Mid Day Siesta

[WapitiTalk1]

So, what do you do after a long hike in the morning and the early hunt is done. Even at 353 years old, I get up early and am on the access trail (FS, ancient pack trail, or game trail) very early to get to where I want to be before daylight. After the morning elk combat maneuvers have been occurred and you still have all the arrows in our quiver, what do you do as you wait for the late afternoon/evening hunt out? Siesta on the mountain side? Continue to still hunt on the hillside? Pull out your cellphone and play tetras? Just curious.. I personally, find a relatively flat spot and knock out a few zzzzzs before the afternoon hunt out. Nothing better than a snooze in the elk woods. RJ

[Sean D.]

So is that the secret to living 353 years, mid day siestas? I take a few siestas every elk season, one of the best things about being out there!

[MichaelD]

I love a little mid day nap as well, but I always wake up thinking that I wasted a few minutes of good hunting.

Usually with 4 kids in sports and other activities I take off for my hunting spot at midnight, get to my camp at 3am, and then to my spot by daybreak. Mid day naps sure feel great but over the past couple of years mid day is where I have made my best elk encounters so I try not to nap unless I am ready to drop.

[BowKill]

Midday can be very productive, sometimes a quick nap at lunch can be nice but get back to huntin. Sleeping can be had at night, unless they are bugling all night:). It's been my experience that it can be easier to slip in on the elk midday and get a bull to come to you that last 100yds or so.

[Lefty]

A reqyuirement for me I get up early and hunt hard. With some days starting by 5:00 ( I know not so early) But the hike back to the tent is often 8:30 or 9:00 12-16 hours of spoting and on-the-go. My naps may be late morning to mid afternooon but generally less than 30 minutes

[Trophyhill]

i love me a mid day siesta on the mountain

[flystrait]

I love to nap for a hour a day on the mountain, but my partner has ADD and he won't let me sleep. If I do try to crash he throws things at me and starts bugling. One of these times!

[cnelk]

Yaaaaaaawwwwwwnnnnnn.....

Just woke up from my nap...

Of course a person should rest. You will last longer in the long run

[Z Barebow]

If the elk aren't active, I'll be napping. Right after lunch break, I get sleepy anyway. But never in camp, I am usually miles from camp. If it is light rain/clouds, I am hunting all day.

Last elk hunt, my buddy and I doned the rain gear to hole up under a pine tree to wait out heavy rain. Dozed off. I wake up to what felt like something falling on my head. As I opened my eyes, my buddy is laughing his @ss off. He witnessed a pine squirrel scurry across the ground, bounce from my chest to head, and up the tree. I guess camo rain gear worked!

[wawhitey]

a mid day nap can be pretty much irresistible sometimes, and i find it helps me stay alert a little later in the day when it matters more. also ive been woken up from naps to the sound of deer walking, so dozing off for a few doesnt necessarily mean youre going to miss an opportunity

[Swede]

Early in the season I may rest a little while in the early afternoon. As the days get shorter and the season end nears, I hunt harder and stay focused longer.

[JohnFitzgerald]

Depends on weather conditions and if the bulls are screaming all day. Hot days, usually find a nice shade tree to catch a few zzzzzzzzz!

[WapitiTalk1]

I've only taken one nap. Threw my pack against a tree and crashed out. Woke up with a squirrel on the toe of my boot! Scared the crap outta me!

Yes sir.. Those pine squirrels are forces to be reckoned with.. They watch patienty untill we seem tired after a long morning hike in and hunt.. They're patient to a fault, like they go to some kind of class for this type of assault.. and then they strike right when we lean up against a tree for a brief snooze. LOL... The little brown squirrels crack me up.. I've had em come down a tree, walk across my shoulder, and do an olympic qualifying quadruple back flip when I "flinched".. On a serious note, they are the security system of the elkwoods. I've used them more than a few times to alert me of moving big game just over the ridge.. They are equal opportunity "rats", chattering at anything that is moving close to their nests or caches.

[Da White Shoe]

Typically, we zonk out for a couple hours after lunch.
I probably wouldn't last 2 weeks if I didn't... after all, I'm pushin' 350 years old!
The exception is when there's an elk to quarter and meat to pack out.

We have called bulls in numerous times while kicking back in the shade at mid-day... pays to be ready.
I DO know what it feels like to NOT be ready!

[LckyTylr]

I'm jealous!!!

I probably get just as sleepy as the next guy in the Elk woods . . . but I can't seem to get this sleep thing figured out. Ever since being stationed in AK, I can't get back on track, it's been 7 years since I left. I was to the point up there that I was sleeping 3.5 - 4 hours per night and not a wink more. I did that for most of my 3 year tour up there. Now that my Wife has me on a firm schedule with sleeping (the Woman can SLEEP), I have gotten to where I can get 6.5 - 7 hours of sleep and I'm happy with that.

