My favorite aspects of hunting are the solitude with nature and being in the elements. In the middle of an all-day sit though, a little mental break can help time pass, especially if animal movement slows midday. Over the years, I’ve discovered a few cell phone games that have helped me pass a little time while staying off social media and out of the email inbox. That said, remember these two things: You aren’t there to play games, so limit the screen time, and airplane and silent modes are your friends. Here are my four favorites.
EA King of the Course
If you’re a golfer, you’ll love EA’s King of the Course. It’s one of my favorite airport games and can be a good option for the treestand as well. It’s a game you need to be careful with because it can get addicting and it does require some focus. Due to the graphics used and constant motion, it’s a battery killer, so play sparingly. You will also need service or Wi-Fi to play, which can be an issue.
Bubble Spinner
Bubble Spinner has to be one of the best mindless games out there. It’s also addicting, but it’s easy to put down if a deer shows up. The goal is to shoot the bubble from your hopper and hit a bubble in the center that matches your bubble’s color. The objective is to eliminate as many bubbles as possible from the middle of the screen. Play a version that doesn’t automatically shoot the bubbles for you or that high score will be toast. This one doesn’t drain the battery much, plus any game with shooting in it can’t be half bad.
Archery King
This is a dangerously addicting game. It does drain the battery and requires service or Wi-Fi to play the full version but there is an offline version. There are tons of levels and features like an Olympic arena, courses with swinging targets, distance changing targets and many other options. The objective is to hit the bull’s-eye or 10X — obvious I know — for the most points, which translate into coins. You can use these coins to upgrade your bow, arrows, sight and other equipment. It better be a big lull in movement if you’re going to put any time in with this game. It’s way too easy to get distracted and let your guard down. That said, it can be a fun way to pass some time.
Euchre
Being from Michigan, I am a little biased, but Euchre is my favorite card game out there. Once you get a grasp on the jacks being the highest cards in the game, the need to follow trump and how to strategically use your partner, the game is not too difficult. If you’re from the upper Midwest, chances are you’ve at least heard of the game, but unless you have experience, it will require a little studying. It’s a game played at a relatively fast pace, but when playing against the app you can easily take your time. When the moment comes, it’s easy to drop your phone into a pocket and be clipped onto your D-loop and at full draw in no time.
