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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Justin Falon on October 29, 2013, 08:56:00 PM
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I know that it is impossible to argue with Roger Rothhaar and his success on huge bucks. Who enters his/her stand under the cover of darkness?? I did for years and I know I may have spooked some deer but have a very unique situation and have been thinking more and more about this.
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What are you thinking?
I do both. Just depends on my mood.
I really would like to read that book!
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I don't, I prefer to go in when it is just light enough to make my way with no flashlight.
Lots of others on this site do though.
ChuckC
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Uncle Barry does! And I even heard he shot a big buck or two!
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I am usually in my stand an hour before shooting time. I never use a flashlight.
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Me! And then, when I'm lazy... I'll go in later in the day.
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This morning I went in 40 minutes before daylight. Needed a headlamp part way so I didn't break my neck....lol! Most time I don't get early of a start. Funny because I see most of my deer sightings from 7:45- 10:45.
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Originally posted by Steve in Canton:
I am usually in my stand an hour before shooting time. I never use a flashlight.
x2
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If I am going to hunt a morning stand, I usually try to be in it before sunrise. Each situation may be different and dictate a different approach though. I shot my biggest buck 7 minutes after legal shooting light and I had been in the stand for half an hour that day.
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I like to get in the tree 20-30 minutes before daylight. It makes me feel better to let the woods calm down for a bit before daylight. Also most of the deer vocalizations I hear come pre-dawn.
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Im always in stand beofre shooting light and dont get down until after dark.
I hunt state land so i always use a headlamp even if its not fully dark. I do this a safety precaution so i dont get mistaken for a deer from another hunter. also dont want a sharp stick in the eye.
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Originally posted by Matthew Bolton:
I like to get in the tree 20-30 minutes before daylight. It makes me feel better to let the woods calm down for a bit before daylight. Also most of the deer vocalizations I hear come pre-dawn.
Me too, I also have to change my socks and my under shirt when I get climbed into my stand because I sweat so much. If not im sitting in damp clothes and that makes for a long cold sit.
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I can see some reasons why it may not always be best, but as a rule seems better for me to get settled well prior to shooting hours. It's also nice because it is so dang calm and you can tap into your hearing with no squirrels and birds.
Time change almost here = early rising!
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Yep, always!
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I as well get into the stand early. I like at least a good hour, anything less I start to doubt the spot and the idea of spooking deer on the way in. Reality, more times then I like I run a little late, but still always arrive before daylight.
Why would you wait until daylight? I've never heard/read reasons
not too
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1 hour to 45 mins before light. Heck I thought everybody did this. LOL
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I try to time it so that I am in the stand 15 minutes before shooting light.
But ground hunting I start walking at first legal light.
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Originally posted by centaur:
Originally posted by Steve in Canton:
I am usually in my stand an hour before shooting time. I never use a flashlight.
x2 [/b]
X3
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As Uncle Barry says, better an hour early then one minute late.
Jake,
Roger says in his first book that he likes to hunt his way into his stand at first light. It's hard to argue with his success.
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Originally posted by Walt Francis:
As Uncle Barry says, better an hour early then one minute late.
Jake,
Roger says in his first book that he likes to hunt his way into his stand at first light. It's hard to argue with his success.
Hmm, I'm way behind the eight ball here. Never heard of him or his books. Let me do some research and ill chime in later... Lol
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all good replies and that is what I was looking for. For years I walked a long way into my stands and was set up an hour before sunrise.
Roger Rothhaar and others swear that big bucks bed near their scrapes just prior to sunrise (or something like that). He and other advocate getting set up a little later which means walking to your stand when it is light enough to see. I don't like the thought of being outside my blind when it is light enough to see. Much prefer to be set up and if I have made any noise, letting the animals calm down a bit. Hopefully I can show you guys a photo of a nice buck within the next 15 days!! Hopefully. Thanks all!
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Thanks for sharing Walt. Everyone is different I guess. I like being set up long before the sun comes up. THis year it will be possible. Only have to walk about 50 yards from the back door to the blind. For real.
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I like to be in my stand at least a half hour before daylight I like for things to settle down and for me to relax. I walk anywhere from 500 yards to a 3/4 mile to my hunting spot and than I always use a climber so I try to set that up as quietly as I can.