When it comes to mid-day Elk dreaming, I can't do it. I get really sleepy, find a nice place in the sun with a gentle breeze and think I'm about to drift off to the land of the 350's, Bzzxzzxxxzzxzzzzz. . . . . . Bxzxzzzzzzzxzzzzz . . . . . . Bzxxxxxxxzzzzzzzzzzzzzzxzxzxzzzzzzzzzzzxzzzzzzzzzzzz . . . STUPID FLies!!! I can't sleep with distractions like flies or SQUIRRELS!!!

Argh, I get so frustrated that I'm so sleepy and can't actually fall asleep that I throw on my pack, head towards the highest peak, and take out my frustration on my feet. Once I get to the top of that peak, I generally see a better looking peak another mile off. After another failed attempt at a nap, I angrily stomp to the next peak. This is how I end up 4 peaks from where I want to be every night when it comes time to walk back to camp . . . I blame it all on Sleep-Failing!!!

[BobcatJerry]

Only sleep if I feel I need it during the day. Been a few days the campfire ritual got the best of me. I only get a 7-9 days out west, so I make the most of them. Scouting and exploring, while hunting mostly mid day. I've always felt sleeping period was a waste of time, but you got to have it, and it feels good sometimes, especially as I age I need more.

[caperoll/Scott]

I have been known to take a few naps on the hill after chasing elk and deer around all morning. The problem I end up having is I pick a nice tree to lean up against for my late morning nap, a drink of water a candy bar I’m ready for a few Z’s, Then I hear a fly or two that won’t go away, then the ants show up and not just any ants, it’s always the big black ones that bite. My naps are always short lived. But when I can get a few zzz’s I enjoy it.

[mongopino915]

Do take a nap once in awhile but come mid-day, it is mostly quiet hunting along cool north slope with very little calling.

[Seminole]

I have never found a group of Aspens that I did not like...

[wideangle]

Yep a little nap on a warm afternoon is sometimes special nice!

[welka]

Can't believe we made it into the 20s on replies without this one.....don't forget to nock and arrow before you doze off! Speaking from painful experience!

[elkoholic]

I do take a nap, when needed. After a few days hitting it hard the long days, early morning and late nights seem to catch up to me. But as others have stated it depends on the activity of the rut. If there is action and the blood is pumping, I'm not sleeping!

[Bartfrncs]

Like them just dont always take them. BEARS
Bart

[Indian Summer]

Aw cmon now Welka... tell us the story of your nap last year! I scrolled down here just to see if you'd read this thread.

You could actually turn this one into an educational thread. I'll finish it for you: "Always have an arrow nocked when taking a nap. You might need to use it in self defense" ha ha ha ha

If you don't need a mid day nap you either A: Didn't get up early enough. or B: Haven't been hunting hard enough. I get at least 1 hour of my daily sleep mid day. I throw in the occasional cow call when I wake here and there. I have more than 1 story of bulls killed during a nap. My brothers 1st bull woke him up... then paid the price. Napping is NOT a waste of time. Like others have said... regrouping is a good thing.

If you need an alarm just get in a spot where the sun will eventually go behind a tree and as soon as you are in the shade you'll get chilly & wake up. Do I sound like a pro-napper or what ? lol At 474 years old I can say it works for me too Phantom.

[Garrett Drach]

Days 1-3 of hunt we're generally too amped up and feeling fresh enough to stay awake the entire day. Days 4-7, the energy level is waning and we almost always nap while the thermals switch.

We've learned the hard way, as many others have, both our bows have nocked arrows while napping. We also take turns sleeping while the other guy takes watch.

The result of my brother having an arrow nocked last season while I was getting ready to snooze and a herd of cows walked by...

IMG_9251 (1).jpg (29.69 KiB) Viewed 13792 times

[WapitiTalk1]

Do I sound like a pro-napper or what ? lol At 474 years old I can say it works for me too Phantom.

Just saw your post Indian Summer...."pro-napper".. Cracked me up.. I've done the nap thing for quite a few decades.. recharges my batteries for the late hunt and hike out of the hell hole I've placed myself in Geez I'm a young buck compared to you (probably not so much). Somebody mentioned bears... My pop used to say if you're sleeping in the woods and you feel a wet mug on your face.... don't kiss it back

[G Posik]

I like a short nap in the middle of the day. I also like to find a few trout and catch a couple for a good mid-day meal.

Glenn

[kevin_t]

I mid day siesta all the time. Not for long, but I'd rather be very ready for a long night than be tired starting. Elk hunting is an endurance sport much of time. Very few people complete the Hardrock 100 without a few minutes of nap at some point.