What do you eat while deer hunting

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I used to think noise mattered and I suppose it can sometimes. Last time I had a child in the blind with me, she was making so much noise I figured there wasn’t a deer within miles of us, with all the talking and banging around.

I prematurely got frustrated and said we needed to pack up and head back, when asked “Why?”, I said there are not going to be any that come around with all the noise. Then she said, “What about that one?”, pointing at the doe that came from behind us.

I sat back down, enjoyed the time and recollected a story from another fellow years before that said he hung wind chimes from his stand year around, so noise was normal.

Also noted How many more animals I had seen over the years from the seat of a tractor vs stalking silently in the woods...

I generally don’t worry about eating, more often than not, its about not needing to get rid of previous meals...

Sunflower seeds mostly for the salt, seem to always be around though.
 
Interesting. I'm heading up, way up, the mountains in Friday to set up camp for elk, with heavy snow possibly moving in on Thursday I will then be up there for five nights and six days. I was hoping for some interesting diversions from hot dogs, sausages, soup, and chilli, all of which get rather monotonous. During the day, I have a sandwich, cheese sticks, chocolate and a lot of water.

Every year I drop hints on how much I would appreciate an assortment of Fortnum & Mason picnic hampers, yet they never materialize...
 
It depends. I have taken a backpacking stove along with freeze dried meals that can be prepared by adding boiling water. Only takes 1-2 minutes to bring water to a boil and I can have a hot meal in 5 minutes. The stove weighs about 1/2 what my pocket knife weighs.

https://www.rei.com/product/114890/msr-pocketrocket-2-stove

Meals are a little pricey, but you don't eat many, and that is 2.5 servings for $9.

https://www.rei.com/product/510145/mountain-house-lasagna-with-meat-sauce-25-servings

But I always have some energy bars in my pack for a snack. Starting in October every year the small snack size candy bars are sold in grocery stores. I keep a few of those around too. I like Snikers. If I start to get cold eating something high in energy and protein will ramp up metabolism and warm me up.

https://www.allstarhealth.com/de_p_...MIpv_D_OOL5QIVDLbICh2PVgvFEAQYASABEgJejvD_BwE
 
Depends. If it's bow season and I need the deer to get close, I'll take stuff like a peanut butter sandwich or an apple. Heck, if anything they'll like that smell.

During gun season when I'm looking down a 250 yard shooting lane, I take whatever suits my fancy. It usually includes a thermos of coffee and I've even been known to light my pipe in the stand (pipe tobacco that is). I seem to get a few deer every year, so I don't reckon there's any need to change.
 
Depends. If it's bow season and I need the deer to get close, I'll take stuff like a peanut butter sandwich or an apple. Heck, if anything they'll like that smell.

During gun season when I'm looking down a 250 yard shooting lane, I take whatever suits my fancy. It usually includes a thermos of coffee and I've even been known to light my pipe in the stand (pipe tobacco that is). I seem to get a few deer every year, so I don't reckon there's any need to change.

Yep, after my first leg of hiking, taking stands etc. I eat, then smoke a nice cigar and enjoy the woods and quiet and then sleep for about a half hour before the next leg. I learned a long time ago that my snoring will attract a buck after my brother killed one that had followed close up to me while I was sleeping. All I heard was the sound of the shotgun and then saw my brother laughing. Said he had to wait for the deer to move away from me to get a safe shot.
This has proven to me to be the most productive time for my hunts. Right about mid day, when they get up again to feed for a few hours.
 
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Last time I answered a question like this I was harassed about the amount of time I spend hunting vs peeing.
My snacks are a half dozen peanut butter, oatmeal, and flax seed bars that my wife makes and a big bag of trail mix. 2 quarts of Gatorade, 2 quarts of water, and 3 quarts of coffee.
I usually eat at least 6000 calories per day and start to feel shaky if I don't eat every couple hours.
 
Here's my homemade snack mix to the best of my memory. It varies a bit from year to year, I try some new things. A local Farm and Fleet sells the components in bulk, but it is still expensive. I mix a 12-16 oz pack of each, and make a big vat for the whole deer season. Usually have some left for work snacks later. It always ends up being very high octane. High fat, sugar, protein, calorie. It gets cold up here in MN in November!

1 pack butter toffee peanuts, 1 dried pineapple (the sugar coated kind), 1 pistachio kernels, 1 roasted/salted pecans, 1 brazil nuts, 1 macadamia nuts, 1 generic "corn nuts", 1 roasted/salted sunflower seed kernels, 1 honey roast oat bran sticks, 2lb peanut butter M&Ms, 1 turkish apricots. Comes out to about $100 and makes about 12 pounds. My wife adds marshmallows to hers.
That's a great idea. I need to hit up Sprout's and trader Joe's before my next hunt.
 
It depends. I have taken a backpacking stove along with freeze dried meals that can be prepared by adding boiling water.
[...]
Meals are a little pricey, but you don't eat many, and that is 2.5 servings for $9.
Being in freeze drying industry (tech development) I use our equipment and proprietary low temperature programs to freeze dry whatever I want and what won't be commercially available until a major manufacturer like OFD Foods licenses our technology. Venison tartar works great, just to name one. Add cold water, wait a while and it literally turns back to fresh.

OTOH, when I'm confined to a treestand I either eat nothing or anything. From freeze dried delicacies to junk food. Mars bars, jerky, soda, popcorn, you name it. I try to force myself to have a heavy breakfast/lunch before I hunt but at some point even the rock-hard best-before-God-knows-when vintage taffies you find on the bottom of your backpack begin to look soooo tempting. :)
 
There is being a bit hungry, and there is being so full that I nod off..., don't want to nod off. :confused:
I like being a bit hungry as it seems to keep me more alert....

