Best All Day Sit Strategies for the Rut

Pick Your All Day Sit Days, Or You Will Burn Out And Quit Early

The best all day sit strategy for the rut is to only do it on the right days, hunt the right spot for midday movement, and pack your stand so you do not have to climb down.

I sit all day when a cold front hits, the first does come into heat, or I have fresh buck sign that showed up in the last 24 to 48 hours.

I have hunted whitetails for 23 years, starting with my dad in southern Missouri when I was 12.

I grew up poor and learned public land before I could afford any lease, and I still split time between the Missouri Ozarks and a 65-acre lease in Pike County, Illinois.

All day sits work, but only if you treat them like a plan and not a dare.

Back in November 2019 in Pike County, Illinois, I killed my biggest buck, a 156-inch typical, on a morning sit after a cold front, and I stayed until noon because I had the wind right and I knew deer would cruise late.

Decide If You Are Sitting For A Shooter, Or Just Seeing Deer

If you want any buck action, sit closer to food and thick bedding edges and you will see deer all day.

If you want a mature buck, I sit where he feels safe at 11:30 a.m., not where he feeds at 6:00 p.m.

Here is what I do when I am trying to kill an older deer on my Illinois lease.

I pick a funnel between doe bedding and the next ridge over, then I sit it from first light until the last 10 minutes.

Here is what I do on Missouri Ozarks public land where pressure is real.

I get one ridge deeper than the easy spots, and I sit a nasty saddle with cover tight to my back so I can let the movement come to me.

I learned the hard way that “I will just hunt near the truck so I can leave at lunch” turns into a bunch of small bucks and bored sits.

In Buffalo County, Wisconsin hill country, I watched guys climb down at 10:00 a.m. every day, and then they complained the rut “was slow.”

Make The Call: Morning Funnel Or Midday Bedding Edge

If you pick the wrong rut spot, an all day sit feels like prison.

If you pick the right rut spot, 12:30 p.m. can be better than sunrise.

My buddy swears by sitting over a scrape line all day, and that works in some places.

But I have found mature bucks check scrapes fast and wide in daylight, and they spend more time cruising downwind of doe bedding.

Here is what I do if I only have one tree for the whole day.

I hang on the downwind side of doe bedding, where I can see 40 to 80 yards of cover and catch a buck scent-checking.

This connects to what I wrote about deer mating habits because the rut is not magic, it is does driving buck movement.

When I am trying to time deer movement, I check feeding times first, but during peak rut I care more about wind and bedding than moon charts.

Do Not “Settle” On Wind, Because An All Day Sit Bakes In Your Mistake

If the wind is wrong for your tree at 8:00 a.m., it will still be wrong at 1:00 p.m., and now you have blown the spot for a week.

I would rather hunt a B+ funnel with an A+ wind than an A+ funnel with a sketchy wind.

Here is what I do with wind on an all day sit.

I pick two trees for the same funnel, one for a north wind and one for a south wind, and I commit to the one that keeps my scent off bedding.

If you are hunting swirling wind in hill country, forget about fancy scent sprays and focus on getting above or below the thermal pull.

This connects to what I wrote about do deer move in the wind because high wind changes how deer travel and how your scent moves.

I wasted money on $400 worth of ozone scent control years ago, and it made zero difference for me.

I learned the hard way that you cannot “technology” your way out of a bad wind on a mature buck.

Make Your Sit Survivable, Or You Will Climb Down At 11:00

Most all day sits fail because of comfort, not deer movement.

Your back hurts, your feet go numb, and your brain starts making excuses.

Here is what I do the night before.

I pack my bag like I am stuck in that tree for 12 hours, because that is the job.

My cheap win is snacks that do not freeze and do not stink.

I bring two peanut butter sandwiches, one bag of trail mix, and a bottle of water, even if it is 42 degrees and I “won’t get thirsty.”

I also bring a pee bottle, because climbing down to pee is how you bump the buck you were about to see.

I learned the hard way that “I will just sip coffee all day” means you need to pee all day.

If I bring coffee, it is one small thermos, not a full gas station refill.

Pick Gear That Solves One Problem: Sitting Still For Hours

I have burned money on gear that did not help, and I still get mad thinking about it.

