How do you guys stay awake during those afternoon hunts when you just can't keep your eyes open. I dont wanna have to pound a monster before heading out every night but I also dont wanna keep having panic attacks when I wake up in the stand and I dont wanna miss any action. Any secrets?
Funny... guess I'm just weird. I've heard of others talk about this... even have some close friends who swear they take naps in their stands. I don't think I've ever really got sleepy on stand. Guess there's just too much possibility of "what if" waiting at the end of the next minute...
I wouldn't want to chug a Monster before every sit either. I'd be filling up my urine bottle during every sit. Mental discipline learned from years of standing night watch in the Navy did it for me for a long time. Now that I'm older and retired, I've discovered 5 Hour Energy works wonderfully.
I think sleeping in stand, correction, sleeping in a NICE ladder stand or climber stand, is some of the best sleep I've ever had... Albeit, the buck of your dreams maybe come in to your snoring, thinking its another buck grunting, hang out broadside at 15yards with his front leg forward, head down and looking the other direction for 15 mins and you would never have known. I try to fight it, but, I just go with. I generally fall asleep during morning hunts.
When I get drowsy is when I try to focus on something else- it may be texting buddies, playing games, looking at pictures on my phone, or taking pictures with my camera. Something to keep me focused on anything but being drowsy.
I have never slept in the stand but I know that I have dozed off a few times and woke up freaked out. Can't believe that I haven't fallen during one of those times. Gonna be in the stand sun up till down tomorrow and wednesday so the next two days will be interesting. Might have to figure out how to take a short catnap!
Don't have much slack in your safety harness, that way if you happen to nod off the tension will wake you up. You might try caffine pills. I have used them on several hunts. I keep a couple in my pocket just in case. They work for me.
Instead of drinking a whole Monster, what about the 5 hour energy shot. I've used them before and they worked for me.
ill usually down one before i go in on morning hunts if im dragging some....but for the most part im usually pretty excited about being in the woods....the only time i might close my eyes is when i get in an hour or so before day light when its start dark...then i just relax and wait.
LOL, when I first read this, I read, "I dont want to have to pound the monster before heading out..." I thought WOAH, easy fella! When this is an issue I have taken just a minute to climb down my stand and then climb back up. Its stretches the muscles and gets some blood flowing and usually wakes me right up again. I know its a little risky but so is falling alseep.
I get tired but never nap or doze off, I guess I'm always in the zone waiting for the moment of truth whether it happens right away or 10 hours later. I'm just pumped everytime i'm in the stand!
I've been "groggy" but I've never dozed off. To me, every sit feels like Chrstmas... so much anticipation of what might be coming
from my years of hunting rifle on the ground when i was young i thought that is what you supposed to do, haaa! my dad, uncles and grandpop would have me out there with a stick pretended it was my rifle... man i would sleeeeeep. graduated to a bb rifle and then finally to a real firearm. that whole time i would routinely sleep. then picking up bow hunting i just never got really tired, little doze offs but not very often and deff not for very long.
I do not sleep very often but I have. All day sits=great potential for an hour long nap. Life is good after that nap. If you are having trouble staying awake, just relax and doze off for a few minutes. No big deal. Another part of the not falling asleep equation is proper diet. Eating solid foods instead of large amounts of sugar will keep your body even and not susceptible to getting drowsy after a sugar drop off.
Strangely enough I am more tired towards the end of an afternoon hunt. I'm up at 4:00 am everyday throughout the year. I'm in full swing and ready to go before it even gets light out. Which makes around 6:00-7:00pm the end of a pretty long day. Especially if there are critters to drag out that day. Never came close to falling asleep though. A few yawns here and there, but there's too much to look at even if it's a slow deer day.
I go with the monster and always make sure I pee before I leave camp. Never an issue and always alert. In the past I have used hard sugar filled candy that I can suck on.
