how many days afield?

I’m wondering how many days on average do you spend deer hunting during the 9 or 16 day firearms deer season? The newspaper reported that the average hunter only spends about 2.5 days out there the whole season. I usually hunt 8 or 9 days of the 9 day season, weather permitting. I’m also wondering how many people sit out there all day long. Seems like so many hunters just don’t have the patience to sit there more than a few hours in the morning/evening.

No time for days in the field when there is unsafe questionable ice to go out on

On the two days each weekend I’m on stand from before light until right about dark unless I have my deer gathered. On the days in between I am more inclined to hunt less in real early morning and more at mid-day thru evening, but that’s because I’ll be hunting alone and I’m not in my youth anymore….days away from 69 years old.

Something that is different this year is having the season open a week later which has allowed this real cold air to sneak in so I am not certain how my lungs are going to like this. But I’ll slow down and enjoy the snow in the woods, something I haven’t had the pleasure of hunting in in several years. I have my Chickadee feeder filled and packed already. I’m guessing with the weather forecast hunting in this snow will be a noisy affair after Saturday when temps will be high enough to thaw some then back to the deep freeze. For the last few years the leaves have been wet and quiet and still hunting proved to be successful. This year I don’t know.

To everyone heading to the woods….or thin ice, have good luck and be careful whatever way you choose to go.

All three weekends available plus two vaca days for dark to dark sits. I intend on moving forward with that game plan until I (hopefully) kill a buck. Its all up in the air after that and depends on my hunting parties success on how much hardcore effort I put in. Of course any evidence of a whopper in the area can have a big effect on my drive as well….lol. After my tag is punched, I tend to focus a lot more on shack life and the social aspect of the hunt.

I hunt the entire 9 day season. Plus I bow hunt before the gun season and will muzzy hunt if needed after.
DT

I also sit all day depending on deer movement or if I have kids with. I have it pretty easy though. For rifle season I’m in an enclosed stand with a heater.
DT

9 days straight as I take the whole week off. I actually take Friday before off as well as I can’t handle the joy. Most days I come in during lunch but if the deer are moving I’ll stay out.

In a boot to prevent a stress fracture, missing the gun season. Will still head up to be with the guys for opening weekend. We had two scrapes in the parking area next to the shack, maybe things will work out that way for me.

More likely to get time in the woods during muzzleloader season. Depends on getting rid of the darn boot.

I am 6 weeks out of having a full left knee replacement.
I had no intention of being able to hunt this year as I hunt public land that I walk to from the house.
Well, last weekend the FW saw a big 12 point not far from the house. So last night I decided the rehab is going just well enough to buy a license and spend some time out. I didnt set up any stands, so I will be still hunting for whatever hours I can keep warm the next three weekends. I’ve got about 120 acres of lowland swamp that usually see’s no other hunters, so thats where I’ll be. Its also an intensive zone so, since I really like eating venison, I’ll be looking strictly for something to put in the freezer.
No time off during the weekdays, so will just be the weekend days.
I envy those of you that have a deer camp to head to. I used to go over to my in-laws shack in northern Wisconsin each year to gun hunt. Even tho it was just my father-in-law and I, it had the “feel” of deer camp and was alot of fun. Miss those weeks spent out there.

Truthfully, just happy that I can get out at all this year.

Out of curiosity for the people that spend all day afield:
Do you do a combination of stands & still hunting?
All still hunting?
Do you sit in box stands or blinds?
Do you do drive hunts?
Do you tough it out in exposed stands (ground, ladder stands, etc.)?

I tough it in an open stand. It depends on the weather whether I do some still hunting or not. If walking can be done quietly, yes I’ll leave the stand and do a couple hour still hunt to get the circulation going again. If its dry and noisy or , like now with the snow, crunchy, I stay put, but may change stands for an afternoon sit. That’ll depend on the wind though.

I’ll hunt 5 or 6 days of the wis gun deer season , depending on work. Have sat dark to dark , but tough to do as I hunt out of open stands , on north facing slope that never gets sun . For me it’s about deer camp , with the group of 4 that hunt together . My son started hunting with us 3 years ago and I haven’t fired a shot in 2 years , but watching him is more enjoyable .

I almost exclusively hunt in a portable hang on or ladder stand. My hang on is 30 feet up and the ladder stands are 18 feet high. I am very exposed to the elements at times but I can still hear and see very well so an open stand provides me with the best way to take advantage of those senses. My Father hunts in a box blind called a Stump Stand on a platform. He can’t tolerate the elements like he used to anymore so he prefers an enclosure rather than a high elevated open air stand like I still use.

xplorer – our deer camp is about 35 miles north of the St. Louis River bridge off County 15 near Pioneer Lake. Been going up there for more than 40 years with grade school friends and their extended families. Good luck to you this season, take care of that new knee.

I will head home early Monday and stop at the Family Tradition Restaurant for breakfast on my way back to the Twin Cities.

Enclosed 4×4 wooden stand w/windows and a focus 5 heater. A lunch, snacks, thermos of coffee, and a few waters keep me content and comfy and content from dark until dark, or until a buck shows himself.

Brad Dimond wrote:

xplorer – our deer camp is about 35 miles north of the St. Louis River bridge off County 15 near Pioneer Lake. Been going up there for more than 40 years with grade school friends and their extended families. Good luck to you this season, take care of that new knee.

I will head home early Monday and stop at the Family Tradition Restaurant for breakfast on my way back to the Twin Cities.

Good luck to you and the others in your camp also!!
I’ve been on Elora before, and did a little grouse hunting up that way down the 3 lakes road many moons ago. Also used to duck hunt on Little Stone lake a little ways NE of Cotton. Nice area and some big woods!
The Family Tradition is my son’s favorite breakfast/brunch place around!! Between Gordys and the Tradition there is no shortage of good eats right there on 33.

I generally hunt 6-7 days during the 2 week regular firearms seasons in 159. My wife travels a lot for work, so sometimes her travel schedule combined with the 2 kids makes it really difficult so I end up “day hunting” my property some years so I suppose that really equals only a half-day when I do it.

Xplorer, I’m totally with you on missing the old school deer camp experience. That was the highlight of the year when I was a kid, but due to some untimely deaths, my father’s old crew suddenly fell apart and we’ve been on our own ever since.

I own property just for hunting and in the old days the challenge was always not letting camp attendance get out of hand with “friends of friends of friends” and shirtail relatives thrice removed showing up.

Now it seems to be the opposite. Everybody I know who hunts either has land like I do, family land, or they lease. The rest don’t hunt anymore, either my dad’s friends have all gotten too old or people my age just don’t hunt.

I really miss the old school deer camp with the mix of ages and the stories that always came from it. Something alwasy goes good and something always goes bad at deer camp and there was always a story to go with it.

Grouse

I’ll hunt this weekend on private land. Usually get one in the first weekend, but if not, I’ll be back out the following weekend. I’m what some call a “citiot” and am a few hours from my spot.