When do you leave stand?

if i cant make out my pins I'm done and down but won't leave my the base of the tree until after it's good and dark I've had to text a friend to drive his truck in to the field I was hunting to blow out the deer so my stand would still be good, but that was when I hunted Wisconsin. Haven't had any luck in Minnesota.

 

About 15 min. after legal shooting and if it it's overcast it's dark by the I hit the truck.
PS

 

1 or 2 hrs after shooting light. My hearing kicks into over drive after shooting light

 

I usually pack it up right when it gets too dark to see my pins, and that puts me at the base of my tree by the time its too dark to see. But then nights like tonight happen, and deer show up right at dark and stay forever. I was stuck in the tree for roughly 2 hours after dark.

 

I come down after dark...I use my ears to scout and readjust my setup if need be.

 

When I can't see to make good shot. Usually 10-15 min before dark. I check around and if I see nothing I come down .

 

I get out when I can't see my pins unless there are deer around then I wait...last year had to wait 1.5 hours because deer were all around just browsing

 

Half hour after sunset. That's the end of legal shooting time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Until I can't see my pins or if deer are in the area I'll wait a bit for them to pass.
Some of you mentioned flashlights and worrying about other hunters while walking out. I just bought a new quiver (Trophy Ridge Lite Quiver) and it has 3 green LED lights on the top of the quiver. You already have to carry your bow so its nice to use it as a flashlight too. The green LED are perfect for seeing where your going but not too bright that you spook game. Plus nobody is going to confuse you for game. They might confuse you for a scary ghost, but that might keep them out of woods.

 

I climb down when:

a) I can no longer make an ethical shot
b) legal shooting hours end

Whichever comes first.

 

Usually ready to exit the stand as soon as I cant see my pins anymore. Only occasion where I wait til almost complete darkness is when there are deer around me. I wait til it's dark enough that they shouldn't know what I am when I leave.

 

I'm glad I'm not the only one who comes down after not being able to see pins. I don't like getting down in complete darkness. I can get up just fine - just coming down is a bit harder. I may be a wee bit "concerned" with what lies in the dark in the woods, too