How early do you get in your treestand for morning hunts?

When I've hunted in the morning I try to get into the stand 30-45 minutes before any daylight. Just curious if other people do anything much different? Where I hunt we tend to have better luck at night because we usually kick up some deer on the way in for morning hunts.

Any questions, comments or rude remarks will be appreciated. Thanks

 

It depends on where you want to hunt... I'm in there 1 1/2 hours before daylight for my bedding area set and like 1 hour early for my feeder set...I like for everything to calm down for a while.

 

I strive for 1 hour prior to shooting light (Not daylight...in IN it's 1/2 hour prior to sunrise) to be up stand...now that doesn't include finalizing any clothing or getting accessories quietly in order; just up the tree and no longer walking through woods.

 

I try to be in the stand everything set and no noise or movoment at least an hour before shooting light. I find the best way to make the least amount of noise is to take a lil power nap before the morning gets kicked off.

 

I like to be in and ready (not moving) at least 30 mins before shooting light - so about an hour before sunrise. Gives your eyes and ears time to adjust and let the area calm down.

Now if i'm packing a stand in (I hunt quite a bit on public land) i'll try to give myself more time because i'll be making more noise unpacking and setting up a stand and i'll also need to go in slower so I don't overheat while carrying everything.

The first time I did this I finally got setup only to turn my headlamp off and realize that it was about 5 mins till sunrise. Not good. Now I estimate how much time i'll need and add 30 minutes lol.

 

This year I'm trying to be up in the stand and ready an hour before daylight

 

An hour is usually the rule of thumb. I've been in as early as 2 hours before daylight and as late as 1/2 hour before light as well. It really depends on a number of things whether earlier or later is better.

IMO, if you're hunting farm deer that are for the most part in the fields at night, and you have a good entrance strategy, you can get away with being on stand later. As for big woods or mountain deer, I think the earliest you can reasonably get in stand the better. The deer could be anywhere in the woods feeding and milling around at night. The more time you give yourself to get in there and allow the area to settle down, the better.

But either way, at least an hour is your best bet.

 

4:30 am

 

ya me too.

 

an hour is about the way i play it I have been earlier and later due to different things

 

I know where I hunt deer activity doesn't start up till around 8. So if I feel like getting up early ill get in a half hour before shooting light. But I don't hesitate going in at shooting light. My scouting report helps me decide when to get in.

 

Usually about five minutes before the coffee kicks in

 

Usually not more than 30 minutes prior to shooting time. I have a couple of morning spots that I wait until daylight so I can still hunt in due to the fact that there are feeding areas I need to get through and I like to wait until I can see the deer to know how I need to approach.

 

I like to be in my stand 1hr-1.5hrs before sunrise (30-60min before shooting light). I drive 2 hours to my hunting area, so I don't always get there at the same time.

 

Thats a long ride bro! Makes me appreciate the 1/2 hour and 45 min trips I take to my 2 spots. Good luck this year!

 

15 minutes before any light.

 

I too have an instance like this but I have to be in earlier...the bedding area I hunt I HAVE to be in there by 4 and I get in about 5-530 on the other.

 

Usually go for 30-60 before shooting light. During rut last year thought I was 2-3 hours early because of how the deer changed their movement. That sucked having to be in there by 5 at the absolute latest. Usually around 430.

 

My father and I are able to get in along fence line that currently has standing corn. Our two stands are on two different fence lines across from each other with a finger that comes up through the field. We only have two stands up in a close proximity so I'm trying to be as cautious as possible about everytime I go back. We have only been in the stands 5 different days since 10/1 so they shouldn't be over hunted.

Currently washing clothing. About the only time I like to do laundry is washing hunting gear.

Thanks for the input from everyone. Probably shoot for 45 minutes before first light.

 

Depends if I can get the helicopter to start.