So after hunting yesterday afternoon and today, I have some concerns. This is the first time I have hunted in over ten years.

I noticed that it is a lot easier for me to stay for a longer period of time than it used to be. If I could only sit still I would be a lot more confident. I hunted from a climbing stand yesterday, and could only sit for around 10 minutes at a time before having to shift. today I hunted from the base of a tree, and while it was better, I could still only manage about 20 minutes before shifts. I developed a bad cramp in my back today and after that happened I was miserable.

This concerns me because I'm sure any deer that may be out there can see this. The ability to sit still seems important..and I'm not good at it, lol.

The other thing is calling. I have a can for doe bleats, and a grunt. I usually wait for a little bit..maybe an hour before using a call if I have seen anything. Then I only call sparingly. maybe one or two bleats or grunts every 20-30 minutes. After 3-4 hours, it just seems like a lot of calling and I feel like I'm over doing it.

Any help you guys could provide would be great. I don't get much time off of work, so I need to make it count.

Sitting still...... Most might disagree, but I move almost constantly, the trick is to move slowly, check your surroundings before you move, and be well hidden. I'm impatient, I sit for a while, then I stand, etc. I'll often still hunt. But with all this movement I rarely spook deer. You will eventually get a feel for things, just something that comes with practice.

Calling... Well Alabama isn't the Midwest and calling is often ineffective. I've had some success with a can, grunt, and rattling. But I bet it's less than 5% effective. Now as long as you don't overdue it, I don't think it hurts

I don't call and if you are high enough and have decent cover some slight movements won't get you busted.

Calling with very often times cause a buck to circle you and come in from down wind. He may bust you and you never know he was there.

I aint saying do calisthenics...but its impossible to sit perfectly still...for a long period of time...
Keep it to a minimum but don't make 'hunting' a torture test, its supposed to be an enjoyable experience...make it that way
Know many a child that the Dad made hunting miserable...and now they dont go...

Be as still as you can, get as high as you can, and still be able to see...try to use some sort of cover from limbs, don't skylight yourself and WATCH the wind...personally, I have to have certain conditions to use a call or even rattling antlers...
I have used both with success, but % wise the success is very low...Ive found using a grunt tube, I wait till Ive heard one grunt already...and then just loud enough for him to hear...and very sparingly, despite the horse crap they show you on TV (to con you into buying 'The Buck Thunderer 2000 Mega Call for only $29.99 plus S&H)
...You aint calling ducks....They usually slip in...very alert...had them slip in with rattling antlers, and bust in like Ferguson rioters...but, do it at the right time of the year...NOTHING works 100% of the time

- If you have any spots where you can see a fair amount of ground, you could set a blind up. You can shift around a lot in three without being busted.

- Make a natural blind out of branches, etc to conceal most of your movement.

- Maybe set a couple stands up not too far from each other. Hunt one till you can't stand it anymore, then still hunt your way toward the other stand, then hunt that one for a different view.

- there's obviously the option of sitting in a shooting house on a field

With a bad hip it is hard for me to sit without having to move every few minutes. I haven't had any trouble with deer seeing me in a tree, or at least that I know of.

As far as calls, I have bought about 20 grunt calls and have never had any luck with any of them. I hear deer grunt in the woods, but I have never lured one to me with a call. I did call up a nice 6 point once with a summit tree stand when it rattled as I was taking it down. That deer ran in with the hair on his back bristled up and looking to fight.

Like someone else said check good before standing, then make slow movements.

I very rarely blind call. I grunt to a buck I see that I want to turn and come closer for a better look and possible shot.

I don't hardly ever sit...I'm too fat to comfortably twist at the waist to see the squirrels making all the racket behind me. I usually stand and turn sideways in the stand and lean my shoulder against the tree.

You're overthinking it a little. Don't worry about having to shift. I don't know anybody that can sit perfectly still for 4 hours. Just keep your movements slow. When I hunt my head is on swivel most of the time, looking over the area. Especially on windy days, you'd be surprised how many deer could slip by you without hearing them and not ever know they were there if you don't scan the area. Don't whip your head side to side though. Keep it slow.

As far as calls, if I were you I'd ditch them all except maybe a grunt tube, and only use that when you see a deer you want to try to get to come closer. I'd say you're probably doing more harm than good with the blind calling.

Oh, to be young again! I used to do that for hours on end. Now if I sit too long I stiffen up, if I stand too long knees hurt.