Hang in the dark or after first light?

[seazofcheeze]

I'd rather be an hour early than a minute late. I shot my biggest buck last year within 20-30 minutes of dawn. I'm not sure that would have happened if I got in at grey light.

My headlight has a red and a white light. I use the red light, which is much dimmer while setting up the stand in the dark.

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[Aaron1987]

Aaron could you post a link to the head lamp you use?

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I think this is it.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/alaskan- ... 379480.uts

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[Aaron1987]

Aaron could you post a link to the head lamp you use?

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I think this is it.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/alaskan- ... 379480.uts

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[muddy]

I'll go in ridiculously early over grey light. Small green pen light and I hold it in my closed fist so an even smaller beam goes out while I'm walking.

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[Divergent]

If I can't see by the moonlight, I will use a low beam light to get to the tree. Then, I setup with no light.

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[TNstalker]

To me it depends on whether u hunting the bedding or travel areas to the bedding. If ur hunting bedding is be in the well before light. If travel go with ur gut feeling. Me I'd still be in there before grey light ready to go my luck would be a slob is watching me hang my stand on the tree an I have no waidea what to shoot him.

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[bowhunter15]

Outside of the rut, I get in early. During the rut, I still prefer being setup before first light because Ive had bucks chasing does past my tree during gray light once or twice. Memories like that help get me there early. However, since that's more the exception than the rule in the rut, I don't sweat it if I'm running late or in an unfamiliar area.

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[mheichelbech]

Outside of the rut, I get in early. During the rut, I still prefer being setup before first light because Ive had bucks chasing does past my tree during gray light once or twice. Memories like that help get me there early. However, since that's more the exception than the rule in the rut, I don't sweat it if I'm running late or in an unfamiliar area.

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Excellent point. Not being setup and ready to go before first light cost me an opportunity 2 years ago on a mature buck chasing during the rut. I walked in at gray light and they went chasing right under the tree I was going to get in. Had to stop and watch them chase on by and they didn't come back.

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[islandshooter]

Guys,
Thanks for all the advice! After following y'alls advice on stick talons and rock harnesses, I'm comfortable enuff to hang the lone wolf in the dark. Actually, I try to do that once a month during the off season since it's so hot down here now. Certainly I agree with being in the stand and quiet before first light. Last year I hung at 9pm for the next morning and it seemed to work well. Just drove as. Lose as I could get while they were feeding. My but likes the idea of NOT siting dark to dark, but I would really hate to bump one while hanging! Thanks again. Hope I get to post a nice buck on the Beast this Nov!!

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[ThePreBanMan]

I've kicked up more deer at 0'dark:30 then I've seen hunting in the AM. So now I go in about an hour before sunrise. When I get to a couple hundred yards of my spot I sit and wait for gray light. I go in that far using a green light headlamp. As I understand it the deer can not see green or red lights. But I find I can see better with green than red.

[whitetailassasin]

Great points PK and DaveT, I agree with what you both said and that's how I've always approached morning sits. I don't sit many except opener, pre and rut times, but when I do, I'm in and set up early.

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[Beastintraining]

From my limited experience I would always set up in dark. You may bump deer and hear them blow but if your wind isn't blowing towards them they will not know what you are. The deer will maybe blow once because it was startled but will come down after you move by or stop moving. When this has happened to me the deer do not move more than 50 yds and always seem to circle back around to the vicinity I bumped them. Just make sure your entry path has the wind in your face.

I am also a fan of being in early because if you do bump a deer and they start blowing like crazy, you have time for the woods to calm down. If you are going in at day light they will peg you in the tree or near the tree and know to avoid.