I have been hunting for a while and have heard several different opinions on how early to get into the stand. I personally go in

[hunterboy56]

I have been hunting for a while and have heard several different opinions on how early to get into the stand. I personally go in so that i am ready and waiting 30 minutes before daylight, and have killed several deer. I'm just curious. What do y'all think?

[steve182]

I try to get settled 30-45 minutes before shooting light. I have got there much, much earlier and later too, with mixed results. I find the 9-11a.m. hours particularly good so i don't sweat it too bad if i'm a little late getting there in the morn.

[Clay Cooper]

First it depends on deer movements, but most of all, deer will pattern your moves and adjust there feeding and travel around your movements. In the day, I wouldn't see a deer, but an 1/2 hour before and after daylight, I might see as many as 15 or so going in. Last winter, with all the leaves off the trees and snow, I was able to glass distant ridges and notice many deer bedded down just yards from a trail or road.

[mesarich]

To me being in your stand or where you are going to hunt 30 minutes before daylight works just fine.

[seggiejc]

30 minutes early before first light is ok, I like to try to be on stand about 45 minutes to an hour before first light so everything calms down and I get calmed down and relax, I walk in slow and easy and take my time

[99explorer]

I am with steve on this one. I know the conventional wisdom is to get on stand well before dawn, but after having seen so many deer WELL AFTER dawn, I am no longer a fanatic about time.

[themadtoruter]

i head out as soon i as i can see because what if the deer are right near your stand and you spook them and you don't know.

[Swampdonkey8]

30 mins early is perfect, but I never use a light.

[Treestand]

I am with Clay on this stager your time to the stand
most of my kills have been at 7:15 to 9:30Am and 1:20-to 3:15Pm.

[FirstBubba]

MAX, 30 minutes. Prefer 15 to 20 minutes early. Anything over 30 and I get fidgity! Killed one last Sat morning. In stand by 6:50am. Shooting light at 7:15am. Shot deer at 7:18am! PERFECT day! One I didn't have to dress out in the dark!
(One of my pet peeves! Dressing deer in the dark!)

Bubba

[jamesti]

i always get there an hour before. works for me.

[buckshot89]

i'm always in my stand an hour before sunrise. in ohio, you're allowed to shoot a half hour before sunrise, and i have found that thirty minutes is plenty of time for everything to settle down and get set in before hunt time.

[Timmy12]

I would say go in 45 mins before daylight that gives deer a chance to calm down after you walk in.

[Sarge01]

I like to be in my stand 30 to 45 minutes before daylight. It gives the game and me time to settle down . Anything that you spook going in usually will settle down in that period of time. I have found over 50 years that deer really have a short memory. I think that sometimes we give them more credit than they deserve. Believe it or not they don't reason like we do.

[mwoller]

sometimes you just have to expriment but 1/2 hr. for the most part is normal