I HATE to sit... Help!

[Ben Long]

In my head, I know the best way to hunt whitetails is to find a good spot and sit and wait. I believe that. Trouble is, I hate sitting. I would rather climb a mountain than sit in a tree. Especially in November, it takes enormous willpower for me to sit still for 45 minutes. What are your favorite tips for enduring a good stand in cool or cold weather?

 

[Irrelevant]

a book. and a pile of those hot-heads hand warmers

 

[Speeddmn]

I'm in the same (tree).... Typically I will walk and walk and walk... Same thing in my head happens every time, sit here on this meadow, trail, water hole.. it looks good. Then after 30-60 mins my butt falls asleep or feet, something and I have to move!

So I to would like to know how people can sit for hours!! Or do you all have some technique to keep blood flowing? Subtle stretches, yoga poses... what! haha

 

[Matt/VT]

Don't do it. Find some snow and go track one down!

 

[jhunt8]

Stretch a little bit, bring a book, make sure you have something good to sit on. GOOD WARM INSULATED BOOTS and gloves. (my feet get cold easily). If you are in a blind, bring a sleeping bag. Typically, when I sit it is -15 or so. Sitting is alright, but I get way more enjoyment walking around.

 

[Tradewind]

Get a really thick foam pad to sit on. it'll keep your back side warm and comfy. Menards sells them for abt 5 bucks. whether you're glassing or stuck in a stand they're great and worth what little weight they add

 

[Ben Lamb]

Get a really thick foam pad to sit on. it'll keep your back side warm and comfy. Menards sells them for abt 5 bucks. whether you're glassing or stuck in a stand they're great and worth what little weight they add

This. Light & easy to tote. A thermos is another good idea. I'm a big fan of the hydroflask bottles.

And toe warmers. Nothing sucks worse than having cold feet.

 

[dcopas78]

I usually take a book or my kindle, although it doesn't seem to like extreme cold too well. Definitely make sure you are warm like others have mentioned. Usually were I hunt though, there isn't much time when some kind of animal isn't out busy doing something. I have spent hours watching birds, squirrels, beavers, you name it. That is usually a good way to pass time, just enjoying the sights and sounds. And an occasional real quick cat nap Just make sure you are secured in with a safety harness.

 

[Crumb]

A heated deer stand works good ��

 

[hank4elk]

I hate sitting,even for glassing.lol I can only take it for an hour or so.
I take a small insulite pad to sit on. And I have to wear insulated boots along with a good thermal layer to add.

 

[Mcseal2]

Make the place you plan to sit comfortable and as concealed as possible. A pop-up blind lets you get away with much more movement to stay comfortable than say a stump in the wide open. When using a pop up blind in cold weather I also like to have a foam pad to put my feet on, keeps them warmer than just resting on frozen ground. I use a Hill People Gear mountain serape over top of all my other clothes I walk in with, it's a great insulating layer that's easy to throw on when I reach the stand or blind without overheating me on the walk in.

Use a phone or book to keep sane during slow times but look around often. Be extremely careful getting to and from your stand, if the deer figure out where you are sitting and start avoiding you your hunting will be unproductive.

 

[5Speedjim]

Change your socks when you get to your tree stand. If your feet sweat walking in they will be cold in no time. Put a piece of indoor/outdoor carpet on the deck of the stand to keep your feet off the metal, that will help also

 

[whiskeydog]

hunt muleys...problem solved!

 

[Muley_Stalker]

I was born and brought up in Mass hunting for whitetails. I've never hunted any other method than still hunting. I used the method all over new England and then in Colorado. It works everywhere. I'm not sure why everybody thinks the only way to hunt for WT is a tree stand?

Is reading a book while hunting really hunting?

 

[RobG]

Works 90% of the time. Mount a toilet seat on a bucket for a decoy throne and just wait.

 

[VAspeedgoat]

Im with you, and as mentione muleys or pronghorn are my answer. Problem is its not every year. For me there are several things I do. As mentioned a ground blind helps a lot because I can fidget, read, or if I ha e service get on hunt talk. I find that with farmland deer I can move around a bit using fencerows or terrain and check out other fields. Also hunting a large field gives me something to do like glassing. Rattling is another time killer that keeps me stationary. If all else fails I just still hunt in the mountains preferably a long way from a road. In the big woods, im not sure this isn't a better technique anyway. And as Matt mentioned cutting a track in the snow and going one on one is a challenge for even the best hunters

 

[Gunflint]

Books for sure, and sometimes an old sleeping bag pulled up to your arm pits!

 

[mtmander]

I prefer to sit for a few minutes and then move a little and repeat while in timber , prefer to sit high and glass

 

[RobG]

I prefer to sit for a few minutes and then move a little and repeat while in timber , prefer to sit high and glass

This used to work fairly well for me in timber when I lived in Ben's neck of the woods. Back east they call it "still hunting" even though you move around, and "tree stand hunting" is where you sit in a tree.

 

[MT_elk]

I am with you Ben. I can't stand to sit (either in a blind or in a tree). However, when I hunt whitetails, I just go really slow and stop a lot. Seems to work for me.