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If you can get to your stand quietly, it is a good plan. however, on one farm the other guys were drving within a hundred yards of their stands, which always drove their deer and mine away before shooting hours. I had one stand that I needed to get to before any light to beat the deer. It was in a good spot because I shot two deer hanging out by my stand when I got there after legal shooting hours. If you are late, your best option is to still hunt to your spot. Charging in will chase any deer in the area off that pattern.
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I'm usually there before daylight. I had a young buck about 3 yards from my stand last Sunday about 10 minutes before legal light. I wouldn't have shot him anyway, but if I had waited until daylight to get there, I would have bumped him for sure. As it was, he had no clue I was there.
Every deer I have killed has been in the morning, I think, so it must work. The doe I shot this year was about 10 minutes after legal light. If I had waited until daylight to get there, I would not have had a chance at her.
Frankly, I'm not very good at still hunting. I move way too fast. I know it, but I can't seem to stop myself. I think a lot of when you get there depends on your own personality. I enjoy watching the woods come to life in the morning. Enjoyment is what I do this for, not for big bucks. I'd shoot one if I had the chance, but I'm not devastated if I don't. I have a doe in the freezer, so a buck is just a bonus at this point...or an excuse to be in the woods.
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The idea is that the does/young bucks generally travel into their bedding areas near or after first light, then the mature bucks cruise through a couple of hours later on trails that run perpendicular to the "into and out of cover" doe trails. The mature buck is thus able to scent check all of the doe trails in one pass after the other deer have went into bedding. If he hits a hot doe's trail he can follow her up. Of course all of this is predicated on pre- or in-rut hunting. The plan is to enter your stand AFTER the does have moved off to bed and BEFORE the buck cruises through. You avoid bumping the does off of the feeding area before daylight as you enter the stand, and don't have to keep from getting busted by them as they pass by.
Most of the mature bucks we've killed in the morning have been between 9-10 AM on this pattern.
Remember, Dad developed his philosophy on hunting mature whitetails before the days of large private landholdings with food plots and low pressure. Back in those days the rut was the way to go (and often still is). Nobody talked about hunting mature bucks early in the season - nowadays the newer "trophy hunters" talk alot about killing old bucks on summer/early fall food patterns the first week or two of the season. Lots of this has to do with unpressured land, food plots, and baiting in states where that is legal.
If I was hunting "deer" I would get in early. Hunting "mature bucks" during the rut, and being EXTREMELY careful not to push the doe groups off of their patterns, I would wait 'till after daylight.
For what its worth, I never get into a stand before I can see to shoot unless I have a specific reason to - each situation dictates the approach - but I'd say 90% of the time I'm getting into the tree at or after shooting light.
Keep in mind that all of Dad's writings were focused on hunting pressured, mature (that is 4 1/2 yrs old and older) whitetail bucks. Trying understand what he is talking about in the context of just "hunting any deer" is apples to oranges.
R
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atleast 30 mins before shooting light. I assumed this was standard practice.
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I have a friend that is a dedicated big buck hunter. He is in his stand at 4AM way before daylight. I have always been in beofre light but not sure i am that dedicated to loose that much beauty sleep.
Wanted to add that my friend always hunts away from feeding areas intercepting bucks as they move to there bedding areas. He also concentrates on feeding areas that are off limits to hunting like estates, parks ect.
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It all depends on the setup and if you think you can get around where the deer will be heading back to bed in the morning without them crossing your inlet path. I am sure more deer are spooked by smell than site so to me my scent in walking in is more important to take out of the situation than them seeing me.
Another issue is our lights we use to enter. That is why I just researched and bought a light I can use with different output levels and it doesn't wreck my night vision and is able to be held so the deer can not see the beam as they can a headlamp.
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typically I like to be in and set an hour before daylight. That is just plain quality time with nature and our Creator.
However, if I am hunting high pressure areas I have noticed lots of movement mid-day. If my schedule allows I have no issue going in later and hunting mid-morning to mid-afternoon, especially during rut.
Deer pattern us better than we pattern them.
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Thanks to Ryan Rothhaar for explaining his dads ideas on mature bucks habits. It makes a lot more sense to me now that I know his reasons for approaching his stand after first light.
