I agree with most here in principle, but I think anythingmore than30 - 45 minutes before shooting light is going overboard. It is a really good hunting strategy to get into your stand well before daylight, but only if you can accomplish that without too much stress on yourself and without too much disturbance of your hunting area. I agree with several that in a big woods situation, going in that early is really hard. If you have to travel cross country more than a couple hundred yards off a road or trail, it is very dicey. It can be especially bad if the sky is heavily overcast, and / or if the leaves are still on the trees.

Human beings are basically diurnal animals. That means we function primarily in daylight. We are out of our element when traveling through the woods in the dark. I just hate stumbling through the woods making all that commotion at that time of day. Maybe I'm stupid, but I was never a fan of using a flashlight to go in the morning. Choose a location that is reasonably easy to get to, and allow plenty of time. Leave your car or house maybe 90 minutes before shooting light,walk really slow, don't be in a big hurry to get there and set up. Allow your eyes to adjust to the dark. Your priority should be a smooth entry and setup, minimal noise and disturbance.