Hey ya'll. I'm new here and i was wondering if anyone else has a problem with walkin to the deerstand in the dark...I'm not afraid of the dark, i'm just afraid of what's in the dark. I know there's nothing out there that's not there in the day and most animals are more afraid of me than i am of them, but I cannot walk to my deer stand in the dark unless someone walks with me. Then, its no problem. I use a flashlight, but i have a tendency to shine it out in the woods and see whats out there and my eyes play tricks on me and sticks begin to move, etc. I get out as early as i can, tho, which is usually right after first light. Am i better off waiting til later in the day and hunting than trying to walk in the dark?

I would say you really need to try and overcome your fear. I try and be in my stand 45-30 minutes before first daybreak. Right when you have first shooting light is probably the best time to be in the woods in the morning. I personally enjoy sitting in my stand in the dark and hearing all the critters stirring in the night. The other morning i was actually sitting in a small seat at the edge of a swamp and had a racoon come within 3 yards of me and he never saw me or had a clue i was there.

In all honestly, don't let it bother you. Just when you start walking to yer stand concentrate on the fact you have a huge rifle and most anything that's out there to get ya stands no chance against you. I used to think about that all the time when i first started hunting early in the morning and it worked well for me.

I posted on this a while back and called it the "gettin the creeps". I think most hunters have the feeling. You learn to overcome it in time. But it never goes away. I live on the east coast where there really isn't much to worry about in the woods unless you get between a sow and her cubs (black bear) and you don't see many of them in my area eaither. Just suck it up and keep going. Remember, You are the hunter. and you are armed.

David

This is a problem for some people. I love to watch alot of sci-fi movies,you know vampires,wherewolves and all that stuff.but it never bothered me to spend time in the dark. I often on purpose sit in cementaries at night just watching the stars in the off season. I was told something many years ago. there is nothing out there uglier then yourself.

Did you watch too many scary movies as a kid?

i used to be.....now i dont even use a flashlight if i can help it.....dont look behind ya, that is a no no in my book, that is what freaked me out the most, thinking something was following me.....now i just go, i dont look anywhere unless i hear something right next to me.....most of the critters will just go off away from you....i'm more scared about someone hiding in the brush, than the critters.......
what helped me was moving a lil deeper with each hunt.....now i can go anywhere.....
i had 2 hogs the other morning in the 6 foot tall palmettos doing that growling thing they do, i just froze, i almost said F this...but i continued my walk, nothing happened, they just wanted me to know i was in thier territory......

I think deep down inside whether everyone or not will admit it, that is something every hunter goes through at one point in there life. You just have to get over it, you will be fine. Get you a big flashlight.

i still am a kid...i'm 16, and yeah, i do watch a lot of scary movies. I'm not too worried about hogs or bears, i just dont like to be scared in a situation like that...movies, no problem, its not real. but being out there in the dark and alone is something totally different for me. I guess i think too much about it.

i've tried tellin myself that i got the rifle but it dont work

Hang tough kid. Find you a hunting buddy or ask your dad to walk out with you. As Arnold would say "Don,t be a girly man". Just kidding. It,s all going to be worth it when you get that monster buck! Good Luck