I'm going to be hunting very near a bedding area in the morning.....I'm wondering how early I should get there....I'm thinking the earlier the better?? Sunrise is at 6:50 in the morning, which means legal shooting time is 6:20.....I think I probably need to be settled in the stand by 5:00, 5:30 at the very latest..... What say ye? Does that sound ok or do ya'll think I need to be there earlier? I know there are many variable, but generally speaking......
Its hard to say with the moon in this phase. They seem to stay down to after sunset and bed before sunrise a lot during this time from what I see. I get nerves getting in on thier bedding areas! Earlier the better I guess??
Early as possible. It's better than finding out the hard way, when they bust you make all that noise rustling in there.
IMO it all depends on how good your entrace is and what the wind is doing. If you can quietly get into the area without disturbing anything on a good wind you can get pretty close to their bedding area without spooking anything. If they're there an hour before daylight they're probably going to be there an hour and a half before daylight so a few minutes won't matter. If your way in is noisey or you have to come in any way close to where they're feeding then get in there as early as possible. An hour and a half at least before shooting light. This early in the season it's tough getting in tight on their bedding areas without messing them up with a lot of scent and human intrusion. I'd say unless you're SURE a buck is living in there, you know where he's feeding, and the conditions are 100% perfect, don't chance it. I'd much rather wait a few weeks until the moon is right and the bucks are staying out a few minutes later in the mornings. Mid-October is about the earliest I'd want to sneak right in on their bedding area. But if you go for it, good luck! Hope you schwack a biggun!