I carry stuff to ward off nagging hunger, but I know I won't be that bad off, as right now I'm built like Santa Claus...so I could survive in the wilds for at least a month as long as I had clean water. ;)

I also carry stuff, just in case something stupid happens like I mess up an ankle in rough terrain, and have to be out for many hours, or even wait until next-light, for somebody to come and get me.
So I carry:
1 lb. parched corn..., dry roasted dried corn. Kinda like Corn-nuts, but no salt.
Jerky..., home made so I can control the salt
1/2 pound of raisins..., the sugar gives quick energy and in hot weather the potassium wards off any leg cramps
Taffy ...something like Bit-O-Honey or Mary-Janes , a few pieces in case it's really cold and I get the shivers.
Water...,
Instant Coffee..., I don't plan to heat up water, but as I wrote above, in case I get stuck out overnight or maybe it takes me "forever" to get back to the vehicle (hopefully dragging a very large deer). In those cases firing up a cup of hot coffee for the ride home or opening a thermos and it's still hot, is a good idea. In "really cold weather", when the high is going to be below 30 degrees, I will carry a small thermos of hot coffee with me.

The Parched Corn, Jerky, and Raisins I found through reading were rather popular trail foods a couple a centuries back, and when I looked into them for nutrition and other properties, they turned out to be pretty darned useful. The Taffy I tried after watching John Wayne in True Grit, I admit it. I'd seen the movie several times, but for some reason I noticed it when Cogburn tells Mattie Ross what he brought to eat, and one of the items was taffy. So I looked into it, and now I get a bag at The Dollar Store. They are honey flavored, or the other is peanut butter flavored..., not a scent choice, but they don't hurt none, neither. ;)

As for scent, I wash my outer layer of hunting clothes with plain, lye soap. I seriously doubt that although I ground hunt and still hunt, my breath has given me away... I sure ain't spending money on "Pine tree scented chewing gum". :confused:
No matter what I have for food in the field, I think I've a better chance of the sound and scent of a fart scaring off the deer, before my food and wrappers do...,:thumbup:

LD
 
Here's my homemade snack mix to the best of my memory. It varies a bit from year to year, I try some new things. A local Farm and Fleet sells the components in bulk, but it is still expensive. I mix a 12-16 oz pack of each, and make a big vat for the whole deer season. Usually have some left for work snacks later. It always ends up being very high octane. High fat, sugar, protein, calorie. It gets cold up here in MN in November!

1 pack butter toffee peanuts, 1 dried pineapple (the sugar coated kind), 1 pistachio kernels, 1 roasted/salted pecans, 1 brazil nuts, 1 macadamia nuts, 1 generic "corn nuts", 1 roasted/salted sunflower seed kernels, 1 honey roast oat bran sticks, 2lb peanut butter M&Ms, 1 turkish apricots. Comes out to about $100 and makes about 12 pounds. My wife adds marshmallows to hers.
That's actually what I do for my GHB's : The ingredients vary, but include the nuts and dried fruits and M&M's. Then use a freezer sealer and make @ 8 oz. bags.

the 6-packs of cheese crackers

Read post #4.

and I've even been known to light my pipe in the stand (pipe tobacco that is)

I had a friend who'd use his one-hitter in the stand occasionally, never stopped him from seeing deer.
 
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Lol, spent many years hunting Deer with hounds. It was interesting to see them all fattened up at the beginning of the season and skin and bones toward the end. I think some of the hunters here may be the opposite, finish up the season packing a extra 10 lbs. Probably a extra 5 more because the Holidays are during the season as well. What the heck, you only live once right? Enjoy!
 
Jerky and some sort of trail mix are 2 items that are typically in my bag. My son's bag is a different story. He is 9 and he likes to snack while out in the woods.
 
That's actually what I do for my GHB's : The ingredients vary, but include the nuts and dried fruits and M&M's. Then use a freezer sealer and make @ 8 oz. bags.



Read post #4.



I had a friend who'd use his one-hitter in the stand occasionally, never stopped him from seeing deer.
Funny you mention a one hitter. One of my friends was fishing with me. Nothing was biting for about an hour. He's like screw this I'm going to take a hit. Right as he did, a trout tried to steal his pole. In 20 minutes, we had limited out on Brook trout.
Guess trout like weed too.
 
I generally don’t worry about eating, more often than not, its about not needing to get rid of previous meals...

When I know I will afield for a good chunk of time, I do a pre-emptive strike by taking some Imodium AD pills before I go out; works like a charm unless I have had something really greasy the night before. Add a banana and you should be GTG
 
As long as I've got the old Stanley full of coffee, a can of Vienies and a package of cheese crackers, I'm good to go. I have been know to tote the makings for coffee and a few fixin's so I can stop and cook lunch if I'm on a pretty long walk. I've even popped a bunny or a squirrel and roasted them over the fire a few times. That works out pretty well, too. Mostly though its the vienies and crackers.

Mac
 
When I was hunting at our hunting camp in Pa we would take a dutch oven full of chilly and hot dogs and simmer it all day long over a small fire. The fire never seemed to bother the deer but our shooting lanes were 220 yds on one side and 400yds on the other direction. There was a big rock were we sat that we would build the fire in a big fracture and set the dutch oven on top. I shot my biggest buck from that spot right after I ate a chilly dog. The best year we had there, 10 of us took 7 bucks out of there and we ate well doing it.
I was young then and us young guys always got stuck carrying the dutch oven up to the "Rock".
Those were the days.
When I hunted by myself, I would just take a bologna and cheese sandwich and a bottle of water. Mostly because I could never sit still for very long.
 
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