by-Jake Oravetz
Does this situation sound familiar? It’s the first week of November, and you have taken the entire week off of work to chase the buck of your dreams. The first few days you sit all day long with nary a problem. However, by day three and four you are dreading the alarm clock going off. Hopefully in this article I can highlight a few things that have pulled me through those doldrum periods we all go through during the rut.
In a perfect world we would never have a chance to get bored on stand because of non-stop deer activity. While there are a few days a year when this is true, it’s the exception rather than the rule. I’m sure we have all felt the disappointment of sitting all day and not even catching a glimpse of a deer. That is hunting and that is what makes it so gratifying when we do connect on a big mature whitetail.
During the early and late seasons (Sept-mid October, and December-January), I typically sit the key hours of the day, early in the morning and late in the evening. I’m usually hunting feed to bed or vice versa. The rut is a different monster all by itself, where all day sits are the norm. If you have never sat all day during the rut, you should make it a point in the upcoming season to do so.
I have had several encounters between 11:30 and 2:00 when most hunters are catching a snooze or are sitting at the café eating lunch. But pulling this off for 5-7 days straight can really wear on a guy (or gal). Those 8-9 hour days on stand can feel like an eternity if deer movement is slow. But you never know when the big boy will come strolling by your stand scent checking for does or scrapes.
Books and hand held video games
When I pack my bag getting ready for an all day hunt, I always make sure to pack either a good book or a hand held video game. I know bringing a game into the woods seems a bit cliché but believe me, it will help pass the time while waiting out Ol’ Mossyhorns (plus, you can definitely sharpen your poker and yahtzee skills in short order). There are several small pocket sized games you can pick up at your local electronics store for a very reasonable price. Make sure to turn the sound off when in stand!
I sometimes prefer to bring a book to keep me relaxed, and what better way to keep up on the latest hunting strategies! I do recommend checking the weather for rain and snow before bringing a book into the woods.
Clothing
Hunting the rut can be a roller coaster of weather. Ten years ago you could almost bet that by the end of October in Minnesota, your warm weather gear was in the closet waiting for spring turkey hunting. In more recent years, you have to keep a watchful eye on the weather channel, as a predictable weather pattern is about as predictable as the whitetails we all chase! Regardless of weather you need to make sure you have the right equipment for the job. I’ve had excellent results with a good layering system and the proper shell for the elements. The clothing industry has grown leaps and bounds in the last few years, offering plenty of options depending on what you are looking for.
A good rule of thumb is you can always take off layers but can’t put more on. I like to dress light walking in and put my heavier clothes on once I am in my stand. Having a good pack makes this easier, and we will get to that later. Remember we are going in the woods before light and unless we fill that tag we won’t be coming out until dark so be prepared.
Personally I have my favorites that I wear while hunting. I like to use Under Armour as my base layer in cold weather and actually in warm weather also, they have two separate lines of clothing for hot and cold climates. In cold weather I wear either my Scent Blocker Road trips suit or in frigid temps I have found that Renegades line of Berber Fleece with wind blocker is invaluable. I have heard unbelievable results with Rivers West and also Sitka Gear.
Food and Drink
Sitting all day is definitely going to require some sort of food intake; we all know you need to keep fueling the fire. This is a topic that I feel gets totally ignored by whitetail hunters and the reason far too many hunts are cut short. How often has it happened to you? You’re on stand till about 11:30 or Noon and the stomach starts growling. Pretty soon you talk yourself into climbing out of your stand and heading to the café to get a warm cup of coffee and some eggs. I know exactly how it feels as I have been there plenty. I also know that during the rut any time of the day is a good time to harvest a deer.
Recently there has been an influx of food products targeted at hunters and outdoorsman. I have tried a few of the different brands and my personal opinion is that Wilderness Athlete is above the rest based on performance and taste. WA offers four different flavored bars and two types of drinks. I am not a scientific type of guy but I do know that WA’s products taste great and are good for you. They have even done the whitetail hunter a huge favor and put a 3 day hunt pack together so we know exactly how much we need to eat and drink to keep us going on stand.
Western bow hunters have been using WA for a few years now and I have heard nothing but great results. After using their product all last season I am a firm believer in them. Whatever you choose to bring on stand with you make sure it is giving you enough energy to make it through the day.
Back Packs
Back packs in bow hunting are almost as important as the bow itself. When I am choosing a pack I consider a couple of features. Number one on the list is comfort. What good is a pack if you don’t wear it’s awkward or can’t carry a load? Number two is versatility. Will the pack be able to carry all the things required for an all day whitetail sit? Keep in mind hunting the rut you are going to try and shove a lot of goodies into your bag of tricks and you want to make sure that it is going to be comfortable and not take up to much room in your tree.
A big plus is a pack that has bed roll straps. Why do I need them if I am never going to use a bed roll? They work great for putting excess clothing in. I put my warm clothes in them on my way into my stand; also if it warms up on stand and I need to shed a layer it’s an easy spot to store your extra clothes. There are several great bags on the market, but the one I chose several years ago was the BadlandsMonster Fanny. The Monster fits the criteria for everything I just listed and more. I can even put a hydration bladder in it if I wish. Badlands also has the best warranty I have found, guaranteed for life! That’s tough to beat.
These are four things that have helped me get through many seasons of the rut. Hopefully you can try even just a few of them and maybe it will be enough to help you sit a little bit longer on stand. Remember hunting the rut has many different twists and turns and maybe you have your own tactics for getting through the day on stand. Remember, no piece of equipment can replace a positive attitude on the fifth day of a hunt!
