Hunting blinds can be downright uncomfortable. Elevated stands, tree stands, pit blinds, ground blinds, and other hunting blinds can be a challenge. The goal is to sit completely still for long hours.
Spring turkey hunting can take a hunter to their limits. Gobblers can come to the call slowly. You may need to sit for an hour or more. About the time you move, the keen-sighted turkey will see your mistake.
Deer stand hunting for eastern whitetails meant long days 12-20 feet up in a tree. Ambushing deer from above allows for closer shots. Many hunting spots were just a few acres in size and required you to wait rather than still hunt, or spot and stalk.
If you could stay in a stand, with plenty of deer sign around, it was just a matter of time until a big buck would come by. Some may call this hunting Luck, but with patience and scouting, came good stand placement, and filled tags.
It was easy to get cramps, chilled extremities, and lack limbered limbs when sitting so still for so long. One thing that worked for me was using Slow Chair Yoga exercises. I would flex and move in each leg and arm, but at super slow speeds, that the deer would not see.
Flex and relax specific muscles.
Rotate your waist. Move forward and backwards.
Lift and lower your elbows.
Fold up your toes and relax. Then lift your heels and relax.
Rotate and click your neck as you scan for deer.
Lower and lift your feet, in slow motion. Hold, then relax.
Practice the movements you will use to grab your bow/gun and prepare for your aim. You usually do this to not scare the deer.
The goal is to keep your body ready to shoot. If you have numbness or no feeling in your legs, limbs, or fingers, the moment of truth could be ruined.
You can make up your own routine based on what areas seem to be needy. Processing these exercises helps the time to go by while still scanning for deer. Your mind is also kept sharp.
This self-discipline will also help to keep the blood flowing so that you stay warm and ready to react when you need to shoot. You may not get super abdominal muscles from this stand workout, but you will be body ready to deal with a perfect shot when it happens.
Practice makes perfect!
Montana Grant
