Discuss how late in the day makes it too late to hunt?

Being that shooting light ends ~6:10pm right now here locally. How late is too late to risk running into the deer that are moving especially during the rut here in the next week.

I am done with work at 4:00pm and have a 25 min drive to my hunting grounds. By the time I change clothes, get my gear on and walk to my stand we are talking about getting settled in at 5:00pm. That is only a hour of hunting time. Is it worth it to put your scent in the woods just for that hour? Right now I am thinking no and to just let the woods stay cold till this weekend till I can hit hard.

So during the rut, how late is too late for you?

Discuss.

 

During this time of year I get in the woods every chance I get even if it is only for an hour or so. I have a few spots that are easy set ups just for this reason!

 

i usually get out of work everyday at 2:30...get home ..throw all my clothese out..spray them down..and take a scent free shower...im usally in the woods by...4:00.....it usually gets dark around 6:45 here..so i usually have plenty of time to hit the woods..

next few weeks should start to get exciting.

 

The last hour of light would generally be the most productive so I would say go for it.

 

If I have a good wind at a spot, an hour before dark is plenty of time this time of year to be in and get set up.

 

I have some quick setups for the reason

 

I think It really depends on where your stand set up Is. I have one stand out of 4 that I think I could possibly get away with It. I won't do It though, too risky for me.

 

My rule is 2 hours, I have to be setup and hunting 2 hours before legal hunting time ends.

 

Germ,

What is your reasoning?

Is it personal? You feel it is just too short to enjoy?

Do you feel it's not worth the work and the drive for one hour of hunting?

Is it because of pressure? You don't want add human scent to your hunting grounds for a 1 hour sit?


Are worried about moving deer that are already on their feet for fear to turning them (more) nocturnal?


Other?

 

If I'm hunting public land, I won't go out unless I'm out there at least two hours before dark. Just so I don't tick off the other hunters.

If it were land that only I was hunting.. I'd still hunt it if I only had an hour.

 

If you don't have option for longer hunts...I'd take whatever I could get.
I once hit a spot on edge of town after work...got there and new it would be 45 minutes max (but it was the rut)...walked down to a well used trail, cleared a spot behind a tree to stand...10 minutes later got shot a buck at 10 yards on the ground...I was back to the Jeep before sunset...so yes, I would go for one hour.

...I should say, I probably wouldn't go if I had to drive longer than I could hunt...

 

Good points. But you say if I don't have the option for longer hunts. I do have the option. It's just that would only be on the weekend.

That is the $1,000,000 question. Is it worth it to put pressure on the land for just one hour of hunting that you intend to hunt hard on the weekend?


I can see both sides on this one and I really don't have a strong opinion either way.

I am starting to lean towards going once or twice this week when the wind is right for my closest stand and see what happens.

 

Just confidence issue with me, I am scared to death of spooking deer. I feel the two hours gives me time and the woods time to settle down. There is no "logic" behind my rule at all.

This is main issue with me, I hate spooking deer.

 

for me i am hunting ever minute i can before rifle season, i have a lot of farms i can hunt and some dont have big deer so i hunt those on my bad days more than anything it keeps me fresh and ready for when it counts.

as for how long i will stay on stand i stay there until i have to use a flashlight to get down,or i will wait at the base of the tree until darkness, the reason is i dont think anyone has ever shot a flashlight being mistaken for a deer. dont think your in the woods alone a trespasser is more likely to let you die than a friend
i would rather have a ticket for hunting to late that i can take up with a judge then shot by a friend or foe thinking i am a deer.

 

Tonight I am going out after work. Pretty much the plan I talked about. I will leave here at work at 4pm and get there at 4:25.

I have a southeast wind tonight and will have the same tomorrow night so I may go out then as well. That is perfect.

The only thing in question yet is which stand do I sit in. Wind is perfect for both stands. The stand that is a 1/2 mile walk is the better location. The 100 yard away stand is not as good as location but will only take 1 min to get there and won't disturb as much.

Do I save time and take the lesser stand or do I take the 10 min walk to the better stand?

I do plan on hunting the better stand all weekend so I am leaning towards the closer stand tonight and tomorrow and save the better stand for this weekend.

 

Like some have already stated, I have a few quick/silent access stands setup for just this. I usually don't have to worry until DST ends. During much of the season during DST, I'm still not usually in the stand until 4:15 or 4:30. I've only bumped deer ONCE in two years doing this (that I know of :D). I really feel (especially in the final two weeks) that I need to be out every chance I can get.

 

I have shot 2 bucks within minutes of getting in the tree. One of the times I was only going to get 20 min. to hunt. You just never know. During the rut anytime is good.