Preparing Your Pack for the All-Day Sit

For some one of the most challenging things in the deer woods is the all-day sit. I can’t recall how many times I’ve heard the “Oh my god, how can you sit out there all day?” When in reality so many die-hard whitetail hunters prefer to hunt all day. Between not knowing when your shot opportunity might present itself to just soaking up being in nature from sunup to sundown, the all-day sit can be rather enjoyable with the right tools.

Safety First

First and foremost, safety should be your top priority. A backpack can be essential to help get all the necessary gear into the woods you’re hunting. In that pack I’ll always have my safety harness, an extra tether strap, a carabiner, and an extra loop of cord in case I need to attach a lifeline. Next, I make sure to always have an extra orange vest—regardless of the season—a small rain jacket I can easily fold up, and an extra release or ammunition depending on the season. I ensure I’ve got a flashlight and/or headlamp, my optics, and a first-aid kit in there as well.

Making Scents of It

So, with the basics of my backpack out of the way, comes the next step. I try to ensure that my scent elimination and attractant strategy are in order. With that, you are going to either spray down or set up your ozone generator. I personally always carry my Ozonics with the screw-in unit to the tree. Once that’s established, I’ve got my calls and attractants. If it’s the right time of year and I need to bring deer to me, I’ll always have a rattle bag or a set of antlers and a good grunt call readily accessible for a calling sequence.

All-Day Sit Necessities

Depending on the time of year, depends on the extra layers you might be carrying as well. It’s beneficial to always wear the least amount of gear possible before entering the woods. This really helps to reduce or eliminate sweating during your trek into your stand. If it’s early season, maybe that’s just a t-shirt with a light jacket, but later in the year during winter months and where it can be really cold outside, you might have that larger outer garment. Your hands, feet, and head are going to be the areas that get cold the fastest by losing body heat. Items like Hothands or other thermal devices can really help to keep you on your stand longer.

Now, the whole point of us hunting these animals is the hope of harvesting one. Once you’re successful, you’ll need to be able to process it and get it out of the woods. This is where carrying a compact game processing kit to field dress the animal comes in handy. I’ve got all the necessary tools, blades, and bone saws to properly break down the animal efficiently and effectively with me in my backpack.  

Find Your Fuel

Finally, after all this essential gear we’ve discussed about having with us in the field, the most important items for an all-day sit are food and water. You must have the right food and hydration to be able to stay out all day. Depending on if it’s cold or hot you’ll want to have the proper electrolytes, as well as the right nutrition despite the elements. I like beef jerky becuase it's rich in protein and low in sugar (unlike many other snacks). I always have a bag of Old Trapper beef jerky in addition to my water or Gatorade. I like to have a bag of it in my pack because it’s very convenient when in the hunting stand. Coming in a clear, resealable bag helps me to quietly sneak in a snack, and the bag itself breathes, using the same technology as the U.S. Military MREs, so I know my beef jerky will remain fresh, moist, and tender.

We’re hunting an animal that is hard to kill. A lot of the time it’s a brain game, anticipating where they’ll be next. In order to stay sharp, you need to eat the right foods and keep hydrated to be ready for when that moment of truth happens. So don’t overlook the importance of having your backpack properly equipped for your next all-day sit in the deer woods.