I would say you really need to try and overcome your fear. I try and be in my stand 45-30 minutes before first daybreak. Right when you have first shooting light is probably the best time to be in the woods in the morning. I personally enjoy sitting in my stand in the dark and hearing all the critters stirring in the night. The other morning i was actually sitting in a small seat at the edge of a swamp and had a racoon come within 3 yards of me and he never saw me or had a clue i was there.