Morning watch

[Hall_13]

How long before daylight do you guys go out? Need some advice. i feel like 2 hours in too early and 1 hour before is a little late but not sure. What do you guys do?

[Swamp_bucks]

45mins to an hr. Openning day of gun a little earlier.

[Robhuntandfish]

Depends on the location. If I can get in quiet a half hour before light.  If I have to get over fences and have an open field then sometimes not til I can see in field to see if there are deer out there .  Have learned that going in before light is sometimes not the play if you bumping deer you can't see.  Esp if you have more than one way into a stand. Have had bucks right in front of my stand and have them bust me in the dark more than once. Really depends on the spot. 

And if gun season sometimes it's better to still hunt ypur way in. 

[WNYBuckHunter]

Some stands Ill be in before daylight, maybe 30 mins before first light. Others I wait till it gets light and stillhunt my way in.

[Tughill Tamer]

I like to be in my stand about a half hour before first light.

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[wfmiller]

I can understand 30 minutes before daylight, I can understand maybe an hour if you are hunting public land, but 2 hours before daylight. No way am I going out there and sit at 4 am, I'd rather wait till 7 and come in in the daylight. Me I get in stand 10-15 minutes before daylight.

[AaronBlaine]

yea I used to go up into the woods hours before day light but after a few years of doing so I really didn't see the results that would justify it. I like to go in an hour before sunlight and if I spot any eyes I stop and turn my head lamp off and wait to sunrise. Most of the time you are just pushing the deer around and away from you as you go in when you could be hunting them at first light.  Although.....there is something nice about being all alone in the woods in the dark waiting for the sun to creep out and listening to a podcast or some tunes, or even just the sound of the critters running around.  Beats screaming kids and a nagging wife who doesn't eat venison....

[genesee_mohican]

28 minutes ago, AaronBlaine said:

yea I used to go up into the woods hours before day light but after a few years of doing so I really didn't see the results that would justify it. I like to go in an hour before sunlight and if I spot any eyes I stop and turn my head lamp off and wait to sunrise. Most of the time you are just pushing the deer around and away from you as you go in when you could be hunting them at first light.  Although.....there is something nice about being all alone in the woods in the dark waiting for the sun to creep out and listening to a podcast or some tunes, or even just the sound of the critters running around.  Beats screaming kids and a nagging wife who doesn't eat venison....

That last part made me laugh. I can relate.

I like to be settled in the stand about 30 mins before shooting light in most cases. I guess if you were hunting a bedding area, you'd want to be there sooner.  Crossing open crop fields in the dark you can pretty much bet on spooking deer on the way in. Taking the most stealthy path to the stand is something to consider, even if it's the long way there.

[MPHunter]

I like to be sitting 30 to 45 minutes before sunrise. Gives the woods a chance to settle down. It also gives me a chance to settle down. Last 300 yards to my stand is up a pretty good hill. Once I get settled in I can have a cup of coffee and a bite to eat and I'm ready to go when the sun comes up.

[bushnell]

I seem to be with the majority here. I settle in about 30 mins prior to sunrise. Then I usually take a 30 min power nap.

[The_Real_TCIII]

A day like Saturday I got in 15 minutes early because it was so cold. Every minute I’m early is one I can’t stay at the end lol. In good circumstances I like to be in 45-one hour early


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[Zuke]

I’ll be settled in about an hour before official sunrise time. Gives me time to get things how I want them and the everyone else around me time to get in and be the last ones to push the deer around.

[ApexerER]

I always plan on being in and setup no later than 45 minutes before whatever time sunrise is.  I like an hour before sunrise ideally but sometimes I am running late....

[GreeneHunter]

30 minutes before sunrise .... I like for the woods to settle down and to see the sunrise !

[Nomad]

I walk in mostly on the edge of fields and I like to see what's in them , to avoid busting them , so just as its staring to get light .

I d rather sleep,longer and stay on stand as late as I can if its cold or rainy , I prefer the hours on stand to be when I can shoot  not waiting to shoot .

Tomorrows sit I'll be on a field they cross early , but don't feed or hang out in, so any time in the dark is largely a waste .

Personally I hope to be on stand a few minutes before shooting light and done  no later then 30 minutes later .