Where should the deer be around 5/6am when im getting in the stand? I acquired some new land where some biggins have be takin in the past and have a tree picked out for my climber about a 1/2 mile from where they have been takin. I scouted it today saw acrons fresh droppings and what appear to be rubs. I wanna enter the stand around 530-6ish but my only way in is a short walk over leaves and sticks dont wanna spook anything. This will also be my first climb in the dark with my climber as im new to it so any tips ?
Wear your safety harness as you climb up the tree. regarding the deer, it all depends on how close you are to the bedding area.
is there any fields in the area? i would say for the first 2 times get out there really early to see when they come through and give yourself plenty of time to set up your stand. i have a stand about 200 yards away from the fields and around 5:15 some of the deer are already going back to bed while others come in at about 8:30. the deer are bedding about 70 to 500 yards away.
There is fields all around the area just got premission to hunt it so I didnt wanna hike all the place the day before went out found a tree next to what I thought looked like a good location. Im almost sure the 2 primary bedding locations are located to my north west and north east as the fields on both sides im hunting in oaks with lots of acrons and deer sign present. Im thinkin ill be in my stand by 530
Whenever I do a morning hunt with my climber, I always put the stand on the tree the evening before. It makes it a quite a bit quiter and quicker to get off the ground. Step in the stand, tie up the bow, and up you go. Thats how I always do it.
My best piece of advice would be to get to the stand early. When I hunt in the morning I always try to get into the stand at least 45 minutes before the very first light. I have to drive to all my hunting locations. Some are an hour away. This means some very early mornings, but I would rather sacrifice a little sleep then spook a bunch of deer walking in. Then you can always take a nice little rest while waiting for it to get light out. Oh, and like others have stated always where your safety belt the whole way up and down the tree. Good luck and let us know how the new climber works.
New climber worked very good love the viper just as everyone else seems to, climbed a tree that was a little on the crooked side toward the top but still felt comfy. I was in the stand by 530 let off a doe pee bomb at the base of the tree after lifting my bow stayed out there til 930 never saw a deer. Wind was kind of rough today but in my favor as far as direction goes. Was surpised I didnt see a deer but it was my first hunt there, theres plenty of sign and acorns but I guess it wasnt my day ill try again next tues and ill have time to check things out a little more when I climbed down I saw this.
this whole week I have been having the deer arrive around 8-10:30. Most the bucks have been around 9:30
well today was the third time ive been out in the am and this time i didnt see anything.pressures on alot of hunters out on this parcel.i made the mistake and hunted the edge of a field thinking one would be eating early but no luck.last weekend i went to the same property but a different location and about 75 yards in the woods and had three come by but passed them up .it looked liked a doe with her small offspring .so next time ill be deeper in the woods rather than the edge of a field.
Well I had the shot today I got in the stand 130 starting grunting round that time 300 hit I started mixing ....boooom first bleat 3 does come flying around the corner run under my stand and stop 20yds to the left (behind me and to the left)at this point I dont know if i was winded (which I doubt) b/c I take series precautions I prolly moved to much...mean while im sitting here watching these three does momma goose is lookin at me im as still as anyone can be ....btw she is in the wrost possibly angle all I could see was ass never the less she is 20 yards away my closest encounter in my young carrer(hearts pounding) ...mean while she looks at me for 10 sec and her and the crowd take off. I write it off as its still very early let me remind you im on public land...Meanawhile I was grunting / bleating every 15-20min is that ok? im in my stand in a valley for some reason I look up its at that moment I see nothing less then a small 8 (could have been a 6) while im in the valley at 200yds away I give him a grunt or two and sit in my stand and continue to glass him .....let me clarify I was in a valley with a creek he was on top of a massive ridge just to happen the sun was right and throw the trees I caught his rack anyway thats pretty much the end of my story....In conclusion I had 3 does fly to me at 50 yds take off up the ridge come back down the ridge right in front of me and stop chill for a min while they were in shooting range and then take off to not be seen again ? what went wrong ? why were these does so active and gun ho on a day with a high of 70?
It depends for me. I either go in WAY before sunrise and am sitting by 4:30, or I just wait until it's just light enough to see and I can sneak in without spooking the whole woods. If I go in late, I try to hunt the whole day.
I usually try to get to my stand or blind an hour before sunrise. It gives you plenty of time to get in position before the deer wake up and start moving around. If you know the path you are going to walk to get to your stand, use a rake to move leaves and small brush out of the way to help your footsteps make less noise. Less noise means less deer get spooked. I also look for cow trails to walk because those are already crushed down by the cows and easier to walk and less noise. Mark your trails in and out to help you as well. You don't wanna get lost on the way to your stand. Hope that helps!
so the law says you cant hunt until 1/2 hour before sunrise.does this count for sitting in your stand?i go in early but dont knock my arrow until the 1/2 hour before sunrise?
I would assume you just can't shoot a deer until 30 minutes before sunrise. I knock my arrow and keep it on the bow hanger until legal shooting light. Saves me from fumbling around if a deer should come by right as shooting light, don't want to be trying to knock an arrow with eyes right on me
Technically, under the letter of the law, you are "hunting" if your weapon is loaded and "traveling to or from your chosen location" if it is not - even if you are in your stand. Not sure how "loaded" applies to a bow, though... I would imagine a nocked arrow would be considered similar to a loaded shotgun? You are definitely OK to sit in your stand so long as your weapon is not "loaded" outside of the allowable hunting hours. I've only ever see this applied to guns, though -- not sure what it means for bows. Never thought about it really, but historically I've always waited to nock my first arrow until it was shooting light for some reason.
Yeah, I see what your saying. To tell you the truth, I had never even thought of that before you said something haha
from what ive found is that you cant see your pins to shoot its right around 30 minutes before sunrise or after sunset. i wont shoot at a shadow that i think might be a deer that i think is in my pins. follow the rules, be honest and most of all safe, youll be fine!
