Foods to Eat While Hunting

A Guest Post by Blake Anderson, founder of HunterTreeStands.com

When you are sitting in your hunting tree stand all day, there is no doubt that you are going to eventually get hungry.  Keeping your energy and sugar level up will prevent you, the hunter, from the possibility of passing out or getting the shakes. So what can you eat in a tree stand that won't spook your trophy deer away?


Water is first and foremost. Drink plenty of water and bring along a Gatorade or two.  Water keeps you hydrated and even though you are not sweating due to cooler weather, your body needs to be replenished.  Not to mention that an empty water bottle can also be used to urinate in so the deer do not smell your scent.  

Snickers bars are a great way to fill up your stomach.  The wrappers are quiet to open and the peanuts and chocolate will provide you with energy.  Granola bars work the same way.  The trick is not to be loud with a wrapper or overwhelming with smells that may spook your deer.  Deer have a great sense of smell and even if you are sitting 20 feet in the air in your tree stand, the likelihood of a deer smelling your food is great.

Apples are a great snack to eat while perched in your tree stand. Deer love apples and once you are down to the apple core throw it onto the ground.  If a deer doesn’t come along and eat it, something else will.  

Bananas are full of potassium and are quiet to open.  While you are in your tree stand, eating a banana is filling, quiet and again, the odor will not travel.  Once you are finished with your banana, toss it into the woods to feed birds or other critters that may be lurking about.

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are another great snack to eat while sitting in your tree stand. The jelly will provide you with the sugar you need and the peanut butter will fill you up.  Your sandwich will also be in a baggie so when you open it, there won't be a lot of noise and the odor of your sandwich will not travel as far through the air.

Jerky is another good energy food to take along with you while you are hunting.  Jerky is eaten slowly and does not produce a strong odor that can waft through the air.  Even better, eat some deer jerky, it might just bring you luck to bag that trophy deer that is walking your way.  

The less movement you make while in your tree stand the better, as deer have great eyesight. While eating, make slow, deliberate movements, just in case there is a deer close by that you cannot see yet.  

What you choose to eat while sitting in your tree stand hunting is up to you.  However, make sure it is quiet and does not permeate the air with a strong food odor.  Eating simple finger foods that are easy to carry in your backpack and are quiet to open is a good rule of thumb.  

Remember, if you pack it in you must pack it out.  Happy hunting!