woolybear Posted July 28, 2009 Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 Figured this best asked here as a general overall question with any weapon. Do you methodically make your way through the woods in hopes of seeing your dream buck before he sees you on way to stand/ blind, or do you just march right in to your set up and just set up to the site. I've hunted with alot of guys that that take the latter aproach. I don't like that one myself, but some will swear by it. Wait for light or get there hours earlier? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camoman1 Posted July 28, 2009 Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 I prefer to be up in the stand about 30min before shooting light. I take time during the off season to make sure I have easy and quiet access to my stands even in the dark. I love sitting up in the stand and watching the woods wake up, and that erie sense you get when you know some kind of critter is close to you but you really cant tell what it is because its pitch black out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layin on the smackdown Posted July 28, 2009 Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 (edited) Really, it all depends on the situation. Morning hunts, i don't knock an arrow, and i generally take my sweet time getting to the stand while making as little noise as possible..I generally get in the stand about a half hour before shooting time... but on the way out, you can bet your sweet behind I've got an arrow knocked, and im again taking my sweet time through the timber. Afternoon hunts, i walk in as quiet as can be with an arrow knocked...I have had some awesome encounters with some big deer while coming in and out of the woods, so you can never really be prepared enough. The walk to the stand should never be a march, and can sometimes put you on deer before you know it. The walk to and from the stand is just as, if not more, important than being in the stand. Edited July 28, 2009 by layin on the smackdown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion_70 Posted July 28, 2009 Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 In the mornings I would rather be in my stand before it starts getting light, if however I'm running late, then I sneak in still hunting until I get to the stand. In the evenings I always still hunt in to the stands. You never know when one is running around early. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY_Bowhunter14 Posted July 28, 2009 Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 I will usually get into my stand right at first light, it is still dark enough that the deer can't really tell what ya are, so I see no sense in going in 30 minutes to an hour before first light... I have had many occasions where deer have spooked when I come in the woods at first light, only to see them about 5 minutes after I get into my stand... As for walking into the woods, my dad has always to me to take my time and not to make a beeline to my stand... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted July 28, 2009 Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 For morning hunts I get to my stand as quietly as possible well before shooting light. When I leave I slip out slowly and quietly just in case a shot opportunity is offered. If it is, the stalk is on for clear shot in range. In the afternoon, I slip in just like I slipped out in the morning for the same reason. At dark I try to quietly slip out without using a flashlight until I'm well away from my stand area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sskybnd Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 im in my stand an hour before daylight, so the hunt would have to start when i can see, could have killed alot of deer on they way to the stand that i see in the food plot or at the feeder, but i just try to slip in and still get in the stand if the winds right they will come back shortly and they didnt bust me or wind me, than i stay till i cant see the ground any more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 I usually slip in before the sun is up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 Depends. Sometimes I stalk my stand, especially in afternoons. Mornings I typically try to be in my stand 30-45 minutes before shooting light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 When gun hunting, I'm ALWAYS hunting as long as it is legal shooting hours. When bow hunting, I strictly a stand hunter. For mornign hunts I'm set up before daylight. For afternoon hunts most of my sets require walking in from open fields. No need in nocking an arrow because deer don't normally run out of the woods into a field with a hunter in it. My focus is getting to my stand quietly and quickly. I also walk in in ways I don't anticipate deer moving through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Metal Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 I do both. Morning hunts I am in the tree when it's still super dark so my goal in the morning has always just been to get out there as quiet....but as quickly as possible (which isn't as quiet!). Then I set up. Every deer I've taken so far I've gotten in the morning hunts. When I go out for the evening hunt or on a mid day hunt, I am quiet and tender-footed. Sneaking my way every 15-20 ft, stop and listen, then go again. Takes for freakin' ever to get to my stand but I can't help it. LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zambo Posted July 31, 2009 Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 I like to sneak in just at first light. So I get to my stand at shooting time. Our woods are thick and nasty and it makes it easy to get in undetected when I can kind of see a little. I also like to stalk out in the morning and stalk back in for an afternoon hunt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olsplittoe Posted July 31, 2009 Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 In the woods early and in my stand and settled before first light. If movement is slow I may creep thru the woods slow and easy looking for a shot. Evenings just slip in slow and stay well after dark. In either case in or out I try never to take the same route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jokostel Posted August 5, 2009 Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 First legal light to last legal light. I don't take any breaks during midday-- short of sitting on top of a ridge, glassing the hillsides,coulies.... in ND all I hunt is the badlands during normal deer gun. With muzzleloader season I'll work the breaks and harvested fields. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kid Posted August 6, 2009 Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 i like to get out there way before its light, i hunt fields so there isnt a whole lot of activity after the first intial light.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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