Curious if anyone here specifically uses a watch while hunting.
I know it sounds silly considering we have our phones in our pockets but, curious if anyone uses a watch.
I ask because I know sometimes 1 min can feel like 5 min. And 5 min can feel like 20 min.
The last thing I want, is to get get busted grabbing my phone to check.
Maybe it sounds dumb, just a thought...
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I definitely wear one and use it to judge how often to call, especially in the afternoon. Also, I usually adhere to the adage of waiting another 30 minutes when I have decided to move, not always certainly, but lots of old birds take their sweet time and come in silently. I leave my watch easily visible, just above my glove, so there's minimal movement as opposed to a smart phone. I would be afraid of walking off and leaving my phone if I had it out to tap for the time, but that's just me.
I wear my Garmin instinct. I like knowing the time for the pre work hunts and also knowing how far I have traveled without checking my phone.
Retired 9 years ago, put my watch in the drawer and it hasn't been back out. If I need to know the time, the cell phone will be my Go To. As far as calling, I NEVER went by the 15 minute rule. I've NEVER killed a turkey with a watch on it's leg or a cell phone in it's feathers.
I always bring a watch while hunting. Sometimes I put it in the leaves beside
my left leg so I can glance down to see what time it is without moving my head. Most of the states I hunt have cut-off times of 12 or 1 o'clock.
It's useful in these circumstances and to tell you how long you've been sitting there, how long it's been since you last called, etcetera.
Using a phone is way too much movement if I'm set up.
I used too, still have my "lucky" watch somewhere, wore for about every kill of any game for 25 years.
Only time I wore a watch was hunting.
I did about have my phone cost me a bird, worked a bird all morning, roost to 8:30, he had one hen left and disappeared over a ride in the field, his hen came by and he was not with her.
I was like wth happened to him, after a few minutes I checked my phone and may have even read a few texts, I glance up and that joker was eyeballing me, all I saw was his head, I quick drew and shot em!
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Quote from: Jimspur on March 27, 2021, 11:37:31 AM
I always bring a watch while hunting. Sometimes I put it in the leaves beside
my left leg so I can glance down to see what time it is without moving my head. Most of the states I hunt have cut-off times of 12 or 1 o'clock.
It's useful in these circumstances and to tell you how long you've been sitting there, how long it's been since you last called, etcetera.
Using a phone is way too much movement if I'm set up.
This is how I use a watch as well. Although i can hunt all day, it is handy for mid-afternoon hunts were I'm calling and waiting.
I do predator hunting. Not so much turkey hunting.
With mid day quit times, never leave camp without one. Keep watch face on the inside of my wrist so I don't need to roll my wrist to see the time set up and holding the gun.
The only way I dont have a watch is if I totally forget to put it on. I've always worn a watch.
Always have one as I use it to time myself and not call so much.
Dog will hunt, dog will hunt.
The only times I wear a watch is hunting and mtn biking.
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Every day all day. And I prefer a long hand. I get sick of looking at my phone constantly anyways. Any chance I get to limit that, I am happy.
I TOOK THE BAND OFF AND JUST PIN IT TO THE INSIDE OF MY VEST.
Yes, my phone stays in my pocket in silent. If I get a text message I can read it on my watch.
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I hang my watch on a branch or next to me where I can see it w/o moving my head. Use it to time between my calling and for quitting time. Also like one gentleman here to time the 30 min I'll wait past when I want to leave. Several times I've killed the biggest birds I ever shot waiting that 30 min. And sometimes when the 30 min are up I start to stand with my hand on the ground rustling the leaves in the process and get hammered with a gobble at close range. Talk about looking slowly with trying to get my gun in the right direction all the while hoping I don't booger him........like getting caught with your pants down..... :help:
Stopped wearing a watch probably 10 years ago then 4 or 5 years ago I bought a Garmin Fenix. Wear it 24-7 now.
Use it to track my hunting treks through the woods and when I am on stand I enable the text feature so I can read incoming texts without getting my phone out.
