Day-Break
By Kenneth Piper
I'm currently bowhunting in Illinois, and these first few days have me contemplating the pluses and minuses of all-day sits.
After two days of dark-to-dark sits in spitting rain and seeing just three deer, tomorrow's forecast of clear skies and colder temperatures is exciting.
Were it up to me, I would have taken mid-day breaks these first two days to be more rested and refreshed for all-day hunts in the better weather. Hunting with an outfitter, though, you have to go with the flow. The rule here is dark to dark, so now worries. Besides, it beats a day at the office every time!
If you do have an option when considering whether to sit all day, consider the following points before making your decision:
COMFORT
If you're going to sit all day, you should have a comfortable stand. There isn't enough money in the world to entice me to sit in a lock-on all day with my backside on one of those 6-inch half seats. If I'm hunting a lock-on all day, it's a Millennium or nothing, and I'm not saying that because they're a sponsor. There may be equally comfortable stands out there, but I'm not familiar with them. Ladders and ground blinds are great bets for sitting all day, too. If you don't have a comfortable stand, why make yourself miserable by trying to sit all day?
ODDS
Although some may disagree, I think there are only about seven days a year that are worth sitting all day. Depending on when breeding kicks into gear in your location, the week leading up to that date can pay off with a mid-day buck. To be clear, you might take a buck in mid-day any day of the season, but the odds are best when bucks are at the peak of rut anticipation. Those increased odds can be worth the discomfort of sitting all day. Outside of that window, I'll pass. You might be made of tougher stuff. If so, go for it.
WEATHER
Poor conditions affect comfort for us, but they also affect deer movement. Higher-than-normal temperatures can suppress daytime movement. If it's hot today and cooler weather is coming, save your all-day hunts for when bucks are more likely to move. In extreme cold or storms, use common sense about whether to go out at all.
FATIGUE
One of the most common reasons hunters fail to close the deal is they aren't ready when a shot opportunity presents itself. A majority of the times I've blown solid shot opportunities were when my concentration suffered. Either I got caught flat-footed or made poor decisions about when to move or shoot. Fatigue is a big drain on concentration. If sitting all day means you won't be ready when a big buck sneaks within range in the evening, it can be better to forego the all-day hunt so you can be razor sharp when you do go out.
GOOD INTEL
Finally, if you have trail camera data or other information that tells you bucks are on their feet mid-day in your hunting area, ignore all the negatives I listed above and get out there and sit all day. Any time you can base your choices on hard facts rather than feelings or what-ifs, you'll be way ahead of the game.