An all day sit is not the place for gimmicks, it is the place for quiet and warmth.

Here is what I do for late October to mid November bow sits.

I wear merino base layers, a mid layer that breathes, and I add insulation only once I am at the tree so I do not sweat.

Sweat is the silent killer of all day sits.

Back in 2007 in the Missouri Ozarks, I hiked hard, got sweaty, and by noon I was chilled and shaky, and I climbed down early.

That evening a neighbor killed a good buck moving the same ridge, and I knew I had blown my own day.

For my hands, I carry a muff and thin gloves so I can still shoot.

For my feet, I size my boots so my toes can wiggle, and I use toe warmers only if it is under 28 degrees.

If you are hunting wet snow in places like the Upper Peninsula Michigan, forget about “water resistant” and focus on truly waterproof boots and a seat that stays dry.

I am a compound guy and have been for 25 years, so I also plan for holding a bow all day.

I use a bow hanger and I keep my release clipped and ready, because digging in pockets at 2:00 p.m. is how you lose a shot.

Bring The Right Stand Setup, Or Your Body Will Quit Before The Rut Does

I hunted public land before I could afford leases, so I got used to mobile setups and long carries.

But an all day rut sit is not the time to punish yourself with the lightest, least comfortable gear you own.

Here is what I do for comfort without getting stupid heavy.

I run a hang-on stand and four climbing sticks, and I set it where I can sit with my knees at a normal angle.

The best cheap investment I ever made was $35 climbing sticks I have used for 11 seasons.

They are not “cool,” but they are quiet and they work.

I wasted money on fancy accessories before I admitted the basics matter more.

If your stand squeaks at 9:00 a.m., it will squeak at 1:00 p.m. too, and a mature buck will hear it.

My buddy swears by ultralight sticks and tiny platforms, and he kills deer with them.

But I have found my knees and back last longer with a normal sized platform, especially on a 12-hour sit.

My Quick Rule of Thumb

If the forecast drops 15 degrees overnight and the wind is steady, I pack for an all day sit and I do not climb down.

If you see a fresh buck track line cutting across your access trail at 10:00 a.m., expect cruising bucks to keep moving through that funnel until mid afternoon.

If conditions change to a swirling wind in hill country, switch to a lower impact observation sit on the edge and save your best tree for a clean wind.

Plan Your Access Like You Are Breaking Into Your Own Spot

Your entry and exit matters more on an all day sit, because you only get one clean entry.

If you blow deer out at 5:45 a.m., you are now sitting over empty woods all day.

Here is what I do in the dark.

I walk slow, I stop and listen every 50 yards, and I avoid skylining myself on ridge tops.

In the Missouri Ozarks, I use the thickest cover as my hallway, not the open hardwoods.

In Pike County, Illinois, I use terrain and ditch lines, because deer stare into open fields at daylight.

This connects to what I wrote about deer habitat because bedding cover and travel cover tell you where you can sneak and where you cannot.

I also plan my exit before I even climb up.

If I kill a buck at 3:30 p.m., I want a drag route that does not march through the bedding I plan to hunt tomorrow.

Decide How You Will Handle Midday Lulls Without Screwing Up The Afternoon

The rut has dead stretches, and if you cannot handle that, you will start moving at the worst time.

I do not still-hunt at noon during peak rut unless I am tracking a hit deer.

Here is what I do instead.

I stand up slowly every hour, stretch, glass, and then sit back down without making metal noise.

I also use that time to check my arrow, my broadhead, and my release, because little problems become big problems at full draw.

If you are hunting shotgun or straight-wall zones like parts of Ohio, the midday lull can be when deer slip through cover to avoid pressure.

That is another reason I stay put when everybody else goes to lunch.

Do Not Push A Hit Deer During An All Day Sit

I have lost deer I should have found, and that fact sticks in my throat.

My worst mistake was gut shooting a doe in 2007, pushing her too early, and never finding her.

I still think about it, because that is on me.

Here is what I do now if I am not sure about the hit.

I mark the last spot I saw the deer, I back out, and I give it time, even if it ruins the rest of my sit.

If you need help with shot placement decisions before you ever loose an arrow, read what I wrote about where to shoot a deer because the rut makes people take dumb angles.

