Well, folks, we made it to another opening day of gun season.

For some, the wait has been driving us up the wall. The weeks between the last day of the past season and first day of the following season are way too long. If you are like me, you made the best of the time and finally you can go after the “Big Boy.”

A lot of preparation has gone into opening morning. The stands and blinds have been in place where you hope is the best location; your favorite rifle has been gone over and sighted in; the new scope you purchased in the offseason is all mounted and ready to go; hunting plans with partners have been taken care of; and your lucky hat has been found and ready for a stroll in the deer woods.

The good news weather-wise is, in our part of whitetail country, we are going to have snow on the ground. Depending on what part of the county you are hunting, there may be more snow than you need, but nevertheless we will have tracking snow for opening day. Temperature forecasts look to be in the low to mid-teens into the 20s as the day goes on.

It is going to be challenging, to say the least.

One thing I can guarantee is that if you are not in it, you’re not going to shoot it. It’s no big secret that if you want to kill deer, you have to be in the woods. Comfort in the deer woods has changed over years and this weekend will be a challenge, even for the best of us.

From the days of sitting in the cold/wet to parking your backside on a five-gallon bucket, today hunters are offered more opportunities to go from sunup to sundown.

Sitting all day during the peak of the rut can be very productive and can be very boring at times.

In my younger years, I had no problem sitting on a stand from sunup till sundown, but over the past few years I have been finding it more difficult to hang out in the woods more than a few hours. Whether it be my mind will not shut off or my aching body, it’s been difficult until I figured out what works for me to spend the most time on a stand comfortably.

I have come up with a few things that help make my time on a stand longer and more comfortable, and the best part of it is it doesn’t cost tons of money, but will take some time.

I have forced myself into some long sits because I know the payoff can be terrific during the rut and into gun season. The old adage that you “can’t kill them from the couch” seems like just an old saying, but it rings true when it comes to hunting mature whitetails during the first part of the gun season and rut.

There is a window of opportunity for whitetail hunters when mature bucks are on their feet during the day and constantly on the move. If you can park yourself in a high-percentage spot to contact one of these cruising bucks, you will up your odds greatly.

Having confidence in your hunting spots are key. Having confidence in my spot is the most important factor in keeping me there. If I feel very strongly that I am in the right spot, and something good could happen at any moment, I can not only stay on-stand, but also stay focused and alert for much longer. Confidence is gained by knowing your surroundings.

Staying comfort is essential when you plan on staying on a stand all day.

Some stands are more comfortable than others, but not too comfortable. I do not need a stand that is so comfortable that my eyelids are going to want to close, but not so uncomfortable that I am fighting it all day. Finding the right stand is a personal choice. Some need a thicker seat while many enjoy more back support. I like both

With a well-placed and heated seat pad, you can be comfortable all day. One of things I have found important is a large platform. Of course, safety is always first when hunting from a tree stand. Make sure your hardness is comfortable and secure. Most importantly, use your darn safety harness properly.

I make it a point to stretch my back at least once an hour. I do these stretches at least for 10 minutes and make sure that I not only stretch my legs but also my back, arms, shoulders and neck.

Sitting in the woods all day can be boring for some, but for me not so much. I do enjoy being outdoors, just watching and listening to the world around me, but I also have been told I am not mentally centered.

There are some great things that don’t take much room in your backpack to help make your time on a stand more enjoyable. I am not one to do this, but some folks will take along a book or others I hear will take a tablet to help make the time go up without being bored. A well-placed opened backpack makes it easy to slide your book or tablet into it if that next wall hanger strolls by.

It goes without saying that dressing properly is important. Dress in layers so you can take things off as the day warms up and put them back on as the day cools down in the evening. Fleece is a perfect under layer when covered with a windproof outer layer. There are many fabrics and systems available today that make staying warm through varying daily temperatures easier than ever.

Another way to keep warm is to carefully move about to stay warm and loose. It is amazing how much an aggressive rattling sequence will warm up your arms and torso. Of course, seeing a buck come into the rattling will make you instantly forget the cold, so the benefits are twofold.

Hunting all day in our part of whitetail country this time of year can mean everything from cold to rain to sun to snow. While it’s obviously important that we stay warm, the one thing that is often overlooked is food intake. The proper food will not only fight off boredom, but can keep you warm and with the right combination of food it will keep you awake. Food with high crabs will produce energy. For me, it’s jerky. A good trail mix is another easy-to-make-and-carry snack that can get you over the hunger hump.

Potty breaks can be important, but when to do take them can make or break your day and stand. Drinking too much will produce urine which needs to be dealt with, so an old fashioned pop bottle will help out.

I am a big fan of scents, but the use of the proper scents in the proper place. Deer like and do respond to scents, but human scents in the deer woods isn’t the best idea.

This time of year it’s important to stay on a stand as long as possible, because one has to be in the woods as long as possible. The longer you are in the woods, the better the chances one has to fill your tag on a mature whitetail. Staying comfortable during all hours of the day is important, and having the belief that you are in the best spot to spend your time and keeping yourself safe is vital to your success.