Quote from: paboxcall on March 27, 2021, 12:33:55 PM
With mid day quit times, never leave camp without one. Keep watch face on the inside of my wrist so I don't need to roll my wrist to see the time set up and holding the gun.
^^^This. All I need to do is move my eyes to check time. I like to keep track of when I hear the first gobble and how long it takes him to get on the ground. Also like to know what time I shoot.
Jim
I WEAR a watch daily... it helps me keep tract of the time.
Quote from: Cut N Run on March 27, 2021, 05:22:58 PM
Quote from: paboxcall on March 27, 2021, 12:33:55 PM
With mid day quit times, never leave camp without one. Keep watch face on the inside of my wrist so I don't need to roll my wrist to see the time set up and holding the gun.
^^^This. All I need to do is move my eyes to check time. I like to keep track of when I hear the first gobble and how long it takes him to get on the ground. Also like to know what time I shoot.
Jim
I do that too. I like to know when the gobbling is going on and the times I see birds. Helps me pattern them and make plans for the next hunt.
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I am old fashioned and have worn a wrist watch for many years. My phone stays in my pocket on vibrate.
To my knowledge, I have never worn a watch to the woods.
I do now carry a phone with me, full time now. It has several purposes, time, weather, mapping. I have never used a watch or time to dictate calling, have always let the situation produce the calling. Typically, by lunch time, if nothing is shaking, I have covered enough ground that I have had enough for the day.
As long as I am where I want to be before the first gobble is mouthed I am on time. When I get home is erelevant, I am doing what I love to do.
Only time i wear a watch is during turkey season, it's as important as my cell phone almost..
I try not to wear a watch... Especially if I have to be home at a certain time...
Well looks like I'm getting a watch for Turkey season.
It is good for keeping track of first light and sunset.
Thanks fellas!
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Being a machinist for a long time at one point it was to dangerous to wear any kind of jewelry, watches, rings, or necklaces. After not wearing the stuff for a while you get used to it and now I can't even wear the stuff even sometimes. I don't miss it. If I don't have my phone I just don't know what time it is. Life is a little more peaceful that way as well. The clocks in my vehicles are usually wrong too.haha Keeps me on my toes????
Have used a wrist watch for years for turkey hunting. To verify sitting 10 minutes after last call before moving. The results have been good.
Take a watch every hunt for a multitude of reasons , most of them already stated , shooting time is between 9:00 and 12:00 , don't want to be caught napping .
I don't call by my watch because turkeys don't wear watches or time their calls according to how many minutes/seconds have passed. I do wear a watch to keep track of the time and how many minutes/hours left to kill a gobbler before quitting time.
Yes. Minimizes movement and keeps me off my phone.
I still wear a digital Timex. I could do like most others & just use my phone but it's easier just to glance at the watch rather than getting my phone out which causes more movement.
Quote from: Mountainburd on March 27, 2021, 02:35:40 PM
Every day all day. And I prefer a long hand. I get sick of looking at my phone constantly anyways. Any chance I get to limit that, I am happy.
X2
I have never worn a watch, hate the darn things.
never wore one, when doing battle there is no time!
Nope. I will check the time on my phone when I pull the trigger. Turkeys are on no set time table so I try not to be either when hunting them. Only when I have a prior engagement will I check the time.
I always wear one, but I carry a G-Shock turkey hunting to stand up to the shotgun recoil and the digital time gives me that half-second extra that I'm not deciphering watch hands in the morning to see when legal shooting time starts.
Nope
I have worn a wristwatch every single day, 7x24, since I got out of boot camp, Apr 1986. Casio G-Shock has been the watch of choice for 35 years.
I learned it was a VERY, VERY bad idea to be late in the military. I saw that they put you in jail for being late. You are late if your muster time is 0700 and you arrive @ 0700 and 2 seconds. That was my clue to DONT BE LATE in the military.
