OK I'm going to take a blasting from a lot of folks here but if its gun season I don't go to my stand until I can see to shoot. I can't tell you how many times I jumped deer in the dark never to be heard or seen again when I was younger. Now I can tell you in the last 4 years since i have been doing it this way I have shot 3 deer on the way to my stand. I hunt in and out of my stand both ways. Now bow hunting is different I like to be at my stand at first light. Most times if you jump a deer with a bow your not usually going to get a shot. There are exceptions to evey rule but thats just the way I do it. Good luck !!