AM stand arrival?????

[Conan]

I believe in the I'd rather be an hour early than a minute late theory, but others think that busting through the woods in the dark spooks game. I know I've spooked deer on the way in, but I've also had deer walk past me during "false light" when if I was walking in at that time I would not have seen. What time do you arrive on your morning stand, and what are your reasons?

[bowdude]

Either atleast a half hour before shooting light or in shootable light.  Sometimes I will sleep in and go out a couple hours after 1st light.   Think about those times you have seen bucks up and around in the middle of the day, there is a reason for it.  Also it depends on where I plan on sitting.  Big woods, field edge, etc.   No set rules in hunting.

[Otto]

If I'm gonna bust deer on the way in, I'd just as soon they not see me.  Bustin em in the daylight seems to spook them much worse than when it occurs in the dark.

My $0.02

[madness522]

I like to start the stalk to my stand about first light and hunt to my stand.  I pretend that there is a big buck feeding right under my stand.  It might take me 30 minutes to an hour to get to my stand but everytime I do this I learn something about woodsmanship and how to stalk more effectively.

[eagle24]

Depends on the stand.  Sometimes I want to get in 30 minutes before shootable light.  Other stands I prefer to start in at first light.  I rarely use a light going to my stand in the morning.  I have one morning stand that I want to be in at least an hour before first light because of how I have to get to it.  Any later and I risk spooking deer that might have already started that direction.

[pseman]

Depends on where I am hunting. I hunt in north Alabama in a mountainous area and often see deer at or soon after first light. When hunting there, I go in before light. When hunting near home in south/central Alabama, I rarely see deer before 7A.M. and I tend to go in as soon as there is enough light to walk in without using a light. It may also vary depending on a particular stand sight.

[Peachey]

I like to be settled in before first light. To me thats one of the best things about hunting, getting to watch the woods wake up so to speak.

[ChuckC]

I arrive in mornng stand around 9:00.  I don't do well with waking up at 0:dark:30.  I like afternoon stands Waaaayyyy better.
ChuckC

[jmack]

This will only be the third season that I've ever hunted, and the first with my bow(last year was my first even shooting a bow at all, so I didn't hunt with it). For the past two years, I've spooked nice bucks who were standing directly underneath my stand on opening day. I know my stalk in is good because I could have jumped and touched a deer both times. I think this year I will be in my stand atleast an hour before sunrise.

[woodchucker]

I start stillhunting to my stand at first light(i.e.when it's light enough to clearly see small twigs and branches on the trees around me) Many times I have gotten shots at undisturbed deer on my way to my stand.(and also on the way out)