The spot I have to hunt now is surrounded by thousands of acres of public hunting ground. And once opening day of shotgun season hits, the best time i've found it from 9am to 3pm. The hunting pressure is incredible on opening gun weekend in my area. This pattern had held for two years straight now. If it happens again this year, I think I will just sleep in until 8, and hit the woods at 8:30. Well, maybe not, but i've often thought about it. But I obviously agree with the other guys..during the rut, or times of high hunting pressure, stay put. It does pay off.

--Sign In Chinese Pet Store: "Buy one dog, get one flea..."--

I just want to agree with the others and say just stay put all day pack a easy to get at lunch and you will be walking back to your truck when the others are walking in. But you will be dragging your buck behind you. Good luck

Brian

You can leave for lunch if you want to. Just think of it like this, you can kill deer while you are in your stand and you cannot kill deer while back at the camp eating. It is not wrong to leave for lunch, it just cuts down your chances of seeing or killing for that day. If you really want to start bringing things with you and are worried about moving in your small stand--get a bigger stand!

RYAN SMITH

I recommend you (and all hunters) leave for lunch at 11AM, and please push all the deer to me as I will be eating lunch in my stand. Last year I shot a ten pointer at 11AM during the rut. Good luck.

Hunting is a right, treat it like a priviledge - respect nature

During the rut, the only time you'll get me out of my stand is if it begins to thunder and lightning close by - the idea of sitting on a piece of metal 20ft up in a tree gives me images of roasted hunter.

Just a few suggestions on how to stay in one spot and not get busted by Mr. Buck. Don't take an drinks containing caffeine with you, they cause you to urinate more frequently, water is best. Watch out for spicy foods or foods that you know might give you the outhouse trots, stick to PB&J or cheeses - or if you're real hardcore try MRE's (meals ready to eat)(also called by troops "Meals Rejected by Ethopians). Also think about using some camouflage around your stand to diminish the visibility of any movement from your stand. Oh, and dress in layers so that you can take off or add clothing as the temperature dictates - also a rainsuit or poncho isn't a bad idea for suspected rainey days.

For the real hardcore, you can use what we used during surveillance. At a medical supply outlet get a "voiding" bag you strap inside your pants leg, run accessory hose and attach to your personal faucet - a little uncomfortable but it works. Just remember a half gallon of coffee won't fit in a quart voiding bag.

Heaven is best viewed from a deer stand at sunrise in the forest

Favorite Sticker: Vegetarian is Indian for Lousy Hunter

No true answer to this one. I go for lunch at different times, and it always seems like when Im gone the deer move in. Saturday I went for lunch at about 11:30, ate quick and when I was headed back caught myself haveing to stalk a deer that was in front of my blind. I do have to agree with the idea of not moving during the rut. My biggest deer have come during the rut at about 12:00.


It also depends on the weather too.

St. Steven with a rose, in and out of the garden he goes.

Well, I'll be the first to admit that I do not stay in the stand all day. For one, I'm just far too impatient and like to change scenes for the latter half of the day. Second, I'm much more alert and fresh when I can warm up and refuel for round two. So I'm out of the stand for one or two hours...big deal.

Also, Hunting for me is as much about "hanging with the guys" as it is sitting on the stand waiting for a deer to come by. I like that lunch hour when we get back together and talk about what we saw, didn't see, where we're going next, etc. The spirit of the hunt should be just as important as letting an arrow fly, correct?

When I'm hunting alone, I even cherish that "break time" when I can run to the Quiky Mart for lunch and then take a short nap in the truck. It's all "hunting" to me. I should mention that I try to take this break around 1pm.

I think that since I hunt mostly private family farms, I don't always have the luxury of getting deer pushed my way by other hunters. Based on that fact, I simply do not fret over being out of the stand for a little while.

-Mike

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i hunt with my dad and a few other guys on a peice of property my stand is closer to the road so i sit in the stand until they all leave to eat dinner i usually see a bunch of deer during this time so m advice is to stay in the stand as long as you can like they all said pbj works great for a snack




James Jedlicka

As an avid bowhunter.

Wear rubber boots to the stand and attach a drag with doe scent to reduce scent trail.

Don't sweat! Carry extra clothes in to put on as needed.
Carry a grunt tube for the thick brush to pull a buck into a shooting position.

Make sure you break up your outline in the blind.

Never make direct eye contact on close deer. Something about the window to the soul. They will spook almost everytime. Divert your eyes.