Just wondering on your sucess during mid-day hours. I have seen most of my mature bucks between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 in November. Just cant seem to sit still much past 11:00 a.m.

In November any time is a good time to hunt.  The deer abandon all other instincts and just chase does during the rut, that's why mid-day or any time of day is a good time to see big bucks.

Have seen a ton of big bucks at 11-2 p.m. from last week of Oct. till beginning of Dec..but the 2 bigger ones Ive killed were killed around 9 a.m.

Yesterday while it was lightly raining here I saw a nice 8pt at noon with 3 does. He was on the wrong side of the road but he was out there bold as all get out.

A very good observation, over the last couple of years, especially during bow season, I have gotten out later  to my stand, and have seen quite a bit of moveement between those hours..

Now I sleep in...

 

Start later.
If your having trouble staying in your stand tell yourself "just another 20 or 30 minutes, then repeat until complete. I carry a notepad and camera with me and if things get slow I'll jot down a few notes or snap a few pictures.

Another trick is to take a few trans Atlantic flights, after a few TA flights seating in a tree enjoying Gods creations is a piece of cake.

See alot of deer here in the middle of the day, especially during the rut and when the moon is bright, and also in late season when it gets really cold. The older I get the easier it seems for me to sit there longer. All day long is tuff to do. Alot of times I will try to sit from daylight till  around 2:oo.

Actually I do almost all of my hunting between 9am and 3pm.

I put my little guy on the bus at 8:30,I'm in the woods by 9:00 hunt untill 2:30-3:00 then home by 3:30 to get him off the bus. I get to hunt almost every day,and I see LOTS of deer!!!!!

It works for me!!!!!      

As soon as the rut hits in full swing here I plan on at least one full day hunt in my Darkhorse, with a buck decoy in display, I'm going to make him a 1/2 rack a try to slay a gaint that has been seen on the place I hunt.
Usually I hunt from daylite to about 9:30 10am then go back out from 5 till dark around 8pm.
Terry

I have not seen a lot of deer during those hours but rarely hunt at that time. However, I have seen deer on most of the few times that I have done it. It may be a great time to hunt especially in areas that are hunted regularly. The deer get accustomed to hunter activity early and late, so they can adjust their routine around the hunters.

May have to try it a little more often this year.

I'd still rather hunt early AM or late PM, but when things start to get good (early Nov.) I normally put in several all-dayers.  Boredom is a factor, but as GR mentioned above with the trans-Atlantic flights, you need to put it into perspective.  Me, I'd rather be in the woods in November than anywhere else and I value each and every hour I am allowed to be out there.  If I am motivated to hunt, I don't get bored during the mid-day and also might bring a notebook or a good book (I've got one I could recommend!       )

A handful of my bigger deer have been taken in the mid-day, the best probably being a 150" IA 4x4 taken around noon during the rut in '06.  My biggest buck was taken an hour before dark after sitting ALL day in the same stand, and I probably couldn't have accessed the stand undetected by coming in at 3:00 or something.  I've taken several others that mimic the above stories--either a mid-day kill or an all-day hunt where the kill happened late.

My two best bucks were killed after 10AM one on OCT. 26 another on NOV 3.  In late December we actually sleep in a little and start hunting around 8AM.  Joe

Just might have to give it a try this year. That's usually the time of day I'm not in the woods.


Bill

The deer pattern us as much as we work to pattern them. They'll move the least when the most threat is present. Why do you think so many mature bucks are nocturnal and are only seen during the rut when things beyond their control take over?

They still need to feed during the day though and find ways to do it as safely as they can. Whether it be food sources in deep cover or during very low traffic times in other areas.

I agree we can be very easy to pattern.

I believe you bump/drive a lot of deer walking in before day light. If you bump deer and know it, you can adjust your plan, but if your walking in the dark there is a good chance your just driving the deer.

gr

Beats sitting around the house or being at work whether you see anything or not.

CJ

My first bowkill was when I overslept one morning and didn't get out to my stand until after 8 AM.  Shot the buck at 10.  Especially during a full moon, middays are good.

During gun season on state land I have scored during midday on some fat doe. They know when most of the orange army has left the woods,LOL! BTW opening day of gun season is some of the best bow hunting around!

I've enjoyed  good fortune between 10am and 2pm over the years but best in nov thru mid dec, i usually hunt sunrise to sun set on weekends and vac,i feel that the more time spent in the woods the better your chances! I never could kill a deer sitting at home!

Thanks guys. Off to take in our first morning here in NY. Good luck to all.