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.

 

[bz_711]

I'm archery only...but my 2 biggest herd bulls:
-6x6 shot at 1:00pm (after chasing him since about 10am)
-6x6 shot at 3:10pm (after hearing his first bugle at 11am and only moving about 150yds closer over those 4hrs)

 

[Weldor]

I'm very fortunate to live in the middle of Elk country. I try to watch their movements all year and see what they are up to at different times. I don't have a playbook, just Hunt what the weather or situation is. Hunting pressure here can ruin any attempt to hunt midday by running the critters out of the country. Usually takes about 5-7 days for them to make the circuit. I try to use other hunters as bird dogs, it has been pretty productive over the years. No naps for me lol.To hard to draw a tag.

 

[Jaden Bales]

Some folks have kind of dabbled at it, but I love glassing hard middle of the day. like 12-2 pm. I started doing it because deer re-bed around then and kept picking up elk. So now I do it for elk, too. They often get up and stretch their legs, grab a bite to eat, and sit back down, too.

It's also just a fun game to play of "can I find a tine in the shadows" and that keeps my brain occupied. It's not the most effective, but I'd rather not get my stink everywhere if there's not good tracking conditions.

Granted - this is if you're looking into burns, broken terrain, sparse like blowdown timber, or aspen country. Hard to do with a thick wall of timber. And I build my hunting plan around being able to do that.

 

[Weldor]

Some folks have kind of dabbled at it, but I love glassing hard middle of the day. like 12-2 pm. I started doing it because deer re-bed around then and kept picking up elk. So now I do it for elk, too. They often get up and stretch their legs, grab a bite to eat, and sit back down, too.

It's also just a fun game to play of "can I find a tine in the shadows" and that keeps my brain occupied. It's not the most effective, but I'd rather not get my stink everywhere if there's not good tracking conditions.

Granted - this is if you're looking into burns, broken terrain, sparse like blowdown timber, or aspen country. Hard to do with a thick wall of timber. And I build my hunting plan around being able to do that.

Gotta love the mid-day stretch.

 

[DeweytheDuc]

Apparently bust elk in the swirling wind.

 

[BrentP]

I take a nap while my super intense hunting buddy keeps glassing. When he sees something, its time to get up.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

I take a nap while my super intense hunting buddy keeps glassing. When he sees something, its time to get up.

You sir, are doing it right. I wish I wasn't the intense buddy sometimes lol.

 

[Olympics777]

I’ve killed a couple bulls in the middle of the day that other guys bumped. It sucks to sit there by yourself all day but a book, or downloaded movie, or a nap, all help. Those are your only reasonable options unless you want to still hunt in the middle of the day. I’ve never killed a bull during rifle season while still hunting, though.

Also if your phone dies quick then a good battery charger at Walmart is like 30 bucks, should keep your phone going for a long time.

 

[Olympics777]

I take a nap while my super intense hunting buddy keeps glassing. When he sees something, it’s time to get up.

My brother shot a buck while I was napping right next to him one time. I have never jumped up out of sleep so fast.