If you do recover a deer during an all day sit, you also need a clean plan to take care of the meat fast.

That connects to my write-up on how to field dress a deer, because nothing ruins a good buck like spoiled quarters.

Use Real Food And Real Breaks, Not Constant Motion

An all day rut sit is a stamina hunt.

If you treat it like a sprint, you will move too much and you will lose focus.

Here is what I do with meals.

I eat small amounts every two hours so I do not crash at 2:00 p.m.

I also keep my phone on silent and I do not scroll, because that is how you miss the quiet footstep that matters.

I take two kids hunting now, and this is the same rule I use with them.

If they are comfortable and fed, they sit longer, and longer sits kill more deer.

FAQ

How long should I sit during the rut if I can only hunt one day?

Sit from legal light to dark if the wind is right for your best funnel.

If you cannot do that, hunt the last 4 hours of daylight because cruising bucks show up late more than people admit.

Should I sit all day over a scrape line during the rut?

I only do it if that scrape line is downwind of doe bedding and I have daylight pictures or fresh tracks.

If it is a pretty scrape line on the edge of a field, I treat it like an evening hunt, not an all day sit.

What should I do if the wind switches at noon during my all day sit?

If the new wind starts blowing into bedding, I climb down and I leave clean, even if it hurts.

If the new wind is still safe, I stay and I rotate my body so I can shoot without swinging like a weather vane.

How do I keep from getting cold on an all day sit without sweating on the walk in?

I walk in slightly underdressed and I carry my outer layer strapped to my pack.

I add insulation once I cool down in the tree, and I use a seat pad so my butt is not sitting on a heat sink all day.

Is an all day sit better on public land or private land?

It can be better on public during the rut because other hunters bump deer, especially around 10:00 a.m. and again near lunch.

On private like my Pike County lease, it is better when you have a clean sanctuary edge and you can keep pressure low for weeks.

What deer sign tells you an all day sit is worth it?

Fresh rubs that showed up overnight, big tracks in damp dirt, and a hot doe smell in thick cover are my top three.

If the sign is old and dry, I hunt evenings and I spend my mornings scouting from a distance.

Next I am going to get into how I pack my bag for an all day rut sit, and what I will not carry anymore after wasting money on junk.

I am also going to talk about specific stand types and saddles, because comfort and shot angles matter more after hour eight.

Pack Your Bag Like You Plan To Win At 1:47 P.M.

I pack for one job on an all day rut sit.

Stay still, stay ready, and do not climb down.

Here is what I do before daylight.

I lay everything out in the garage so I am not digging for stuff at 4:30 a.m. and forgetting something dumb.

I learned the hard way that “I will just tough it out” is how you end up cold, fidgety, and making noise right when a buck cruises through.

Back in November 2012 in the Missouri Ozarks, I left my extra layer in the truck and tried to be a hero.

At 2:10 p.m. I was shivering so bad my bow sight was bouncing, and I climbed down, and that day still bugs me.

Decide What You Can Reach Without Standing Up

Your pack setup is a decision, not a pile of stuff.

If you have to stand to get it, you will do it at the worst time.

Here is what I do in the tree.

I hang my pack on a separate hook behind my strong-side shoulder so I can grab food and gear without twisting like a pretzel.

I keep four things in my jacket chest pockets.

Rangefinder, release, wind checker, and a small snack.

If you are hunting thick cover like the Missouri Ozarks, forget about digging for a grunt tube every 20 minutes and focus on being ready for a 6-second shot window.

If you are in more open farm country like Pike County, Illinois, I keep the rangefinder accessible because judging 38 yards versus 46 yards matters with a bow.

What I Carry For An All Day Rut Sit, And What I Quit Carrying

I used to pack like I was going on a camping trip.

Now I pack like I am solving problems.

Here is what I do for the “must have” list.

I bring a harness, lineman belt, headlamp with fresh batteries, a knife, and flagging tape for blood tracking.

I also bring a seat pad, hand muff, two toe warmers, and one small bottle of water.

I bring one extra glove, because losing a glove at 9:00 a.m. ruins your whole day.

I also bring a small bottle to pee in, and I am not embarrassed about it.

I learned the hard way that climbing down to pee is how you bump deer, or worse, get lazy and skip the afternoon sit.

