Geezer naps

[mad_angler]

I'm old enough to not be offended by this term...

I have heard it repeated many times that you must be hunting at first light and last light. If you are in camp, your odds for that day are greatly reduced.

Folks have said the midday naps are a key tool to allow you to do this for consecutive days on a wilderness hunt.

My questions are about the details.... do you just curl up under a tree or in the sun depending on the outside temperature? Do you go back to camp? Do you bring a hammock? Do you...???

 

[Justin (Raz) Rasmussen]

Curl up wherever I feel won't have my wind blowing to where I believe the elk to be, get comfortable temp wise, find a soft spot in my pack for a pillow and have at it.

 

[Skerhunter]

I carry a tarp most days and pitch it for the afternoon lull. With my thermarest pad, bag, and any extra clothes I make a nice pillow.

Most days it’s not hard to catch a 30-60 minute nap, since you get so little sleep at night.

I have one hunting buddy who can fall asleep anywhere anytime. I swear if we ever quit moving he is asleep snoring instantly.

 

[Ross]

Depends on the day and season. September if the action was good finding a soft spot within a few hundred yards of my last encounter. Many times we are zonked and hear an elk noise of some type and we come out of a sound sleep Ike zombies “you hear that” other times it was back to camp eat down some water and sleep hard planning the afternoon hunt. October and November maybe build a fire and find sunny spot to chill. Afternoon hunt naps awesome

 

[jgilber5]

In some of the lower units here in NM you just curl up under whatever sort of veg you can find in the dirt to get out of the early season heat. Woke up to a little 4x3 standing over me last year.

 

[Ehiggins]

I just lay down wherever we stop.

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[Deerhunter6250]

I am like SKERHUNTER buddy above an fall asleep the moment I stop and get comfy. Love the naps in the sun and save energy walking back to camp. Hunted with a guy this last year that I met on this forum and he had never spent the whole day out. We took a nap and killed an elk a couple hours later.

 

[TaperPin]

I carry a thermarest seat cushion. With my butt on it, leaning back onto a good fitting pack I can sleep in the snow, mud, rain, 100 degree temps, rock piles, and anything else. A semi loose thick fleece beenie provides blackout curtains when simply pulled down over the eyes. Makes me tired just thinking about it. If I’m achey or otherwise feeling sore a Motrin or Tylenol helps me get comfortable.

 

[Marble]

I find a flat spot, out of the wind and sun. I either clear a spot to lay on or lay extra clothes down with my pack as a pillow. Gun/bow is on the ground, ready to be grabbed. I always check for ants...

Lastly, in the snow, I bring a couple of big black hefty bags and lay them down first.

I rarely go back to camp. Nap can be anywhere from 20 to 60 minutes depending on comfort and how tired I am.

And I usually eat first..

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[Indian Summer]

Definitely not back to camp. More often than not at one of my glassing spots. It’s nice to be warmer when you’re snoozing. So unless it’s unseasonably hot out, I will be in the sun. The sun moves fast. If you are around trees, eventually you will end up in the shade and the temperature change will wake you up. If I’m having a long midday nap, I might move two or three times to stay in the sun.

But the most important thing is to find somewhere flat! A nap on a slope will never leave you very refreshed.

I’ve had a few naps over the years that have gone as long as four hours . Lol When your body needs rest you have to give it rest.

 

[grfox92]

We call them "Mountain Siesta's" and they are a crucial part of being able to hunt day after day doing serious milage in the mountains.

These naps occur wherever we happen to be glassing from or wherever we sat down to have a snack, once we realize it's nap time.

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[Robobiss]

I love naps, I love hunting. Combining the two only makes sense.

I’m all about a good relaxing snooze midway through the day, I would almost go as far as saying the day isn’t complete without it.

 

[WoodDuck]

During September archery we typically end up high mid-day after the thermals switch. I lean against a tree or on an incline with my pack as a back rest, hopefully catching some sun to remove the morning chill. Kind of like a backcountry recliner.

 

[grfox92]

I love naps, I love hunting. Combining the two only makes sense.

I’m all about a good relaxing snooze midway through the day, I would almost go as far as saying the day isn’t complete without it.

If it's really hot mid day and there's nothing going on. Sometimes two siestas is appropriate.

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[Pony Soldier]

I'm jealous guys. I remember taking a nap during bow season in the sunshine. My current life is in the snow from day one to when I wear out. I'm moving all of the time till I get back to the truck. After dinner I take a nap. By then I'm next to the stove.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Typically the way it goes with me is I wake up and realize I was asleep. It could be sitting glassing, taking a break, crossing a creek lol.

 

[PoniBoy]

I have a hard time napping. But when I do, all I need is a soft spot on the ground and my pack for a pillow. Lights out

 

[humvee8]

I’ve done it all. Slept against a tree, gone back to camp. Sleep well and hunt harder!

 

[RELIANT]

While it might not be impossible to shoot one from camp, your odds are better pretty much any where else on the mountain, so I tend to stay out. Sometimes hang out on top and glass between snoozing and snacks, sometimes drop down by the creek. One thing is for certain in archery season, at some point I'm pulling those boots off and letting my feet air out in the sun for a while.

 

[atmat]

Triple SSS makes a good sitting pad and an awesome napping pillow.