When to enter/return?

[KillYourTV]

First day of shotgun and I got out to my property late, so I decided to scout instead of hunt. Anyhoo, I am walking between a couple trees and almost step in a 3' scrape. It had urine around it too, so I backed out and took the long way around to find the bed after see which direction the tracks came from, and I found that too.

This is my first year bow hunting (2nd hunting deer), so I don't have a lot of firsthand knowledge of when to get in and set up. I only have a climber right now (LW Assault and Sticks on order), but I did find a tree I can jack up in.

When should I go back to get setup? early afternoon, or zero dark thirty in the morning?

Thanks in advance!

[matt1336]

Asap

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[KillYourTV]

Wasn't sure if afternoon would be better because he could be bedded if I go before sunrise?

[n.sampey]

Should have setup when u found scrape I would assume.. Hunt fresh sign

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[KillYourTV]

I agree... climber was 2 hours away and I don't think moving a ladder stand over would have been conducive to seeing deer anytime soon.

Lesson learned... stand stays in the truck until January.

[n.sampey]

Lol been following this site for 3 months so I didn't get to scout in the spring. With that being said its the only tactic I can use lol so I know it by heart I bought a tree saddle for this reason. Its lightweight quiet and can walk a long ways with it scouting

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[Zap]

I would go in at first light, so you can see well.

Good luck out there.

[Jay]

Did you say it was shotgun season? I never go scouting without a gun during season. I would've found a good place to sit based on the wind and hunted it on the ground.

[whitetailassasin]

When the wind is right give it a try, I prefer night because if he's using it you don't bump him and get to slowly get into position.

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[KillYourTV]

Well, I went in before dawn and sat till dark... he never came through. I guess that's why they call it hunting.

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[djw5250]

During the rut if I find fresh sign like this I will either set up that day or sleep in the next morning and be set up by 9:00am and hunt till dark. I find that I make a lot more noise setting up in the dark. During the rut mature bucks will "tend" wait until doe's bed down and scent check doe bedding areas during the mid morning and early afternoon hunts. Just last week I found a fresh scrape and actually the buck bed associated with it not far away I couldn't hunt that afternoon so I backed out. We can hunt sundays in PA so the following monday I set up by 9:00 am. I saw two buck and two doe that day, the biggest was a decent 8 or 9 point that came in along a transition line. I ended up passing on that deer but it was a great hunt.