What is..."Too early" or "Too late"?

[lt-m-grow]

I agree with everything Ryan and Bucknut already said, so I will double down on scent.  I don't want to be in my stand one more minute then when I can shoot.  My theory is every minute I am on stand, I am stinking/tainting/ruining that stand and the last thing I want to do is be there early or later wrecking it even more.   

And yes, I associate my scent in a very negative way when it comes to hunting, as it keeps me focused on how important it is to minimize it every way I can.   I always think of myself as a skunk to the deer.  Because it is one of the few things us hunters can smell well over time.  And in this case the longer a skunk (me) is in an area, the more area its (my) odor permeates.  And I don't see a skunk emoji so I will leave it there :-)

[Wudstix]

The less obtrusive any light that you use is the better; white light broadcasts extremely wide range in the woods, red is less noticeable but hogs have learned to recognize this as danger equal to white light, green is the least obtrusive and probably more closely simulates moon light.  Hogs and deer are least alarmed by it.  No light is the best option and usually the final approach (100 yards) to my stand is conducted this way.  Use of light has to be weighed against stumbling around in the dark.  Light should only be used when it is a better option.

 

[TooManyHobbies]

I like to be in my stand/blind 0-15 minutes before first light. I think an hour before is ridiculous. I would rather spend that hour on the other end to extend my hunt. Not to mention, it's an hour more of sleep, and an hour of not freezing in an uncomfortable stand/seat.
2 - 2.5 hours is usually good for an afternoon hunt (sunset here in CT).

[huntmaster70]

Seems like some people only want to hunt for a couple hours at a time, thats their choice.  But other people hunt a lot longer than that each time out, some all day.

[goingoldskool]

Goingoldskool... I'm not a small guy and trying to not break a sweat is a real concern. It seems like trying to be "sneaky" and slow is more effort than just a casual walk. I feel like my balance is better as well. So like you I just go at a moderate pace. Besides, there deer might wonder why that squirrel shuffling around in the dark is up so early. Is there an "armadillo walk"?

OkKeith
[/quote]

Something else I've considered was using a walking stick or trekking pole to make it sound like a four legged critter.....  I've been in a tree many times and tried to identify what kind of animal it was just by the noise it was making while walking around..... I've found that opossums and coons make way more noise than they should and way too many "squirrel " sounds turned out to be deer and vice Versa!

I too, am a good sized man... and building up heat is always a concern.  That's why I go a lot slower than I used to.... but keep a steady pace.

[Wudstix]

The walking stick idea is sometime I have used on occasion.  Not sure if it worked or not.  Makes sense.  I also like to spent all day in stand, walking in and out spreads more scent and makes more noise than sitting on a comfy seat all day. 
 

[gregg dudley]

I like being in the woods early because I like hearing the night sounds fade away and watching the sun rise.  However, in all my years of hunting I have killed very few deer right at first legal light.  Most deer that I have killed in the morning have been after 8:00 AM.  A couple of times a year I hunt with some boys in North Carolina that will not leave the cabin until they can see across the field.  Their theory is that they only have so much endurance to sit a stand based on cold, fatigue, comfort, etc. and they aren't going to waste it in the dark.  They are also actively hunting on the walk in to the stand.  You are not going to kill a deer that you bump in the dark, but you might see a deer in daylight and get a shot or at least avoid bumping it. 

[Sam McMichael]

I prefer to get into the stand well before daylight. In younger days, I made it a point to be a full hour before light, but as I get older, I arrive a bit later. Last year, I hunted the morning after we changed back from daylight savings time. Naturally, I screwed it up, and it was full daylight before I got in the stand. I feared it would be a wasted morning, but shortly after I got settled in the stand I killed an 8 point buck.

I still prefer to go in early, but I am not convinced that the cause is lost if I arrive later. In addition, I have seen a lot of deer during the middle of the day. I have been hunting regularly since 1964 and have spent a lot of hours in a stand. I guess the best time to hunt is the time you can get in the woods.

[T Sunstone]

I like being in the woods early because I like hearing the night sounds fade away and watching the sun rise.  However, in all my years of hunting I have killed very few deer right at first legal light.  Most deer that I have killed in the morning have been after 8:00 AM.  A couple of times a year I hunt with some boys in North Carolina that will not leave the cabin until they can see across the field.  Their theory is that they only have so much endurance to sit a stand based on cold, fatigue, comfort, etc. and they aren't going to waste it in the dark.  They are also actively hunting on the walk in to the stand.  You are not going to kill a deer that you bump in the dark, but you might see a deer in daylight and get a shot or at least avoid bumping it.

THIS

[OkKeith]

I like being in early like some have said. I will get in earlier to a blind than I do sitting a stand and less early (later?) if I am going to sit a stool in my Ghillie Suit. I would like to say this is due to hunting wisdom and how great of a hunter I am. Truth is as others have said, I just can't sit as long (or be as still) like I did when I was younger. My goal is always to be in and ready to go before the Cardinals start chirping. That always seems to be a good indicator of the woods waking up. For me watching it all slowly get brighter and critters start moving around is part of the fun.

I mostly hunt pop-up blinds that are comfortable and block the weather. If I have a good chair or stool I can sit all day (with the occasional "pit-stop"). I wouldn't eat Limburger Cheese or Sardines, but a modest lunch of crackers, cheese and a meat stick I think is fine. I carry a quart thermos of strong, sweet tea and one with just warm water when the air is cold. And of course POP TARTS, Blueberry!

Personal preferences in hunting methods are a lot like socks. Some folks like them minimalist some like them warm and fuzzy, but they all are meant to just cover your foot (that made more sense in my head than it did after I typed it... but you get my drift).

OkKeth

[Bowwild]

Since 1970, always the same. Many have posted.

In stand 30-60 minutes before shooting light. Walk in the dark when terrain is familiar.  I do use red or green lights when I use a light. I will have a deer blow at me in the dark maybe once every 1-2 years.

Want to be in stand at least 2 hours before shooting light (legal) concludes.

My decisions also have to do with the aesthetics of the hunt for me, not just the quarry. I love, morning hunts. I have neglected afternoon hunts much of my life (about 5 to 1). Probably shouldn't.