Now here is what I quit carrying.

I quit carrying big scent bottles, ozone junk, and five different calls that I never use.

I wasted money on $400 of ozone scent control that made zero difference, and I would rather spend that on gas and tags.

Make One Tradeoff: Warmth Versus Bulk

You cannot be warm, mobile, and light all at once.

You pick two.

Here is what I do on most rut days in Illinois and southern Iowa style weather.

I pack a puffy jacket in my bag and I wear it only once I cool off in the stand.

That keeps me from sweating on the walk in.

If it is 25 degrees with wind, I accept the bulk and bring heavier insulation, because misery makes you move.

My buddy swears by wearing everything on the walk in and “letting it vent.”

But I have found venting still leaves you damp, and damp turns into cold by noon.

Stand Types And Saddles: Pick The One You Can Sit In For 10 Hours

This is a real choice, and people get weird about it.

I am not here to sell you a personality test.

Here is what I do most of the time.

I use a hang-on stand with climbing sticks because I can sit normally and I can shoot without fighting my setup.

I also like having a real platform under both feet for long hours.

I learned the hard way that “lightest possible” often means “most uncomfortable,” and uncomfortable makes noise.

That said, saddles have a place.

If I am on public land in the Missouri Ozarks and I need to get into a crooked tree with cover, a saddle can fit where a stand will not.

The tradeoff is comfort and foot pressure.

If you are new to saddles and you have not sat 6 hours in one, do not make your first saddle marathon an all day rut sit.

My Opinion On A Few Real Products I Have Actually Used

I am not a professional guide or outfitter.

I am just a guy who has hunted 30-plus days a year for a long time and got tired of wasting money.

For a safety harness, I have used the Hunter Safety System Ultra-Lite for years.

Mine cost $129, it was quiet, and the buckles did not rattle once I taped the loose ends.

The only thing I do not love is the storage pocket zipper, because it is loud if you rip it fast.

For a seat pad, I still use a ThermaSeat heat-a-seat style cushion.

I paid $39 for one, and it kept me warmer than any scent product ever did.

For a hand muff, the SITKA Hand Muff is warm, but it is pricey.

My buddy loves his, but I have found a cheaper muff plus good gloves gets me 90 percent there.

Do Not Let “All Day” Make You Take A Bad Shot

Hour nine is when guys force it.

They get tired, hungry, and their brain starts yelling, “Just shoot.”

Here is what I do.

If I cannot get the chest angle I want, I do not shoot, even if I have been sitting since dark.

This connects to why I wrote are deer smart because an old buck knows when something is off, and he will give you one chance at best.

I also keep in mind what I wrote about how fast can deer run, because a deer can cover a lot of ground even with a good hit.

I learned the hard way in 2007 that pushing a deer, or taking a marginal angle, can turn into a gut-wrenching loss.

I do not care how good the rut is, I am not repeating that lesson.

Use The Rut For What It Is, Not What People Say It Is

The rut is not a free-for-all.

It is a pattern change.

Here is what I do during peak chasing.

I sit where bucks can scent-check doe bedding, and I expect movement from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

If I start seeing does filter past me fast with their heads low, I get my bow in my hand and I watch my downwind side.

This connects to what I wrote about what a female deer is called, because during rut, the does are the whole calendar.

If I see a young buck dogging a doe, I do not assume the show is over.

I have watched a bigger buck trail that same doe 10 minutes later, especially in Pike County, Illinois.

One Last Mistake To Avoid: Thinking You Need Constant “Action”

An all day sit is boring until it is not.

I still have hours where I question my life choices.

Here is what I do to keep my head right.

I pick one tree I trust, I commit, and I judge the day by decisions, not by sightings.

Back in November 1998 in Iron County, Missouri, I killed my first deer, an 8-point buck with a borrowed rifle.

That morning taught me something I still use now, because I almost quit sitting still right before he showed.

If you want to get better at reading deer, this connects to what I wrote about how much a deer weighs because bigger bodies usually mean older deer, and older deer move like they have been shot at before.

If your all day sit ends with nothing but squirrels and a cold sandwich, that does not mean it was a waste.

It means you stayed in the game long enough for a rut buck to make one mistake, and that is the whole point.