1/2 hour early or right at sunrise?

[PUDDLE JUMPER]

I used to always want to be at my site before first light. I walk in at first light more often now. To really take advantage of walking in while dark you need to arrive early.

I have found at least an hour before first light a minimum for me or its not worth it. This year hunting on the ground its been mostly walking in with just enough light to see.

If I feel like I am on to something special I would want to be there extra early.

[Bob B.]

Well, I guess I am just different.  I hunt the ground, sometimes in a ghillie, some times in flannel and bibs.  I used to be the hour before first light guy.  However, over the years I realized I was spooking deer at times even going in that early.  Also, I was seeing good shooter deer between 8 and 9 am the most often, and then again from about 10:30 to 12:00.  

So now I go in after I have good shooting light - stalk to where my ambush site is and sit for about 2 hours.  If I do not see anything, I then stalk to my next hide location - and repeat.  I have had the best luck doing this - seeing the most deer.

Bob.

[The Ole' Bowhunter]

I agree with ChuckC...go in at first light wihtout a flashlight and stillhunt your way in...who knows you just might get a shot while stillhunting your way in...its quite possible as long as you play the wind right.  Good Luck and let us know how you make out.

[Rustic]

Although I love to be set up before sunrise, if I dont know the area I would head out a lil later and and get a better feel for the lay of the land.

[Jerry Jeffer]

Once I went in early to a new spot and ended up hanging like a scarecrow in a patch of green briars. Just sayin.

[pokeanhope]

1-2 hrs early for me. May spook some but they come back.

[Steve Jr]

I try for a hour before sunrise.  Sometimes earlier depending on how far of a ealk I have. I usually use a red or green light to walk in.

[Ryan Rothhaar]

I plan on getting to the tree about the time I feel good to shoot an arrow at a deer.  I like some light to walk in to stay quiet, and I'm not interested in busting out the pre-dawn doe movement, I'm more interested in shooting the bucks that cruise through a hour later.  I don't use a flashlight going into or leaving a stand (private ground, public different story).  But I'm finding I must not be "hard core" enough....the guys hunting around my area seem to be in 2 hours before daylight and sit all day...I'm not that committed I guess, going in at shooting light, sitting 2-3 hours in the morning, then 2-3 in the afternoon...I just go hunting, have fun, and shoot a good buck or two about every year....

[DaveT1963]

I hunt a lot of public land so I go in at least two hours before daylight and set up on escape routes near bedding areas in heavy cover.  I do this to get ahead of other hunters, to keep my locations hidden, and to catch deer that are bumped by hunters that are a little careless in their approach and entry route they take.  

I make it a point to have a well thought out approach and exit to my stands and do a lot of prep work in ealry summer so I can sneak in pretty quiet.  I once cut a trail with a machette for 3/4 of a mile through the thickest weeds and cattails I have ever seen just so I could approach my stand form a dry creek bed from the opposite side that most hunters enter these woods.

I seldom bust deer back in these areas ..... I believe they are closer to the wheat fields at this time in the morning.  This is heavily hunted public land and the deer know the game all to well.  It is one of the reasons I started hunting more from the ground and in a ghillie - I found that a large population of the deer avoided areas with trees and were seldom pressured in the huge weedfields, Plum thickets and briar patches I now like to hunt.

[huntmaster70]

I'd rather be an hour early than a minute late

[guspup]

This year it seems like the earlier the better, in the past there were times it seemed like still hunting in at 9am when bucks were in the searching phase was the best.
This year, they seem to be on the prowl at first light.
Good Luck!!!

[longbow fanatic 1]

Originally posted by Bisch:
My stands are all on private property and set up permanent. I go to the stand in the morning 1hr before actual sunrise time, which is about 30 minutes before first light.

Bisch

X2

[LB_hntr]

I always move in the dark and I always use a flashlight. The flash light does not bother any animals. If they can see the light they can see you. Plus its a safety thing on heavily hunted public land here in Michigan. Deer don't walk around with headlamps on so hopefully nobody shoots me  when I'm going/coming to the stand if I walk by a hunter.

[Knawbone]

Originally posted by ChuckC:
My choice is to go in with just enough light to be sneaky and not use a flash.
CHuckC

I second that motion! Especially while hunting doe haunts during the rut, I never go in before light unless I'm fairly certain I won't spook an animal.Where I hunt which is usually on or near my land. During the pre rut or rut all too often the deer are there before light. For me going in early is way more detrimental than beneficial.All depends on the hunting situation though as to your choice.