How do you Stay Alert & know when to leave your stand? – Deertour #deerhunting

Its 9:10 and I’m sitting 30 ft up in my Lone Wolf climber and freezing my butt off.

This is the coldest I’ve been on the entire Deertour. Yet, this isn’t the coldest temperature I’ve filmed in this season.

It’s about 35 degrees and I find myself fidgeting like crazy. I just can’t seem to stay awake.

And it doesn’t help that I have no Internet connection. If I did, I’d have the ability to tweet LIVE from the stand, text my wife and kids good morning, check weather, Read what’s new on Facebook and more.

So I ask, what triggers you’re decision to leave your hunting stand? How do you know when to stay or go? How do you stay alert?

Because I was questioning my ability to safely remain in my tree, let alone film Avery getting on a deer. I’m just so tired. Cold. Sleepy. Hungry. Non-alert. This is why I pulled out iPhone. I need to wake the eff up!

Actually, since I just started writing this, I’ve woken up and stopped fidgeting. I’m still freezing cold but I wonder if that’s due to my body being completely worn out from the tour?

All I had for breakfast, a meal I usually eat after 7am, was a cup of water w/ Airborne in it to give me energy and a Zyrtec.

I know, I know, I should have eaten something but I am not big on breakfast. Especially at 5:30 in the morning.

I ran out of my chocolate and granola bars. Need to buy more.

Anyway, now that I’m more alert, simply by writing this post. I am ready to film Avery, a 15 year old boy who has endured many brain surgeries in his life, kill a deer.

I asked him what kind of deer he’d want to shoot. He said any deer but a monster buck would be nice. I asked what he’d do if a Doe stepped out, he said shoot her of course. (I smiled when he said that and said right on!)

It’s 9:17 am now and the woods are quiet. No gunshots either from surrounding areas.

I hope something moves through here for Avery. He’s a great kid who has an amazing story to share.

By the way, Everyone has a different way of staying alert in the deer stand. For me, it’s my smartphone.

Of course I’m alert when hunting and filming but when that moment hits where you’re ready to doze off, boom, I fire up my iPhone.

Ok Avery, let’s get on these deer, I’m fired up and ready for action. (shot fired in the distance)

It’s on! Deertour Georgia.

- Rudy

This post is saved as s draft and will publish when I get an Internet connection.

PS Avery just whispered to mr from 10 yards away that Ronnie is trying to get on a monster buck. Huge. He’s chasing does on the ridge where Ronnie and I hunted yesterday. He’s too far, and moving fast.

You see. If he did not have his phone and the ability to text Avery, I wouldn’t be this fired up. I’m beyond awKe now!

Hold. Deer moving in the bottom. Back to filming.