Mental game on the mountain

[Jordan Budd]

This is mostly for you solo hunters. I haven't been out solo enough times to really get used to it.. if that's possible.. how long did it take all of you to get used to or at least more comfortable with being out by yourselves? I'm talking more at night after you've gotten back to camp and settled down. Haven't really seen a thread like this before on here so thought I'd give it a shot.

 

[sheepguide]

Took a while. I found my Ipod was a great thing in the evening to occupy my mind. Especially when im always hunting in grizzly county. Takes a guys mind off some of the noises. No matter how seasoned one is after a day out seeing bears or tracks there are always a few sounds that make you go hmmm what was that. So the ipod sure helps with that. Maybe won't hear one coming in while its on but makes for a far more relaxed evening laying there.

 

[smitho]

I have never carried an Ipod or anything like that but I can see where that would be a good idea. My first few times staying overnight in the wilderness alone didnt leave me very r ested in the morning. There are ALOT of things that go bump in the night out there that can keep you from drifting off to never never land. Now that I've done it a little more often I can tune out the smaller sounds and usually sleep pretty good. Oddly enough just having a watch accessible to me helps me sleep so when I do wake up I can look at it and tell myself Ive got "X" amount of time left to sleep. If I dont have a watch I end up waking up and looking at the stars wondering what time it is and if its almost time to wake up or where I am gonna hunt the next day, if I paid the mortgage, how I'll pay for my kids college.....ETC. I would say after about 5-7 outings my nights rest started getting gradually better.

 

[amp713]

I decided I wanted to hunt solo back country and just took off on my own and went for it.....
I sleep with music or movies in the back ground even when I'm home in my own bed. Sounds out of the norm in my house have me up and investigating so heading into the back country an ipod was a MUST at first! It will probably help anyone needing to sleep better out there in the begining. I honestly think I could sleep without it but havent actually tried, why change whats working, Im usually just beat down and ready to sleep by the time I get done each day though....

One of the best things I could offer is just the idea of experience and getting used to it. Just start going on the weekends for a day or stay out in your back yard in your backcountry set up when you cant get away and just get used to it...Make the inside of your tent become a standard know setting, ive set up my new easton Kilo in my living room 3 times since getting it in January. Just spent on night in it, just to get used to waking up to the different look of this tent. Here soon I will start doing it outside and then taking it on scouting trips.

 

[Jon Boy]

Dramamine man. Pop two of those before head and lights out. Thats what I do after I'm done making dinner.

 

[RosinBag]

Tylenol PM and ear plugs...you won't wake up until the attack...

 

[Slim Jim]

I don't know how some of you cats sleep in griz country. I think I'd have to build a treehouse

 

[Buster]

I don't know how some of you cats sleep in griz country. I think I'd have to build a treehouse

Snuggling up beside the centre fire bear repellant helps.

 

[kickemall]

I don't know how some of you cats sleep in griz country. I think I'd have to build a treehouse

I was curious if anyone uses a perimeter alarm? Not really something I'm interested in but curious if they get any use.

 

[Jordan Budd]

Tylenol PM and ear plugs...you won't wake up until the attack...

Hahahahaha ^^

 

[Jordan Budd]

Thanks for the replies. I had definitely thought about Dramamine and PMs but was hesitant because of not waking up if I needed to.. Like if something were to come into camp.

 

[amp713]

If you get an MP3 player or ipod you can set them to shut off after a certain time. I found that to be helpful the few nights i couldnt sleep cuz it let me know how long I was there overthinking and it made me try to sleep harder. If you rely on an ipod to sleep make sure you set that every night! Sucks to leave it on all night and batteries die second night in haha

 

[justin davis]

My whole life I have camped out solo. I used to camp up behind my parents house by myself when I was age 7.

I guess just experience makes you get used to it. I have no problem going to sleep or sleeping good. And I don't take any sleeping aids.

 

[Craig Van Arsdale]

I've never had an issue with it. I usually have some reading material so after I eat I read till I pass out

 

[JoshTX]

Tylenol PM and ear plugs...you won't wake up until the attack...

This is what I do exactly. Strange thing is that when I'm home, I like a bit of fan noise when I sleep. When on a hunt I use the earplugs which provide total silence. Go figure. The way I look at it is that I won't stay up wondering what every sound is if I don't hear it.

 

[Kebler]

I'm headed for my 1st solo hunt, looks like I wont be sleeping much the 1st few days be more like waiting!!

 

[Slim Jim]

I'm headed for my 1st solo hunt, looks like I wont be sleeping much the 1st few days be more like waiting!!

Believe me, if you have a far hike in (7+ miles) and a big ascent. You'll sleep just fine.

 

[dangerousD]

Did my first solo last year. I didn't use anything to aid sleep. I was nervous a bit at first but each night got easier. I was usually tired enough each night that getting to sleep wasn't hard. Some nights I would wake up a few times. It's nice to know what time it is when you wake up. If you are used to camping and sleeping outdoors then it won't be any different in the mountains. At least that was my experience.

The most mentally challenging thing for me was dealing with constant rain for most of 3 days and nights. It really put my gear to the test and made it miserable when most of your gear is wet or damp for so long. This is where a small solo tent makes it tough with no place for your wet gear. Keep this in mind when picking a tent. One with an ample vestibule or room for wet gear.

If you set up camp in the trees, pay attention to where the dead ones are. You don't want one blowing over on you and your tent if a storm rolls in. If I remember right, another guy on the forum had a dead tree fall on him when he was just sitting down during the hunt.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I have been camping out for most of my life. Can't say I have any problems with going to sleep at night on a back country hunt.

 

[MTbowhunter36]

For me it all depends where I'm hunting; i.e., when bow hunting elk in NW Oregon I had no problems falling asleep. However, here in MT there are areas in which I bow hunt that are rife with grizzlies, wolves and cats. Not as worried about cats, but for some reason the wolves and grizzlies cause me to not sleep as soundly as I could.

It seems like every year here in MT there are stories about a bow hunter or hiker that have been attacked or mauled by a grizzly.