I'll hunt whenever I have the time but I prefer to hunt afternoon/evenings. I've shot the majorioty of my deer durring this time of day.

I killed my deer this year at:

Doe Oct. 17th 5:15 p.m. Bow
6 pt Nov. 18th 5:15 p.m. Bow
9 pt Nov. 19th 4:15 p.m. Bow
Doe Nov. 25th 1:00 p.m. Bow
8 pt Dec. 1 st 10:35 a.m. Bow
Doe Dec. 26th 9:35 a.m. Shotgun

I have killed as many bucks in the morning as I have in the afternoons but I much prefer to hunt afternoons because I enjoy my sleep, but it's a hard to beat a morning rut hunt(daylight until noon) in terms of productivity. So my answer to your question is hunt anytime you can get in the woods, you never know when the time will come. One of my favorite hunting buddies and myself have a saying that we often use when we're hunting fowl conditions or we have sit the stand all day etc. That saying is "Must Be Present To Win"

I like to hunt the afternoon evening best and I always exit when i can still see a little bit in the woods yet, don't like spooking deer near my stand site. Morning hunts are nice but it is hard to get to my spots without going through the deer or going to my stand three hours early.

It depends on the day and situation. On an "uncrowded" day I probably get in about 30-45 minutes prior to first light. I see most activity between first light and the following hour or so. Most of the areas I hunt are morning spots.

Personally i prefer morning hunts,where i hunt i usually see more at this time of day.I am also in my stand a good hour before light.

If asked that question a few years ago, I'd say morning hunts. But now, if you know where to set up for the evening, I'd say I like them equally. For me the key to a morning hunt is the ability to get to the stand without spooking deer. This usually means easy access.

My bow kills this season went like this:

October 17 9:15 am; Doe
October 25, 5:15 pm; Doe
November 19 6:50 am; 9 pt
December 22, 8:30 am; Doe

I prefer hunting in the morning, but in the rut the early afternoon always seems good to me, around 1:00-3:00, I always see a lot of trolling bucks.

I'm in the tree about 1 hour before it starts to get light out. If I don't see deer in the first hour I get pissed. Last year i only had one hunt with no deer below me. We did jump a few on the way in but I think the rain dictated the spot and we shouldn't have been there. For night hunts I want to be in the tree by 3:30. I have stayed up well into the evening on occaision because of the amount of deer feeding below me. One of my honey holes I have scared deer out from under my stand only to have them return before I get completly locked on to the tree and my bow pulled up.