I hunt on public land in the Big Cypress Preserve in South Florida. The area is a 1 1/2 hour drive from my house. Because of my job, I mostly only can hunt on weekends. My stand locations are usually between 1/2 mile to 1 mile into the cypress swamp from the nearest road. It is a hard walk in. I do not have the option of going somewhere for lunch or a nap in the middle of the day, so when I go into the swamp I stay there.

Although our deer herd is not large, I have seen deer at all times of the day. I have shot deer at all times of the day. I climb up a tree at least a half hour before sunrise, and I usually climb down a half hour after sunset. The only other time I come down is to follow a blood trail, orto change trees because of a change of wind, or to get closer to a hotspot. Other than coming out with a deer (which is not often), dark to dark is the only way I hunt.

At times it is hard to keep my concentration, but I do enjoy watching the wildlife do what they do. And there is a lot of wildlifeto watch. I eat, drink, piss and sleep in the tree. I don't have to worry much about snakes, gators and such up there. Also, the bugs are less bothersome 25 feet in the air. Even at noontime, if I climb down to the ground the mosquitos are miserable.Sounds enchanting I know, but most days I have the swamp to myself. And like they say, if it was easy they would call it shopping.