Need to give those deer a watch!

[Guppy]

I was out this morning and had a decent buck come by a little early. He was only about 10 yds away, but I couldn't even make out his rack. I could tell it had a nice body. When he got past me he went out into a hay field where it was a little brighter and that's when I saw the rack. No monster, but he would have been good enough for me!

[Deitz Dittrich]

I feel you man.. I was out about a week ago and had 6 walk by and still was dark enough that all I know is that they were deer...couln't even tell you buck or doe.

[Gus]

At least you were both in the stand early enough to have the deer come by you and not spook them on your way in!

[kc0myy]

How early should you get to you stand???? For hunting at sunrise.

[Froggy4371]

Well if you are bow hunting and you know that you can get in to the stand with out being busted? 15 before shooting is good enough. But if you are not sure what the deer are doing, well then I would be at the stand about a hour before shooting. It all depends on what you are comfortable with. When I go bow hunting I know my stands enough that when I do hunt in the morning I have to walk a different path as to not spook the deer out feeding but I get in my stand 10-15 min before shooting. Now when I slug hunt I am in my stand (depending on the temp) about a hour before shooting time cause when the other hunters come in the woods 5 min before shooting the send the deer right to me! I have had deer mill around me for 45 min before shooting time. So it is all what you can really figure out with your stands. Just remember the earlier you get there for most people the less time hunting cause most people can not sit longer then 3 hours.

Froggy

[Gus]

Froggy had a great response. It really does depend on the situation. For myself in most cases, I like to be quiet in the stand 30 min before shooting. For Gun season, the earlier the better. We have nice big safe stands were we gun hunt so I usually get there an hour before and take a quick cat nap before shooting. That's my favorite nap of the year. Then just wait for the deer. I try not to leave my stand for lunch. Other hunters do a great job of pushing the deer around. Just stay put and let them do the work while you reap the rewards. It pays to stay put.

[fivebucks]

Gus,

I don't see how you could nap in the 1 hour before legal shooting. It doesn't matter if I was up late I would be too fired up that I just would not be able to nap. Now once 9:00 rolls around I can be snoozing.

[kc0myy]

Thanks guys but what about afternoon hunts? When I was scouting and I spooked a doe and it was around 3:00pm I think.

[Gus]

Fivebucks, I hear ya man! Most times I can't. But by the third and fourth day of hunting I manage to get it done quite nicely. It's also the reason I give my brother so he gets his rear end out of bed so we can get out there early!

Get up! You can sleep in your stand once you get there! He's not much for getting up no matter the occasion.

Right now I'm going to be deer hunting the next three weekends. Two of them being 4 day hunts! Man I'm pumped!!!!

Need to score my first bow kill!

[Gus]

Spooking game is bound to happen at one time or another no matter how carefull you try to be. I wouldn't worry about it. If you know where bedding areas or feeding areas are, it's best to intercept the deer when they are moving to and from these areas rather than try to bust right into the middle of them (especially bedding areas). You'll spook less game this way but nothing is ever a guarantee.

Also, it's always better to be hunting than sitting at home! What I mean is don't not go hunting just because you can't be set in your tree by a certain time. It's always better to be hunting. ya got no chance from your recliner at home.