Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Backcountry Hunting => Topic started by: BLUEBULLS on September 09, 2015, 08:01:16 PM

Title: sleep aids
Post by: BLUEBULLS on September 09, 2015, 08:01:16 PM: I'm looking for something to take that will help me sleep a little better on backpack hunts. Does anybody have any recommendations? I seem to wake up several times throughout the night. It's kind of nice when the elk are talking but I'm sure the extra sleep would be useful.
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: JimmyHoffa on September 09, 2015, 08:04:34 PM: Wearing yourself out is a good start. :sry:
Since backpacking I'll say whisky or rum, normally say beer but backpacking want to keep it light.
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: BLUEBULLS on September 09, 2015, 08:11:29 PM: I do plenty of wearing myself out. I usually fall asleep immediately, after a whiskey of course, but once I wake up in the night it's hard to fall back asleep.
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: Cascade on September 09, 2015, 08:17:20 PM: Melatonin. Never used it, but has been recommended to me by several different people.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: ghosthunter on September 09, 2015, 08:18:16 PM: Eat and drink earlier.
Pack in a Hot water bottle. Boil some water before bed and fill the bottle.
Nice cozy warm feet helps me sleep.
Maybe a better pad.

Medications may not be the best.

Maybe some warm tea.
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on September 09, 2015, 08:18:54 PM: Advil PM. You're welcome 😀
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: Timberstalker on September 09, 2015, 08:19:26 PM: Don't you bring your little pink teddy bear? And your blanky?
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: swift on September 09, 2015, 08:28:12 PM: 2nd the Advil PM !!
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: BLUEBULLS on September 09, 2015, 08:34:29 PM: Quote from: Timberstalker on September 09, 2015, 08:19:26 PM
Don't you bring your little pink teddy bear? And your blanky?

Shhhh!
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: mburrows on September 09, 2015, 08:35:15 PM: Half a melatonin does the trick for me.
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: Duckslayer89 on September 09, 2015, 09:00:23 PM: I take melatonin every night almost out backpack hunting. Otherwise I wake up at 0200 and can't sleep again. Works great and natural no drowsiness in the AM
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: MarkyMark on September 09, 2015, 10:34:17 PM: I am not afraid to say Ambien is awesome. Take one. Lay down. Lights out. Strong 6-8 hours of deep sleep. Used responsibly it's an excellent tool.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: Duckslayer89 on September 09, 2015, 11:20:35 PM: Dang how do you get ambien
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: crabcreekhunter on September 10, 2015, 01:05:28 AM: Aderol of course usually time release just before bed lol.. Jk I don't have any problems sleeping usually but always have some Tylenol pm.. Knocks me out cold, just have to say medication isn't the healthiest but it works to a certain extent.
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: ellensburgpo on September 10, 2015, 03:24:22 AM: Melatonin
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: ridgefire on September 10, 2015, 05:15:35 AM: Ambien. Will put you right out.
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: whacker1 on September 10, 2015, 05:36:22 AM: I often wake up hungry at that time of night after burning so many calories. cliff bar for midnight snack can help me
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: BLUEBULLS on September 10, 2015, 07:24:07 AM: Quote from: Duckslayer89 on September 09, 2015, 09:00:23 PM
I take melatonin every night almost out backpack hunting. Otherwise I wake up at 0200 and can't sleep again. Works great and natural no drowsiness in the AM

I'll try Melatonin. Advil PM didn't ever seem to work when I tried it. My wife said the same thing. Thanks all!
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: XAFSSGT on September 10, 2015, 07:28:49 AM: Another vote for Melatonin. It should do the trick!
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: Dhoey07 on September 10, 2015, 07:29:52 AM: Tylenol PM
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: Jonathan_S on September 10, 2015, 07:38:48 AM: Melatonin is perfect because it doesn't knock you out or hang on the next day (unless you don't get 6+ hrs of sleep) but it does give a more restful sleep.

I don't usually need a sleep aid unless somebody snores...in that case, ear muffs. In the backcountry though, that is no concern
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: 180-GRAIN on September 10, 2015, 08:12:38 AM: I just use earplugs. Its not going to make you pass out but helps with all the noise such as tent-trees blowing in wind and other noises that make you wonder.
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: trophyhunt on September 10, 2015, 08:14:38 AM: Quote from: Cascade on September 09, 2015, 08:17:20 PM
Melatonin. Never used it, but has been recommended to me by several different people.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
i use melatonin and love it, start out with the lowest dosage to see if it affects you in the morning. I use 1 mg and works great, it's all natural stuff.
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: swift on September 10, 2015, 08:36:25 AM: OK, now I gotta try Melatonin 😴 been using Adivil is Tylenol pm
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: Bill W on September 10, 2015, 08:50:42 AM: I've always found I get the best sleep once a deer is hanging in camp. :tup:
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: Jonathan_S on September 10, 2015, 08:52:45 AM: Quote from: Bill W on September 10, 2015, 08:50:42 AM
I've always found I get the best sleep once a deer is hanging in camp. :tup:

I used to. Before I had a marauding bear eat a shoulder :yike:
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: pilebuck on September 10, 2015, 09:44:24 AM: Take two Benadryl the best :tup:
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: Jonathan_S on September 10, 2015, 09:47:56 AM: Quote from: pilebuck on September 10, 2015, 09:44:24 AM
Take two Benadryl the best :tup:

