What Do You Read While Hunting?

[Elkduds]

I enjoy sitting, listening, watching and smelling from a good spot. With the proper literature I can be much more patient and still, instead of following my natural tendency to keep moving. Does anyone else do this? If so, what do you read while watching?

[BRazz]

Absolutely! I carry a good novel when I remember to.

I'm sure many folks on here read Elknut's Playbook (it's on my Christmas list!!!).

[Swede]

Probably 90% of my reading is the Bible. Once in awhile a good commentary on a Bible book. If I am not reading, or watching animals, I am plotting how I can irritate John F.

[Trophyhill]

I like reading "sign" while elkhunting

[Washington Wapiti]

Not normally. I usually just observe and absorb my surroundings. There was one season I think I brought a Bowhunting mag. BUT, this year I just about missed my shot opportunity while "reading" my map in anticipation for setting up in another area. But then again, I only had 23 yards total open space in which to detect an elk coming down the trail, set up, and get a shot off. Considering an elk can close that in about 6 or 7 steps at a normal pace, I don't think I will be reading while hunting again . . . at least there.

[quarbles]

zen in the art of archery by eugen herrigel has been the only thing i've read whilst out.

[ElkNut1]

If I'm on a vantage area glassing no matter how long there the last thing I'm thinking of is reading or doing something other than the reason I am there. When I'm there to glass I glass, if I lose interest then it's time to move on to a new location & do it all over again. I've also sat a tree stand a few times, I do not find that to be reading time either instead I stay as focused as possible on my surroundings & let my ears stay in tune as well as my eyes. I will say though that I'm not a whitetail treestand hunter just an elk hunter so that may vary?

ElkNut1

[Swede]

I have to agree with what Elknut and others say about reading, even though I read while in my tree stand. Reading is not my purpose in sitting in a tree. There are times I read, and times I won't. The most likely time for animals to come to water or just wander by are in the morning and late afternoon and just before dark. I put my reading material away then. Even in the early afternoon when I do the most of my reading, I am careful. My day pack is open so I can very quickly drop my Bible, or other book in quickly and silently. I read just a line or two and stop to look around. I know it takes longer to read anything that way, but I do not want to be like my pastor friend who had a big bull come in, get a drink and leave before he knew it.
On the ground where you have more to concentrate on, i.e. wind direction and staying out of sight, I doubt I would ever read.

[ctdad]

While reading a map and taking a break one day this year, a bull walked up to my left within twenty yards. When I saw him he was standing there cheering his cud and staring at me. Didn't get an arrow in him.

[tvbrewster]

If I'm sitting in a tree stand over a wallow/water hole I read CJ Box novels. He writes about Joe Pickett, a Wyoming Game Warden that gets into all sorts of dicey situations. Real page turners that help past the time.

[>>>---WW---->]

Sometimes I'll read a hunting magazine when I'm in an antelope blind. Or maybe even have a pocket radio plugged into my ear. But antelope hunting is a whole different ballgame as I'm able to see in all directions for several hundred yards. Not to mention that I'm baking in the hot sun from daylight to dark in a blind.

For elk, I wouldn't dream of doing anything to distract me from the task at hand.

[fenderhunt4]

I don't usually read much during hunts, but occasionally I will take along a little pocket Bible. Most of the time though, I save that for reading in camp.

[Elkduds]

Wallace Stegner, Edward Abbey, Caleb Carr, Keith and O'Connor, Muir.

[Panhandle Archer]

I read the elknut forum of course, ha.
Surprised no one beat me to it...
Hunting right now actually. I don't usually read too often or for that long of a duration. But the kindle on iPhone is a nice app to have-- helps me stay still, and stay longer.

Shot my bull last year while reading American Sniper.