ORIGINAL: Alsatian

If I was hunting crowded public land, 10 AM to 2 PM might be the best time to hunt. I do not hunt crowded public land, and deer movement where I hunt is dictated largely by deer habits and customs rather than hunter habits and customs.

These days I only hunt mornings and afternoons. If first legal shootinglight is 6:30 AM and last legal shooting light is 5:30 PM, then I will try to be in position at least by 6 AM (preferrably by 5:45 AM) and will hunt to about 10 AM; I will then leave the woods; I will return in the afternoon and try to be in position at least by 3 PM. I think the very best time in my experience is probably 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM and 5 PM to 5:30 PM. Between 10 AM and 3 PM I'll drive back to the house and take a nap, work on writing some patent applications (I work for a law firm writing patent applications), or do some shopping around town. I am not after monster racks -- just any mature deer, buck or doe.