Would like to but never seem to find a watch with a comfortable strap (Thick wrists) and a green LED light. Hate those metal bands that stretch and come back together, always ripping the hair off my arm. I don't want to spend much on something I will only wear during turkey and deer season.
Quote from: Sir-diealot on March 29, 2021, 06:26:35 AM
Would like to but never seem to find a watch with a comfortable strap (Thick wrists) and a green LED light. Hate those metal bands that stretch and come back together, always ripping the hair off my arm. I don't want to spend much on something I will only wear during turkey and deer season.
Try a Casio G-Shock Illuminator, about $35 at walmart. Great watch and has the green LED backlight you referenced. Waterproof and comfortable (for me anyway) to wear.
always have a watch on
9 out of 10 times I leave the phone in the truck
Looks like there's some mis conception as to why wearing a watch is a good idea. I have to quit hunting at noon here, I'm not good enough to gauge the time by the position of the sun.
If I'm blind calling I'll do so every 15 to 20 minutes.
I won't get up from a spot for at least 30 minutes after my last calling sequence, been busted more than I'd like to admit.
For these reasons I always wear my watch.
There was a really good article in Turkey and Turkey hunting magazine a few years ago on this same topic.
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I dislike wearing a watch. However, most times I do have a pocket watch in addition to my cell phone.
Always wear a watch. Last hunt I did needed to be at trail head by 4:00. Hike in to spot by 5:00. Setup and sitting at my spot by 5:30. Shooting time starts at 6:30. Being able to glance at my watch makes it way easier to keep on schedule.
Plus I like keeping track of time as I move and call. Hate pulling out the phone to check time.
Getting the phone out is too much movement. I note the time of first gobble, time spent waiting, time between gobbles, etc. The watch is much easier. Turkey hunting is about the only time I wear a watch since retirmement.
Quote from: Turkeyman on March 29, 2021, 03:40:42 PM
I dislike wearing a watch. However, most times I do have a pocket watch in addition to my cell phone.
I like pocket watches but most either are very shiny or you can't find one that illuminates. My GF had bought me one but turned out you had to hold it in the light for some time, kinda rough when you are trying to see it at night time.
Quote from: rstewart8706 on March 29, 2021, 06:40:27 AM
Quote from: Sir-diealot on March 29, 2021, 06:26:35 AM
Would like to but never seem to find a watch with a comfortable strap (Thick wrists) and a green LED light. Hate those metal bands that stretch and come back together, always ripping the hair off my arm. I don't want to spend much on something I will only wear during turkey and deer season.
Try a Casio G-Shock Illuminator, about $35 at walmart. Great watch and has the green LED backlight you referenced. Waterproof and comfortable (for me anyway) to wear.
Does not seem bad, would like to try it on in store if they have one this week. Thanks.
I wear one mainly because I never take it off but I got one of the G shocks with a compass and what not in it for if I ever get in one of those sticky situations but I try to cover it with my sleeve when I can. The glass/screen reflecting light to me seems like a dead giveaway but I also tend to sit in shade.
Got a Garmin Instinct to play with this season to easily see sunrise/set, mark roots, truck, and other spots on my Midwest tour. Used to keep a cheap timex on my gun strap the whole season, probable still will, so I always have one without pulling out the phone. I also want to see just how much my heart rate actually goes up when that first Merriam comes into range!
I always have a watch, and a compass.
I wear a gshock range man (older) every day. Unless I'm going to church or dinner.
Solar batteries. Lasts forever. Tells sun up sun down times. Alarms, stopwatch, etc Has a digital compass but really don't need it these days with the maps on phone. Sets itself off world time. It's basically indestructible. Had it probably 10 years never done anything but put it on and wash it.
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Always use a G-Shock with a Sun Company Slip-on compass. I don't take my phone hunting, tends to be a distractor.
The answer to the question is Leroy Braungart..
Pocket watch for me. Growing up on the farm i never wanted to wear something on my wrist to get caught in machinery or broke hitting something. Still ended up breaking a couple cheap pocket watches anyways loading milk cans in the truck.
I wear a watch at all times.