stand approach, flash ligt or first light?

[beauleyse]

I'm a firm believer in being in the tree at least 30 minutes most of the the time 45 minutes to an hour before sunrise...I want the day to start as normally as possible...I can't tell you the number of deer I have shot right at first light... I killed a doe several years ago a first light that was bumped by a hunter a few hundred yards ahead of me coming in at first light.

Bright eyes and a clean trail is the best way to slip in quiet and quickly in the dark with only a flashlight.

The real challenge is when you can walk to your stand by only moon light those are my favorite walks, very little disturbance and what a way to feel like a predator than only using the moonlight and your knowledge of the land.

[richbat]

Used to go in while it was still dark but now at 1st light.Remember when i was younger i'd be out there an hour or so before light,but now just take my sweet old time getting to my stand,can't see to shoot anyhow when it's still dark out,but i guess it has it's advantages to getting on stand before the sun comes up.

[lt-m-grow]

Originally posted by goldflinger:
I usually try to get in the stand around 45 minutes before sunup, which is 15 minutes ahead of legal shooting time. Sometimes it is bright enough I do not need the flashlight at all, and other times I use it intermittently, but I all ways have it with me.

This is how I do it  too...

You need less light than you think you need and I see very little value being in stand - sitting in the dark - longer than 15-20 minutes before shooting time.

[awbowman]

I go in to within about 200 yards with flashlight (white light) then I switch to a red LED for the rest of the way.

Oh, the older I get the less I hunt in the morning also.  

I have shot 11 deer either sneaking to my stand or back form it, in legal shooting light.  I think I am better off just sneaking around, that is how I have shot most of my deer.

[DayTripper]

Believe it or not. I have used my 10 years old son's Eyeclops night vision. It works pretty good.You can get one around $60.00.

[md126]

flashlight. safer and quieter for me. use red or very low light pointed down for less visibilty, of the light not for me..

hate to see it when people use their lights like light sabers.. makes me cringe

[jonsimoneau]

I don't think flashlights bother deer as much as people think. I have had deer walk under my stand in the dark and have shined my flashlight on them from above with no negative results.

[adkmountainken]

wow as of right 180 votes and a staggering %80 go in by flash light, for some reason i had expected it to be about even.

[Hoyt]

Originally posted by jonsimoneau:
I don't think flashlights bother deer as much as people think. I have had deer walk under my stand in the dark and have shined my flashlight on them from above with no negative results.

X 2
I don't worry  about spooking deer or turkey with a light. Back when I would actually see a few deer in the woods I walked up on them all the time going and coming from stand with a regular head light and hand held light. I guess they just figure it's aliens walking around.

I was going in last yr real early to get a longs ways back and walked up to less than 10yds on one of the biggest racked buck I've ever seen in the woods.

I caught something shining out of the corner of my eye and pointed my hand held light and there he was. I had a dimmer head lamp on for watching my step and a longer beam handheld. He just laid there and never even looked at the lights he would just look past me to the left and right.

I walked up on two more last yr to about 20yds one almost as big and a little 4pt or so.

I use to not use light for turkey..but doens't work on new moon or close to it. Found out it didn't spook them anyway after setting up right under a couple using a light.

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

Have you realized that most of the no lights where lights and changed??

The other part of me going in at first light, is that I am good for about 3 hours without getting wonder lust, or just plane being done for the day.

Going in at first light as opposed to an hour or so early extends the time I am on stand during legal shooting time..


Mid to late morning has always proved more productive that first light.

[jax]

I use a light for protection. In our state if it's brown it's down

[Arwin]

Flashlight.
 I go in at least an hour before daylight to beat any bucks to the bedding area.  

[tim roberts]

For the most part it depends, first light or no light. Personally I like to get in early so it can settle down, though experience has shown that if your quiet settling down really doesn't take more than 5 minutes. Guess its planning for the best, preparing for the worst. If its a stand I haven't been to other than set up, I will wait until just before first light, if its one I have hunted a few times I go in while dark and never use a light.