What time do you get up and out to your stand,blind or spot from which you begin the days hunt? What has been your most successful stradegy through the years as regards the time to be out there in the woods pre rut?

I usually get to my stand just as it is breaking light. Not light enough to see to shoot but just light enough to walk in without a flash light. I do go in when it is dark at times too. Just depends how well I can time getting to the woods.

It wouldn't hurt to get there a little earlier though because I have shot deer after being in my stand for 15 minutes or less. I take a chance on getting there when they do by going in right at day break.

For a morning hunt I like to be in the stand and settled at least a half hour before shooting light. I like the woods to be calmed down from my passage as much as possible. If it's the early part of the season, for an afternoon hunt I prefer to be on stand at least 3 1/2 hours before dark. Then basicly for the month of Nov. I hunt all day. I might get down to stretch or take a little nap but I'm in the woods all day.

I have a 30-40 min walk to my stands. I usually arrive and get setup about 30-45 min before legal shooting hours. Unless the weather does not cooperate, I will stay in my treestand all day. I will begin leaving my stand when legal shooting hour ends, 1/2 hr after sunset. I may come down earlier because of low light conditions and slowly hunt my way back to the truck.

Myself and my group (sons, 2 grandsons and friends) all hunt this way. We have shot deer at all hours of the hunting day.

my morning hunt I like to be in the stand and settled 1/2 hour before legal shooting time. I like and hour but that's not always an option, and I also have certain situations I like a little light b-4 I navigate to the woods. when I rut hunt I will sit in the woods for 3/4 a day. depending on my sightings is to whether I move to a field for the afternoon hunt, or stay put.

Usually I want to be on stand 30 min before daylight, but sometimes it is earlier depending on the set-up. Evenings it's around 3 before daylight savings, a little earlier after the time change. Once late Oct hits, it's all day but I may change stands between am & pm.

45 minutes before daylight, at least 4 hours before sundowm

45 minutes-1 hour before legal shooting hours begin.......and 4-5 hours before shooting hours end.....or sometimes all day long

i guess im not dedicated enough, i usually cant sit on a stand longer then 3 1/2- 4 hours ( maybe with age i will fix this problem ) but i get on stand 15 - 30 min. before shooting light, and i like to be in my evning stand 3 hours oe so before dark..

This season im going to try a few mid day sits, like on COLD days i may skip the morning hunt all together, and then go sit about 10 or11 til dark, or until i want to change stands for evning hunt

I am right there with you on this. Of course seeing deer makes it easier, but if not much is going on I get stir crazy. I usually end up getting down and still hunting. Of course this cost me a shot at a doe with a bow one time. I couldn't take it any longer, lowered my bow down and started to climb down myself. Then I see two does staring at me and turn and run.