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I consider myself late to an AM stand if I'm not in it at least 30 minutes before legal shooting time. A HUGE part of the fun for me is to be in the dark and contemplate the coming light. While very rare from my favorite stand I love to hear the sound of deer walking in the darkness.
When I hunt PM I also walk out at dark.
I realize the point about walking in with enough light to see with the theory being to make less noise. I know my hunting areas very well. I don't even need a flashlight. While deer see better than I do in low light, I'm confident they can see me better, at distance during daylight vs. dark.
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I have many times; however, the last number of years I have hunted only one farm. On this farm the only way to fence rows and woods is through crop fields or hay fields. Typically I have run deer out of the fields on the way in, which has also buggered up the woods. So for the last 10 years of so, I have gone into the woods for afternood hunts or waited until deer clear the fields and gone in about an hour or so after daylight. Best of luck!
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depends on the stand, some of my stands are pretty hard to find! i am usually in the stand before first light and really try not to use the flash light that much.
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I like to be in my stand and ready at least 15 minutes before legal shooting time, 1/2 hour before sunup here. The main reason I do it is just for the chance to watch the woods wake up and the excitement and anticipation of slowly walking in and setting up in the dark.
I can see the reasoning behind Mr. Rothaar's advice and will second that most of my buck sightings take place 1.5-3 hours after sunrise.
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I like to be settled in to my stand and quiet 30 minutes before legal shooting time.
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A famous person, once said in a book I have, "It's better to be an hour early than a minute late." So, yes, I go in before daylight. The buck I killed this year came in less than 5 minutes after I got in my stand and fed within 10 yds. of me on acorns until it got light enough to identify him as a legal buck. If I had waited until light enough to see I would have spooked him out of area.
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I'm usually in stand about a hour before any kind of light. I have read Rogers book as well but he hunts in a WAY different world than I do ,
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I get in my stand 45-50 minutes before sunrise, or 15-20 minutes before legal shooting light. I can usually get to most of my stands without a flashlight. If I use one, it is pointing straight down. I am usually hard pressed to sit for more than 4 hours and by that time my bladder is killing me. I do not pee from the stand or use a bottle, so the 15-20 minutes gives me until about 11:00am. The majority of my deer are shot in the morning, and although I do hunt evenings occasionaly, I do not look forward to tracking and gutting in the dark.
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Mr. Rotthar, very interesting and thanks for that.
TJ,
That is why I use a low red led when close to the stand. I have been on the ground right next to deer staring at me in the dark. I'm sure they can see it, but not much compared to white light. It also doesn't mess up your night vision and is good if you have to do small tasks on stand.
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I have been in my spot as early as 1 hour before light. Depends on where I am going to sit. I have spots that the deer show up early enough you can only see the movement.
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I nearly always go to the stand in the dark in the am(1/2 hour or so). I like to let everything settle down and then hear the woods come alive at daybreak.
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I usually wait till pink light. I have jumped to many deer going in before daylight. They start blowing and stomping alerting every deer around. I see more deer by stalking to my stand slow quiet and easy.
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That's good stuff Ryan. I hadn't thought about that. Hmmmm
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it depends on where i am going. if i hunt near a green field or if i have to walk through one to get to my tree i will wait and walk in at day light. i will bump deer 90% of the time if i try and go in earlier. it all depends on where i am hunting
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I always try to get back in where I'm going early enough to get up in the tree just before daylight. I don't like to get up in stand when no moon or pitch black dark..I get a form of vertigo when I can't see anything and up a tree..wierd feeling.
It's about an hour and a half walk so I don't always make it. I use a headlight and have a light in my hand to reach out an see my trail.
Walked up within 10yds of a bedded doe two days ago way before daylight.
Walked to within 10yds of this buck yr before last right exact spot where he's laying in the trial cam picture from last yr. He never even looked my way and I had two lights on him..never even got up..bout hour before daylight.
