Scbasshunter Posted October 30, 2012 Report Share Posted October 30, 2012 I have always thought that when hunting in the morning, you want to be in the stand when it is still dark so you are in and settled when shooting light opens up. However, I have noticed that alot of guys/gals on TV are getting to their stand after sunrise. Is there any benefit to either method that puts it above the other? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBucks27 Posted October 30, 2012 Report Share Posted October 30, 2012 I know what your saying. We also get in to our stands before light so we can catch them going into their beds before the sun comes up. I also believe it has to do with being in the right place at the right time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisSeb53 Posted October 31, 2012 Report Share Posted October 31, 2012 I would still do what you are doing. I like to get to my stand before the deer start to trickle into the woods at first light. Who cares what the people on T.V. are doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted October 31, 2012 Report Share Posted October 31, 2012 if you're not in your stand you can't kill anything. sometimes you end up making it in a little late. most of the time you should be in the stand and settled in once legal shooting light exists. it depends on the stand and where it's at. many times during the pre-rut around now a big buck will head back to cover sooner. then later you'll see doe groups work on through after sunrise. an exception to this is one stand i've had. it's best as a morning stand. however, the only access to it is through the field the deer are in. i wait until the deer leave the field after sunrise and then i take a short cut down the ridge to the stand. the deer worked around and through the woods feeding on acorns and eventually work by my stand, that's not far from a brushy bottom bedding area, around 9AM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted October 31, 2012 Report Share Posted October 31, 2012 TV people are worried about not enough camera light...camera or no camera Im shooting if I can see him..too dark to get good footage??.... thats your problem, I'll be sitting behind a dead buck with a huge grin!..lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smha6784 Posted October 31, 2012 Report Share Posted October 31, 2012 Hunting in the morning. I hunt southeast MS and I dont go out until after sunrise. After years of hunting this property and using trail cams I have learned deer in my area don't move until 8:30 or later in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 31, 2012 Report Share Posted October 31, 2012 Legal shooting light here is 30 minutes before sunrise. I usually like to get to the stand 30-45 minutes before legal shooting light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scbasshunter Posted October 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2012 Hunting in the morning. Smha- that's my thing, do the majority of deer not move until after light? Especially when it's cold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 31, 2012 Report Share Posted October 31, 2012 Smha- that's my thing, do the majority of deer not move until after light? Especially when it's cold. NO. Deer activity obviously varies depending on time of year/weather food sources, and rut stages, but in general in the mornings peak activity is usually before or at sunrise when deer for the most part are headed back to where they bed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abear491 Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 I think it varies. Most of the time I like to be there before light but with a gun it doesn't bother me to be there a little later because gun can reach out an touch one, but with a bow I much rather be early. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tetro Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 I think its the type of area you hunt in. If you have a ways to walk to get to the stand then the sooner you get to it the better, to avoid spooking anything. Or if the spot you're going is short stroll and deer come from different spots, because of a small field and mixed bush adjacent form your stand. Then waiting till daybreak to head into it may work. Every hunting spot is different to the next so tactics will will alter which one. IMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smha6784 Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 Hunting in the morning. The best thing to do is scout your hunting area, use trail cams with correct time date and moon phase stamp and pattern your deer. I also, and it's just something I do, compare movement times from my cameras to solunar calendars major and minor times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smha6784 Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 Hunting in the morning. I have a question for those of you who do go in the woods before daybreak. Do yall use a flashlight to walk through the woods?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PriceRacing35 Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 I have a question for those of you who do go in the woods before daybreak. Do yall use a flashlight to walk through the woods?? Never. Only use a light when I'm tracking a deer in the dark. But I've been in and out of our woods my whole life. I could walk blindfolded. Point things out and miss all the wells. I even go as far as to turn off all the lights in the truck to pull in and out. Use the moon or the marker lights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 I like just enough light to see the ground in the morning if I'm in the woods. I hate stepping on sticks and making noise and I don't like using a flashlight. Nothing wrong with getting in later and staying later either. Ben many good bucks killed in the 11-2 time slot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 Ansolutly get in early as you can..stay in as long as you can Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 The best thing to do is scout your hunting area, use trail cams with correct time date and moon phase stamp and pattern your deer. I also, and it's just something I do, compare movement times from my cameras to solunar calendars major and minor times. I do believe moon phases have some influence on deer movement, and I have been paying a lot more attention to the minor and major activity according to scoutlook and the realtree game forecast. As best as I can tell the minor activity is when we see more activity here and the major activity has had very few sightings and those sightings only at times cosistent with when we would normally expect to see deer, right at daylight or right at dark. I have a question for those of you who do go in the woods before daybreak. Do yall use a flashlight to walk through the woods?? About the only time I use a flashlight is during our youth hunt when we get to some spots where the ground is rough, did use the light there a few times during archery when it was pitch black out too. Don't want the kids to trip or twist their ankles and that is a green led light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 i've raked a trail into stands before if not i want to be quiet, so i use a red light or regular white LED light and keep it pointed down. it's best to not use any light if you can still be quiet and find where you're going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smha6784 Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 Hunting in the morning. I have killed more deer in late morning than early, that's for sure! I also cannot find any relationship between major/ minor times and the activity of the deer I hunt. But moon phases do affect the estrus cycle so I will be watching this closely during the rut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhine16 Posted November 2, 2012 Report Share Posted November 2, 2012 Hunting in the morning. I'm going to be there for as much legal shooting light I possibly can, so that means I'm definitely going to be there when first light happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 On private ground I'm in my stand at daybreak - no flashlight unless my son is along. On public ground I'm in my stand one hour before daylight - I use a flashlight. Don't want to get shot when everyone starts walking in the woods at sun-up. This year is my sons first deer camp (public ground) not going in the woods till it's light enough to see. I know deer move at any time during the rut, but I see a lot of deer around noon when other hunters are headed back to camp for lunch and get the deer moving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexPredator Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 Hunting in the morning. I prefer to be in the woods before dawn. Deer seem to be like fish in that they tend to move and graze during the "magic hour" - the first hour of daylight and the last hour of daylight. I also stay till true dark during evening hunts. Maybe I can't see to take a shot but I may see or hear something and learn where the big boy is coming in at. That tells you where to stage up to get him earlier sometimes. I enjoy hearing the woods wake up at dawn. If you are in place most critters don't know you are there and you see some cool stuff during their morning routines! If you arrive after light you are wasting a good half hour of daylight waiting on your surroundings to settle back down and get comfortable with your presence. Just my thoughts. Let scenario and weather dictate though to your personal liking. There's no wrong way to hunt - just have fun and get in the woods! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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