listening and waiting. And then you pause, maybe to think, maybe to wonder, maybe you heard something.
Hopefully you did hear something, and your target is approaching. But it may have just been a squirrel or a bird, and you’re left to scanning the woods again.
Hunters have a tremendous amount of patience. Some can stay in tree stands for more than eight hours and still nothing walks past.
Take a look at this list of things to do while in that tree stand or blind. Of course, we want to stay in tune with our surroundings, so we don’t want to do anything too disruptive, nor do we want anything that takes up too much space.
You can…
Read
Bring your favorite wilderness magazine; hunting, fishing, firearms, or you might be in the middle of a book. Be mindful of your page turning.
Write
Get creative, let your imagination run wild, or maybe just jot down a journal entry. Hey, you could start a hunting journal!
Study
I like studying the animal and vegetation species around me. Although an encyclopedia would be ideal, this takes up too much space. You can easily find this information on your phone, but you may want to invest in an external battery.
Make a to-do list
You may have realized you’re missing a few things for your hunting pack.
Draw
Give it a try, you can start by drawing the woods around you, this way you’re still scouting while creating a masterpiece.
Make plans for your next hunt
On your way in, maybe you had a thought for a new spot. Write it down so you don’t forget.
Browse over a few maps
Check the terrain around you again, maybe you missed a window of opportunity.
Music
Now, I say this with caution. You can listen to music, BUT you might get too into the tunes and discover that there is a deer right below you (this happened to my husband).
Podcast
Take the same precautions as above.
Meditate
Now I know not all hunters are the Zen type, but meditating offers lots of benefits to your mental well-being. Normally you meditate with your eyes closed, but in this case, I would advise keeping them open. Just soften your gaze downward and try to think of nothing other than your breathing.
© Lars-ove Jonsson | Dreamstime.com – Waiting for Moose
