I was just wondering what time do you get to your stand when hunting in the morning. from the time you leave your truck, climb your stand and nock an arrow.

last year, unless its opening day, i was in my stand about a half hour before light.

this year, im going to try and act like every day is opening day..be there ATLEAST an hour before..earlier when possible. seems every time im in early i have deer around me at the time im usually walking in...an see more deer on those days..

I like to get in well before first light , that way I can get all settled and ready when the deer start showing up.

At least 30 minutes before...

i'm there an hour or two before time if i can be.....i like to change into my hunting clothes if i have too, sometimes, most of the timei'm drenched by the time i get to my stands, so i bring my clothes, then change, then i'll sit there in silence and just enjoy the sounds.....

I have stepped in fresh deer poo (10 min old) right under my stand a 1/2 hour before light. I try to get in at least 45 min before shooting light which here is a 1/2 before sunrise.

45 minutes is my rule of thumb. Of course sometimes you can get there an hour before daylight and scare off a bunch of deer. Then the next time if you oversleep and get there 10 minutes before daylight...no deer. Unpredictable little critters!!

I think you have to feel the pulse of the herd you're hunting. In my unique situation.....I have to get there extremely early.....or risk bumping deer. During the rut, last year, I went to stand at varying times. Sometimes I was in there 2 hours before first light (more a couple of times). Sometimes I waited 'til 9:00 and hunted the rest of the day.

Trial and error is how I came to this approach.

Which is illegal…

Man I’m glad to be back!

Hey,
I do the same thing when I think it has a benefit, but I admit – I’m a criminal!

KP....we've been through this. Chris Moore (My GW) doesn't think anything I'm doing is illegal. He'll be hunting these sites with me in a few weeks. He'll go in when I do.....and we'll HUNT when light dictates it's legal to do so. Before that.....we'll be sitting (and napping).

Have a great weekend.

For the sake of being "legal", though, KP.....I sent the following correspondence to the NCWRC.

-----------------------------

If I have a situation that warrants me getting to stand (for the sake of this discussion…..I’ll say 2 hours early) early…..am I considered “hunting” by the regulations and laws on the book.

I get there that early…..so that I won’t bump large amounts of deer. I NEVER “hunt”…..until legal shooting time. Am I doing anything wrong? In my eyes….before legal shooting light….I am “sitting”…..or “napping”…..but I am NOT “hunting”.

Thanks for your insight into this question.

Sincerely,