Most deer I come across on the way in I get close to and they eventually run or walk off..very seldom blow.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Iflytrout/Trail%20Cam/Homebuckz_zps7068c735.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Iflytrout/Trail%20Cam/SUNP00042_zps8913fc88.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Iflytrout/Trail%20Cam/HomeBuck_zps7857e247.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Iflytrout/Trail%20Cam/Bedded_zps2b634c1c.jpg)
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Usually 45 mins before light. I too don't use a light if possible, but also like the woods to settle
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"I am usually in my stand an hour before shooting time. I never use a flashlight."
I'm curious as to how you find your way in the dark? Here in the eastern woods where I hunt, I sometimes get turned around or confused even with a flashlight. Now, some of my stands are a mile back in the woods too, no woods roads, no reflective tacks either.
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Daylight only when I know there are gun hunters in the area. Otherwise it is dark thirty o'clock going in to the stand.
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Thank you Ryan. You just into words what I could not describe. Makes total sense.
Justin
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Depends on the stand! If I am hunting a stand where I have to cover an open field to get there I always wait and glass the field before crossing! If its all woods I like to go in under complete darkness!
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I always go in before first light.
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I guess I will have to go in even earlier, after seeing trail cam pics of a big buck that was on a trail at 0230 this morning. :knothead:
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About an hour before daylight.
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I haven't hunted from trees for over 20 years, but sometimes I hunt stationary from the ground. My thoughts are that if you can't get there at least an hour before shooting light, then you ought to wait until after light so you can sneak in quietly. That is, unless you have noiseless walking to your stand - such as in a damp field or something like that.
I think that a person walking in dark woods alerts every deer within 100 yards at a minimum. Yes, the deer might think it is another deer, but not usually.
Others may have good luck going in 30 minutes prior, but I prefer otherwise.
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For me this depends on the situation. Sometimes I need to be in the stand an hour before daylight. Other times I find it beneficial to make my way to my spot after sunup...it gives me the opportunity to still hunt along the way.
Most of the time, when bowhunting, I try to be up a tree early. With a firearm, I like for it to be light enough to see what I may happen to come across on my way in. I've killed a lot of deer just easing through the woods, looking and listening, with both bows and guns.
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I use to get into the stand a good 30 minutes before shooting time. I have bumped lots of deer over the years doing it. I have also just gotten settled in and have a nice buck walk by before legal shooting or light enough to pick a spot.
This year I lost sight in one eye and found out the 1st couple attempts that you get real clumsy with one eye in the dark. So this year I had to wait for shooting light to safely get to my stand.
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Most of my stands are a mile or so off the road in big woods so I start my walk to them in the dark, but try to time it so there's just enough light to see the last few hundred yards to my stand. Enables me to sneak in much more quietly. I seldom spook deer that way, and have had them come by before I was able to pull up my bow and pack. I spooked many more deer when I used to go in in the dark.
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I go in before daylight with a light. Everybody spooks a few deer from time to time if they are close whether or not a light is used. My belief is that the light will not spook them any more than my noise and movement walking in. I do try to get on stand with all my gear squared away well before daylight, preferably an hour or so. That way the woods settle down and deer moving into the area at shooting light will not be disturbed.
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Depends. But rarely get settled in stand very long before pink light. Not so sure flash lights spook deer- my experience is they will let you approach to within shortage yards before they spook. Now, if I must cross a crop field I always wait until pink light so I can see the field is clear.
My guess is this all varies depending where and how you hunt.
Dan
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I would rather still hunt my way in and get shot opportunity than going in the dark and blowing the deer out . Im in and ready about 8/30. I see more deer around noon . But I'm way in and hunt the benchs up top
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I would rather still hunt my way in and get shot opportunity than going in the dark and blowing the deer out . Im in and ready about 8/30. I see more deer around noon . But I'm way in and hunt the benchs up top
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I am in my stand before sun up and have bumped them going in and going out. But most of the time if I see a deer in the am in is before the sun is up but light out.
I have killed all my deer with a bow in the evening. But have seen a bunch in the am. just never had a shot or just blew the shot.
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I always get there 20-30 minutes before first light. And, I use a flashlite. I believe the sooner you're there, the sooner things "settle down". I've seen many deer at first light. I also try to work the wind on the way in.
