ORIGINAL: GMMAT
Can anyone name (other than missing out on sleep) any DISadvantages to getting to your stand REALLY early (1.5 hours before shooting light)?
In '06 I saw what I thought was the buck I ended up taking that December run through a pasture (right behind my stand) in the moonlight. Germ said it once......he looked like he was late getting home and he was in a hurry. At least I knew I was close to being in the right PLACE....AND...if I'd been a bit later....maybe he'd have busted me going in.
Last year....I was in a tree when the 8 pointer I would take 4 days later came by me in the darkness.....just sauntering along. he actually stood about 5 yds from the base of my tree for about 5 minutes, before walking on away. I had him at less than 10yds this next morning same tree)...but had no shot He stopped while chasing a doe...but was quartering-to, hard). I shot him 3 days later, when I moved about 40 yds up to where I'd seen him coming from in both prior instances.
I keep thinking if I'd been later getting to my stand all those times....maybe I would've gotten "caught".
Can anyone give me a good reason why we don't go in earlier (as a whole).....other than..."I don't need to" (which is a perfectly legitimate answer, BTW
)?
Good question, Jeff. For me, it's a matter of access. Most of my morning stands are located in areas where I can reach them relatively quickly from my house, and that I'm PRETTY sure deer aren't passing through until after the first 45 minutes of legal shooting time (this is based on my observations over the past 8 seasons or so). The MAIN reason I don't do it in the late season and rifle season, is simply for stamina (or lack thereof). I have a terrible time keeping warm. No matter how I layer, or how much thinsulate I have, I get cold QUICK. The earlier I'm out in the dark cold, the less time I have once it gets light for me to last on stand. That's just me.