Even LOSING at this game is more fun than that.
ORIGINAL: GMMAT
It has its' benefits. It also has its' pitfalls.
I've been trying to get on a buck (or a few of them) for a while, now....and I seem to get closer and closer to where they are bedding. PITFALL. You wait 'til it's almost dark (no shooting light)....then you have to make a call. Do I rush it out of here....hoping I'm still in front of him? Or....Do I wait and see if he passes .....and not take the chance of spooking him?
What do you guys do? It also applies in reverse for AM hunts. If you're trying to hug a bedding area.....do you go in there earlier? What if you get pinned down? Gonna sit there all day?
Tonight I rushed out....and hoped he went the other way....or I beat him out of there. Last night....long wait....waiting for him to clear the area.
All in all, though....I wouldn't trade it for sitting in one spot for anything. I think my days of passive bowhunting are behind me. I know they are. Even LOSING at this game is more fun than that.
Tough question. I usually play it by ear. I really don't believe there is a definitive answer unless you have seen the buck(s) and know where he is probably is when you decide to come down. I think its almost impossible to not spook a targeted animal at some point in time. Take this morning for example.....no moon and it was dark as could be. Where I needed to be cannot be reached without a flashlight unless its just breaking light, so purposely I came in a little late simply because I did not want to use a flashlight.