:yike: If I took two Benadryl, I would wake up naked under some bushes.
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: jbeaumont21 on September 10, 2015, 10:01:56 AM: Advil PM and Tylenol PM are basically the same as Benadryl and ibuprofen combined together. They all contain the same sleep aid drug called Diphenhydramine. You can get the same effect by taking a generic Benadryl and Ibuprofen and save your money by not purchasing the brand name drugs like Tylenol and Advil.
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: trophyhunt on September 10, 2015, 10:25:41 AM: Any sleep aid besides melatonin makes me sleepy till about noon the next day, but my body is sensitive to drugs.
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: swanny on September 10, 2015, 10:38:25 AM: Another vote for Benadryl or a single Nyquil
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: shootem on September 11, 2015, 03:03:56 AM: Sleep issues can be a very complex problem. The best option is talk with your doc. You need to make sure no major medical condition is going on like sleep apnea. If you are just a little amped up because of the excitement of the hunt(and healthy) over the counter diphenhydramine(Benadryl) 25-50 mg is a good option. If melatonin works go for it. Ambien or other prescription medications are an option but you have to see your doc for the prescription. Life is better if you are sleeping.
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: huntingbaldguy on September 11, 2015, 03:24:59 AM: Usually if i take the wife i don't need a pill. I'm all about natural remedies. :chuckle:
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: BLUEBULLS on September 11, 2015, 05:06:44 PM: Quote from: shootem on September 11, 2015, 03:03:56 AM
Sleep issues can be a very complex problem. The best option is talk with your doc. You need to make sure no major medical condition is going on like sleep apnea. If you are just a little amped up because of the excitement of the hunt(and healthy) over the counter diphenhydramine(Benadryl) 25-50 mg is a good option. If melatonin works go for it. Ambien or other prescription medications are an option but you have to see your doc for the prescription. Life is better if you are sleeping.

I have no problems sleeping at home or at our cabin. Just something about backpacking. I have an awesome bag and pad so it's not comfort. Most likely just game plans running through my head or the what if's.
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: CP on September 11, 2015, 05:22:41 PM: 2 shots of this should work;
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: CAMPMEAT on September 11, 2015, 05:44:58 PM: Alcohol is the worst thing to use for non-sleep issues. Sleeping pills make you goofy for hours after you wake up. Sex is the best, so you backwoods, in the middle of no-where hunters, with your trusted buddies, better figure it out, because of the stories, OMG, the stories... :chuckle:
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: Bigshooter on September 11, 2015, 05:45:21 PM: I work rotating shifts and use to take Melatonin. It doesn't work for everyone and can also cause so pretty real feeling dreams. I have read and also found that the smaller the dosage the better. I started with taking 5mg pills but found that 1mg pills worked best for me. I no longer take it after taking it for about 2 years (figured out how to sleep while working a rotating shift) and it was easy to quit, it is non addictive. I should mention that Melatonin does not knock me out. What it did for me is when I would wake up in the middle of the night it would make it where I could go back to sleep.
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: 2labs on September 11, 2015, 05:57:50 PM: Quote from: CAMPMEAT on September 11, 2015, 05:44:58 PM
Alcohol is the worst thing to use for non-sleep issues. Sleeping pills make you goofy for hours after you wake up. Sex is the best, so you backwoods, in the middle of no-where hunters, with your trusted butties, better figure it out, because of the stories, OMG, the stories... :chuckle:

This concerns me.
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: CAMPMEAT on September 11, 2015, 07:20:45 PM: Quote from: 2labs on September 11, 2015, 05:57:50 PM
Quote from: CAMPMEAT on September 11, 2015, 05:44:58 PM
Alcohol is the worst thing to use for non-sleep issues. Sleeping pills make you goofy for hours after you wake up. Sex is the best, so you backwoods, in the middle of no-where hunters, with your trusted butties, better figure it out, because of the stories, OMG, the stories... :chuckle:

This concerns me.

auto correct concerns me too....
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: BLUEBULLS on September 11, 2015, 07:34:24 PM: Quote from: CAMPMEAT on September 11, 2015, 05:44:58 PM
Alcohol is the worst thing to use for non-sleep issues. Sleeping pills make you goofy for hours after you wake up. Sex is the best, so you backwoods, in the middle of no-where hunters, with your trusted buddies, better figure it out, because of the stories, OMG, the stories... :chuckle:

Damn good thing my favorite backpacking "buddy" is my wife :chuckle:
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: Eric M on September 11, 2015, 07:40:26 PM: Melatonin definitely. Try the 5 mg first. They also sell 10 mg.
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: Ddouble on September 11, 2015, 08:30:28 PM: Another vote for melatonin Costco sells the chews. I have that issue of lying down to sleep and my mind starts racing. Melatonin works every time.
Title: Re: sleep aids
Post by: Stein on September 11, 2015, 08:36:54 PM: First, get rid of any *censored*ty jobs or bosses you have. Worked for me.

This guy knows his stuff, I mixed up some based upon a recipe he had on a podcast (his website is pretty lame looking but don't worry). I think it was melatonin, tryptothan, zinc and HTTP. Take it easy with small doses.

http://www.docparsley.com/#!shop/c1zfx