DannyD

I have had a deer show up a few minutes before legal shooting time that i would have taken if it came in a few minutes later. I could have easily taken this deer.
I print the timetable from the US Navy website for the zipcode i'm hunting in.
I do wear a watch and keep checking it. Yes, I did forget my watch one day and i was forced to "best guess" it but otherwise I wait until the bell goes off( not literally a bell of course).
That being said...That's just me. I don't think badly of those that take the shot. It's not even some huge moral issue for me. I have only been at this a couple of years and like any other sport I play I follow the rules. If a deer comes in too early and is out of range before legal shooting time then he deserves to win.
It's like playing 18 and about to break par. I hit the ball behind a tree. If I move it a little, easy shot and probably break par. If i leave it behind the tree then I probably won't.
In the case of the deer he wins, and keeps his life today. If he shows up and I'm allowed to shoot, he loses and dies. he deserves the chance to winwithout me breaking the rules

DannyD

BTW, that's just the way I hunt and play golf. I hunt and golf with people that will shoot a bit early and move the ball in golf. It does not really bother me that they do these things and I'm not passing judgement on anyone for doing it.

fun2hunt

#1 - I don't shoot unless its legal shooting time.

#2 - If I can't see well enough to make a good clear kill shot I don't shoot. Not worth the risk of injuring the animal.

Plus One

Thats a good question. Fortunately for me, my pins start and stop glowing right around legal shooting time, maybe a little fast, maybe a little slow, but pretty darn close. I had a shot on a 6 pt last year getting pretty close to the end of shooting hours, I drew back but didn't take the shot because my pin was too dark and the peep didn't allow enough light through.

So to answer the question, I agree with GMMAT, shoot when you can see the pins.

Ken

kwilson16

I would not risk spooking the deer if it was light enough to shoot. I find it hard to believe that folks sit in their stand staring at their watch to ensure compliance. If I am confident of the shot, I will shoot. If it was severely overcast and too dark to shoot, I would pass even if it was legal.

GMMAT

Thank you. There's two sides to every coin.

DannyD

Kwilson16
Why is it hard to believe that someone would want to wait until it was legal to do something that othewise would be illegal.

How exactly would i be spooking the deer sitting in my ground blind glancing occasionally at my watch. or are you assuming everyone hunts in a treestand?

I totally agree with you that if it was too dark even if legal that we shouldnt shoot and i too would pass.

graysonelement

i agree with gmmat i dont look at it either if there is enough light i shoot