Morning hunt

[Howboutthemdawgs]

I’m in right now. Got in about 45 before shooting light. Pushed one walking in but he barely jogged 30 yards and stopped. Listened to two sparring before light for 20 minutes. Ended up being 2 two year olds. I enjoy mornings once the anxiety of getting in relatively undetected wears off.

 

[TWIG]

I can understand public land guys being hesitant to hunt mornings but come on guys, mornings are where it's at early season. Our season opens Saturday and I'm going to hop on the zero turn tomorrow to noise cancel my access routes. Never understood the worries of bumping deer in the AM. Grab a leaf blower or rake and make it happen.

 

[TreeDaddy]

Hearing forrest life come alive in the morning has always been magical to me

bill

 

[Electrodigical]

When I used to have a field I hunted, mornings were always more productive, saw far more deer in the morning than the evening. Shotgun only, hunting the field involved walking out into the middle of it and laying down. Also easier to do in the dark.

 

[Brian662]

I can understand public land guys being hesitant to hunt mornings but come on guys, mornings are where it's at early season. Our season opens Saturday and I'm going to hop on the zero turn tomorrow to noise cancel my access routes. Never understood the worries of bumping deer in the AM. Grab a leaf blower or rake and make it happen.

I have the exact opposite feelings of mornings on private land as you in the early season.

Public land IMO, you go for it because if you don't...someone else will.

Private land you should be the only one out there and to me it is worth waiting until pre-rut to hunt mornings when the bucks will be more active.

I have too many pictures of bucks entering bedding areas at 4 or 5AM this time of year, it's just not worth the risk to me on private land.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

I’ve seen 5 racked bucks this am. 4 were fighting and 1 half hearted pushed a doe and started making scrapes. One buck was mature pushing 140. Fun morning so far

 

[Angus 1895]

In the morning you got daylight to track after the shot……..all day.

With a firearm I usually still hunt to where I post. I often move to other spots as the day evolves.

With a bow I approach a stand in the dark. But the more I hunt, the less I see.

 

[Kdog]

Didn't read every post, but I love getting in an hour or two before daylight. I only use a light if I get turned around which is rare anymore. I love to hear and watch the woods come to life. Not really a major fan of PM sits and I typically get down prior to last shooting light. I hate trying to track a dear in the dark. Guess I am just getting old.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Didn't read every post, but I love getting in an hour or two before daylight. I only use a light if I get turned around which is rare anymore. I love to hear and watch the woods come to life. Not really a major fan of PM sits and I typically get down prior to last shooting light. I hate trying to track a dear in the dark. Guess I am just getting old.

It’s funny you mention getting down early, when I can I do the same. If I have a window about 5-10 before too dark to see my pins I try to slip out so I don’t get trapped. I physically hate getting stuck in the stand knowing I’m about to screw this spot up whenever I do get down. Didn’t work last night. All but does moved off but those two got the coyote howl. Actually worked nicely this time

 

[Natty Bumppo]

I have the exact opposite feelings of mornings on private land as you in the early season.

Same here. There are few universal truths when it comes to deer hunting. Glad some guys enjoy joy morning success in the early season. But here where I hunt morning hunts are hardly "where it's at" until the rut.

 

[Hoytvectrix]

I think we all over-estimate how well deer can see in low light conditions. I have walked right up to within a few feet of deer in the dark. If you can get in and out without making too much noise, I don't think they spook quite as bad. That said, I try to get into a stand well before first light and try to stay until after it is truly dark for evening sits. If I am hunting a food plot for an evening sit and there is a break in action, I might get down a little sooner if I can.

If I could only hunt a morning or an evening, I would choose a morning for selfish reasons. There is just something about the woods or fields slowly waking up.

 

[omicron1792]

In the morning you got daylight to track after the shot……..all day.

With a firearm I usually still hunt to where I post. I often move to other spots as the day evolves.

With a bow I approach a stand in the dark. But the more I hunt, the less I see.

Yep. Bow hunting you can wear out a stand quick. Best hunter I know will only hunt a bow stand once a season, on perfect weather day.

 

[omicron1792]

I have night hunted all season. Deer feel totally safe at night. I walk right by them with my light or thermal and they don’t move. They will walk right up on me and I have to shoo them away.

I think walking to your stand in the dark is pretty dang safe way to NOT scare the deer.

 

[bwoods11]

I have night hunted all season. Deer feel totally safe at night. I walk right by them with my light or thermal and they don’t move. They will walk right up on me and I have to shoo them away.

I think walking to your stand in the dark is pretty dang safe way to NOT scare the deer.

Just curious, are you being serious or sarcasm ? I’ve never had a deer not spook when I’m walking at night . If we bump a deer blood trailing, or walking back from my stand.. it’s extra loud as they bust out of there and make scene !

 

[omicron1792]

Just curious, are you being serious or sarcasm ? I’ve never had a deer not spook when I’m walking at night . If we bump a deer blood trailing, or walking back from my stand.. it’s extra loud as they bust out of there and make scene !

Serious. Until you truly night hunt with thermals you wouldn’t believe it either.

I have hunted over 30 night hunts with thermals this year. This is no joke. They feel totally safe in the dark. Headlamps don’t spook them. Me and friends will walk by 3-4 bedded deer at 10-15 yards and they just look toward us as we walk by. I see deer every time I’m night hunting and they just walk right by me, to the point that I literally have to alert them to not walk into me.

They definitely track the sound while I’m walking. If I walked over to them I’m sure they would spook. But they will sit and watch(listen) to me walk by and not move all the time

 

[jsasker007]

I have walked through groups of deer in the plots on my way back home when it's too dark to see well and too dark to shoot. It's almost like they know they are safe until the next day.

 

[Tree Spud]

I use a laser pointer to scatter the deer in the filed before I get out of my stand.

 

[Brian662]

I've had good luck with a remote coyote call that I drop on the way in and pick up on the way out.

 

[omicron1792]

I've had good luck with a remote coyote call that I drop on the way in and pick up on the way out.

Does the coyote call scare them or do they just think your movement is a coyote?

Deer don’t run from my coyote calling at night. They stand and watch it for sure, but never run.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Does the coyote call scare them or do they just think your movement is a coyote?

Deer don’t run from my coyote calling at night. They stand and watch it for sure, but never run.

They ran for me Wednesday just doing it from the stand but yeah I’ve had them actually walk closer before. That’s a hit to the ego.