Midday boredom

[WhoGarrDen]

Another thing I do to pass the time is open my Merlin Bird ID app.

Push record and it will identify any birds that are chirping/singing in the vicinity.
Pretty interesting.

My son and I love sitting in the woods in new places and guessing birds, using Merlin to confirm. Started as a fun trick to keep him sitting longer and now he's into it.

 

[ElkArcher918]

Take a nap, eat snacks/lunch, study onX/scout for the pm hunt, touch base with contacts w. Inreach. Occasionally cow call just in case.

 

[tkhuntsman]

I am going to open myself up to abuse... but here goes...

I get bored during the day while rifle elk hunting. I'm excited to get out in the morning and I know the importance of being out at the end of legal shooting hours.

But... what do you do during the middle of the day? What do you do between 10am and 4pm?

If I go back to camp, I am tempted to not go back out in the evening.
If I hike around too enthusiastically, I'm pretty tired and have a hard time staying until the end of legal shooting light.
If I play on my phone, the battery dies and I feel like I'm wasting the wilderness.
if...

I try to spend the time going to new areas, looking for sign, and learning the area. But I run out of new destinations after a few days...

Take a nap, have some lunch, pack a light weight charger and do some onx map work, glass new drainages for rubs and trails, locate water sources and funnels in your chosen area during the time elk aren't in them so you have a better idea of where to look, pack a good book or magazine. There are a lot of options available. If it's in Sept. Slowly still hunt through the edges of good cover calling lightly be patient and don't move pay attention to the wind. Contrary to popular belief elk don't lay down motionless and sleep all day.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

I am going to open myself up to abuse... but here goes...

I get bored during the day while rifle elk hunting. I'm excited to get out in the morning and I know the importance of being out at the end of legal shooting hours.

But... what do you do during the middle of the day? What do you do between 10am and 4pm?

If I go back to camp, I am tempted to not go back out in the evening.
If I hike around too enthusiastically, I'm pretty tired and have a hard time staying until the end of legal shooting light.
If I play on my phone, the battery dies and I feel like I'm wasting the wilderness.
if...

I try to spend the time going to new areas, looking for sign, and learning the area. But I run out of new destinations after a few days...

Stay at home and play video games. Then you could still come on here and tell people you hunt elk.

 

[isocyanate]

And keeps the ants off the face.

As a southern boy who learned about the vagaries of fire ants as a wee lad, the ants freak me out up there.

 

[Acorn]

I treat evening and morning as one “day” of hunting. If I’m not into elk after that “day” ends mid-morning, then I use the afternoon to pack up and move to a new spot.

If I’m on elk but don’t have a play mid-day due to the wind or whatnot, then I just take it easy in a place where I can see/hear as much as possible, as others have already said. Then move into position for an evening hunt/glass around 2 hrs before sunset.

 

[Fogalo]

Here’s the thing about big game. They don’t magically teleport somewhere in the middle of the day or at night. Sure they move some. But they’re there 24/7. Heck they’re even out there right now.

It’s not like ducks. Man. Those critters are literally here one day and two states over the next.