How early?

[MJ1657]

How long before legal shooting hours does everyone climb into their stand?

Ill usually out there 30 to 45 minutes before shooting starts.

Do you think there is a big advantage to being there earlier?

[mainbutter]

I get up at 4:30, because that's as early as I'm able to wake up usually, and I take a long morning to get some breakfast, coffee, and a shower. I make it to my tree stand when I make it to my tree stand.. sometimes before shooting starts, sometimes after.

[Musky Buck]

I do try to beat the field hunters in the area to my stand because they burn the deer out of there like crazy, some so lazy they drive right to their stand shining their little field, sends the deer in deep and I better be 12 feet up before they come in or I'm just going to startle them more.

[Musky Buck]

I should add the calmer it is the earlier I get there, the windier it is I don't worry as much about being mega early. Depends a lot on where you hunt and where your stands are and past years experiences, I have to get in early because field hunters takes them a minute or 2 or a short time, me walking in swamp water etc. slow going so I have to get rockin early and I don't want to get sweated up so I have the time to go slowly.

[harvey lee]

I typically get to my stand an hour or maybe a little before. if I jump a deer on the way in, if they do not wind me, they will come back.

I like to shoot the early buck so I do not mind an extra hour os so in the stand.

Don't want the season to end to fast.

[KJMinion]

I'm usually in my stand about 45 min. to an hour before shooting time. The main reason is that where my stand is, I often can hear deer walking around when it is still dark and I figure I have a better chance of not to pushing them when I'm walking in to the stand even though I quite often still do. It also gives me plenty of time to get settled in. Besides, it really hasn't been very cold the last several firearms seasons so it is just kind of nice to get up in the stand early and close my eyes for a little while before the fun begins!

[pikestabber]

I definitely think there's an advantage, and it relates to what others have said. I hunt much further back in the woods then the majority of people in that area, so by getting back good and early, I often feel the late-comers and noisy hunters are helping to push deer to me. 20 minutes before shooting time is really pushing it. I feel better about at least a half hour.

[paceman]

I like to be in about 30-45 minutes.....

[Musky Buck]

Here's another reason, past experiences, I noticed in some of my areas the deer seem to be on the edge of the swamp closer to shooting light, the later I get there the more deer I spook, the earlier I get there often times the deer are out in the middle of the field and during snow years or moon lit years, seems to be the case and also if I bump one in the dark dark they don't seem to be as spooked as if they actually can see me which means I can see them, those dark dark deer I just may see when I need to later. I also tend to get on a pace and I don't stop until I get there, when I have stopped some years I've spooked them I think by primarily stopping, I just go go go if they can hear me or whatever, at least as I move away from them that's juts what they're hoping for, there's some butchered analysis.

[BobT]

Quote:

Do you think there is a big advantage to being there earlier?

If the deer you are looking for is that predictable then yes. Otherwise, it's a matter of being in the right place at the right time.

In my experience you can spook a deer in one moment and it could be back five minutes later not remembering you were there. If I spook a deer on the way in it doesn't really matter if it was 1 hour before daylight or 10 minutes before daylight. In either case, I wouldn't have an opportunity for a shot anyway legal or not. Within 10 minutes of being in the stand, any deer that heard me come in is not likely to remember I am there any more than we would.

[Phunnyfarm]

I like to get up into the stand at least 30mins before shooting. Like the others have said, as long as I am in the stand before the others, I feel like I have better chance of getting some deer pushed my way.

[psepuncher]

I walk, go slow don't sweat. I'm set at least 1 hour before

Have busted deer many times, and have also had deer follow me , actually grunting at me on the way to my stand. Either way I try to be early.

[Musky Buck]

PSE you bet you jogged my memory, no doubt if I jump anything or startle anything I've often used my grunt call sparingly and continued on, it put at least some deer at ease sometimes somewhat anyway, it doesn't hurt if you can mimic a deers sound especially a buck so they don't want to maybe come see you as they know how rowdy the bucks are now. Watch it will read Musky Buck got ran over in the cover of darkness using his grunt call walking through the woods lol.

[psepuncher]

also...

If I'm calling a wolf I may go in a few hours earlier than that.

[psepuncher]

PSE you bet you jogged my memory, no doubt if I jump anything or startle anything I've often used my grunt call sparingly and continued on, it put at least some deer at ease sometimes somewhat anyway, it doesn't hurt if you can mimic a deers sound especially a buck so they don't want to maybe come see you as they know how rowdy the bucks are now. Watch it will read Musky Buck got ran over in the cover of darkness using his grunt call walking through the woods lol.

Musky,

As far as back as the first deer camp, it never changes.

It only takes one deer to make ya famous.

I bet it's happened before but who is gonna admit it?

The stories I can tell, but as a kid was always sworn to keep quiet.

My son actually shot a 150 that was about to run a guy over

during a drive[yes legal hours]........... My suggestion, wear a helmet.lol

[surewood]

20-30 minutes. Use to do an hour. Haven't noticed any difference in my success.

[MattL]

It really depends on the location. If I'm hunting a food source its at least an hour. If its a bedding area and I can get in without crossing a feeding area I feel 20-30 minutes is fine.

[Archerysniper]

I normally get in a hour to 45 min's early and have shot a few sleeping under the stand.