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I 'hang and hunt' since I hunt public land. I decided this year that I wanted to try mid day hunts. Knowing that I wouldnt hunt all day, I decided to go in about 8AM and Hunt til 2PM (or dark if the schedule allowed). Luckily the spot I was hunting allowed me to come in from an angle that wouldnt push any deer off. I ended up shooting my buck around 10AM and I would have normally been back home by then.
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I get in early when I can and late when I cant get in early. Then again, I hunt just any deer.
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I have a hard time finding my judos in the dark. I shoot all the way across the fields til I get to the woods. Shoot before I get down. Confidence builder. Make sure all the clothing is in order w/ no restrictions. Everything works...every time.
So I go in at daylight. Out after dark.
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I try to get set up before daylight but I have shot a lot of deer between 10:30 and 2:30, with most being shot around 11:00. I think the only reason is because I am still in the stand when others have left.
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I hunt public go in early I'm late if I am not on stand1 hr before light, if you have a chunk of land you can control the pressure and manipulate entry and exit routes to stands via plantings ect then I could see the entering after light.
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Only time I wait to go in after light is, the phase of the rut where more movement is from 10 am and 2pm, which in the Midwest I'd 10 November on.
By then a little extra sleep is helpful.
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On a side note, I have hunted missouri for 20 years kansas and iowa for the last 10 years.
What works in one place won't work in another, location, pressure has more effect on what deer do. So I have found the deer at your location dictate what your plan will be.
Once I threw every book and magazine away and started to learn from the deer in my situation the lightbulb went off.
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I do both, I hardly ever sit the same tree twice. If I know I can slip in quiet and walk straight to my tree Ill go in before light. If it is a new spot or there are alot of obstacles ILL wait until there is enough light to see. By the way a green or red filter on your flashlight will aid in not spooking game. I prefer green. I will say there is something special about being in a stand before light and watching the woods slowly come alive around you!
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I do both, I hardly ever sit the same tree twice. If I know I can slip in quiet and walk straight to my tree Ill go in before light. If it is a new spot or there are alot of obstacles ILL wait until there is enough light to see. By the way a green or red filter on your flashlight will aid in not spooking game. I prefer green. I will say there is something special about being in a stand before light and watching the woods slowly come alive around you!
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1 - 1 1/2 hrs before sunrise for me.
Bisch
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Keb, "What works in one place won't work in another, location, pressure has more effect on what deer do. So I have found the deer at your location dictate what your plan will be."
Agree totally, remain flexible.
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My best buck came from iowa,I had to cross a wide open cornfield to get to a woodlot, I could not wait till light because the wood lot was to small and the deer would have spooked.
At 3am I entered that woodlot.
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I try to be in by half hour before if sitting a stand, but honestly usually coming in right at legal light. Partly so I dont have to carry a bow case (must be encased before/after shooting light) partly cuz we got big coyotes (bush wolves as they are often called - they are a cross) and they have followed me out before after dark (felt like I was being watched, checked the prints next morning - yep - two of em) they make me nervous ;0), but usually mostly cuz I slept in ;0) Only time I have seen Big bucks on the property I hunt has been between 10am - 2pm
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I prefer to get in 20 minutes or so before legal light. But I do not sweat it if I am getting in a bit later.
Years ago I would get in an hour or more before legal light and end up napping in the tree until showtime. I know it is shocking but in those days safety was not such a big deal.
As for the light I prefer to use one, not so much to see but to be seen. Even if hunting private land I prefer to use it.
The weather also plays a big part in how early I go in. This year we were in the teens with high winds and some of our guys were out an hour before light. I thought that was crazy.
I do remember one old timer talk about going out at 2-3 am and taking his sleeping bag and setting up. But he was after a big buck and had him pattered.
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I have always been in my stand before daylight, usually much too early but this year I started going in when it was light enough without using a light. Never spooked any deer at all.
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If there are pigs in the woods you hunt and if you are not winded, I don't think making noise, in the dark, is as much of a factor. I've heard a lone pig make more noise than I could make while toting a 24' alumunim extension ladder thru the woods. But then again, that's just me.
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In soe states it's illegal to go too early.
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A friend of mine goes out at 2 am in the spring for turkey. Brings one of those horseshoe neck pillows and goes back to sleep. Hes convinced you have to be that early to let the woods quiet down... I guess snoring is a natural woods sound :dunno: