Whats the Big Deal with Darkness?
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Re: Whats the Big Deal with Darkness?
If you don’t get to your stand until right before shooting light you’re alerting any deer in the vicinity of your setup. As stated above, they don’t spook as bad in complete darkness, but still you are significantly reducing your chances of seeing deer if they hear, see, or smell you on your way in. I like to get there at least an hour before shooting light. Lots of times I’ve seen deer at first light that came into the area well before light that I would have spooked with a later entry. Also, I really enjoy sitting there when it’s completely dark and the woods is still. You can hear everything so well and totally relying on your hearing to know what’s going on around you for awhile is a good way to get yourself mentally focused on the hunt.
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- Grizzlyadam
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Re: Whats the Big Deal with Darkness?
I think "trying to intercept them on their way back to bed" is the why with the exception of the rut. From my experience sitting on morning hunts if I haven't seen anything after the first hour I'm ready to go. And usually if something is going to happen it's right at first light. Otherwise during the rut it's all bets are off and any time is a good time as long as your in the right place.
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Re: Whats the Big Deal with Darkness?
I think there is a pretty simple explanation to why they don't spook in the dark or not as bad. I don't think they see us as a threat in the dark. We do not actively hunt them or shoot at them in the dark. There is no bad experience associated with it. Granted they get a few pop shots at them from poachers but it is not widespread pressure like the rest of the season.
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Re: Whats the Big Deal with Darkness?
This is a great topic, i always go in before dark. sometimes i cant get to a spot and i have to move and end up setting up in grey light as you speak of. The times ive been late, ive still seen deer. i prefer to go in early though
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Re: Whats the Big Deal with Darkness?
Grizzlyadam wrote:I think "trying to intercept them on their way back to bed" is the why with the exception of the rut. From my experience sitting on morning hunts if I haven't seen anything after the first hour I'm ready to go. And usually if something is going to happen it's right at first light. Otherwise during the rut it's all bets are off and any time is a good time as long as your in the right place.
First light is a great time but something happens between 9-10 as well. I saw as much or more movement during this time frame this year as I did at sunrise. Not sure if it is wind related or not but it was almost every hunt.
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- Eddiegomes83
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Re: Whats the Big Deal with Darkness?
minnesotahunter wrote:Grizzlyadam wrote:I think "trying to intercept them on their way back to bed" is the why with the exception of the rut. From my experience sitting on morning hunts if I haven't seen anything after the first hour I'm ready to go. And usually if something is going to happen it's right at first light. Otherwise during the rut it's all bets are off and any time is a good time as long as your in the right place.
First light is a great time but something happens between 9-10 as well. I saw as much or more movement during this time frame this year as I did at sunrise. Not sure if it is wind related or not but it was almost every hunt.
I hear people say that all the time but i almost never see anything after 9. I am in Florida though so maybe a little different. Idk
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- G-Patt
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Re: Whats the Big Deal with Darkness?
Eddiegomes83 wrote:MNarrow wrote:I think I read that deer see in the night as well we can see during daylight. And during gray light period deer cannot tell it's gray light and they think it's dark thus a lot of movement happens during the gray light period.
I read the same thing. That have more rods or light receptors or something like that.
When i was younger i was always in the stand 2 hrs before first light. I however hate spooking deer. Now it all depends on whether i can slip in the spot quietly in the dark if not I will hunt my way to my spot.
I also think the idea of going in while dark has more to do with getting set before the deer head back to bed. Not because they cant see.
Bingo! Add a little luck to the mix, and you have an interesting/successful hunt.
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- G-Patt
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Re: Whats the Big Deal with Darkness?
The deer have a lot more rod cells in their eyes than humans. Behind these cells is a reflective layer known as the tapetum lucidum which humans don't have. This reflects the light back through the rod cells doubling the amount of light the optic nerve receives. Some scientist think deer can see 1000 times better than humans in low light situations. Why they don't get spooked seeing humans walking in through the dark with headlamps is beyond me, but if all of the light is reflecting through their rod cells twice in pitch black, it might be extremely blinding. Sort of explains the expression, "deer in the headlights."
On my deathbed, I will receive total consciousness. So I have that going for me, which is nice!
- Grizzlyadam
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Re: Whats the Big Deal with Darkness?
Eddiegomes83 wrote:minnesotahunter wrote:Grizzlyadam wrote:I think "trying to intercept them on their way back to bed" is the why with the exception of the rut. From my experience sitting on morning hunts if I haven't seen anything after the first hour I'm ready to go. And usually if something is going to happen it's right at first light. Otherwise during the rut it's all bets are off and any time is a good time as long as your in the right place.
First light is a great time but something happens between 9-10 as well. I saw as much or more movement during this time frame this year as I did at sunrise. Not sure if it is wind related or not but it was almost every hunt.
I hear people say that all the time but i almost never see anything after 9. I am in Florida though so maybe a little different. Idk
I also have heard from others over and over how some spots are really good later in the morning and that's when they get most of their action. I have one friend who is the opposite of me and doesn't start to get excited until and hour after sunrise and he often has lots of action later. I don't get it. Believe me I have tried, and will continue to do so, I almost always will sit for at least three hours on morning hunts but the amount of times I have had action after that first hour is far and few. Could very well be that the spots I'm setting up in have something to do with it but I hunt tons of different spots all the time and my results have not been very different in one place vs another. I have had the same experience wether it be on public, private, high pressure, low pressure, etc.
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Re: Whats the Big Deal with Darkness?
I cant count how many times deer come in while Im just getting up in my climber in the dark. Especially with the older climbers that were very noisy. We always figured maybe they thought it was a buck fight. Mike
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Re: Whats the Big Deal with Darkness?
G-Patt wrote:The deer have a lot more rod cells in their eyes than humans. Behind these cells is a reflective layer known as the tapetum lucidum which humans don't have. This reflects the light back through the rod cells doubling the amount of light the optic nerve receives. Some scientist think deer can see 1000 times better than humans in low light situations. Why they don't get spooked seeing humans walking in through the dark with headlamps is beyond me, but if all of the light is reflecting through their rod cells twice in pitch black, it might be extremely blinding. Sort of explains the expression, "deer in the headlights."
I was just about to write this exact same thing with all of the really smart wording and everything and then you hopped in and took care of it......
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Re: Whats the Big Deal with Darkness?
mspaci wrote:I cant count how many times deer come in while Im just getting up in my climber in the dark. Especially with the older climbers that were very noisy. We always figured maybe they thought it was a buck fight. Mike
I think sometimes it sounds like antlers rubbing a tree. I have noticed that too.
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Re: Whats the Big Deal with Darkness?
I go back and forth with a buddy on this topic. He claims it doesn't do him any good to sit in a tree when he can't see well enough to shoot if something comes through (pretty sure he just likes his sleep). I prefer to give myself plenty of time and like a few others have said "let the woods settle down". If I do bump something on the way in, if its nice and dark they do seem to be less freaked out than a broad daylight bump and stay in the general area. And from my limited experience, other than during the rut my morning buck sightings are always either a few minutes before or after legal shooting light.
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Re: Whats the Big Deal with Darkness?
I think big deal is with daylight. They like moving more at night so I want to be in position right before daylight when they are trying to get back to their place of security.
I'm reason they call it hunting and not shooting.
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Re: Whats the Big Deal with Darkness?
Until a few years ago I was in the woods between 2.5 hours and 30 minutes before light.
This thread has me thinking back about past hunts and just how many 3+ year old bucks I’ve had encounters within the first 30 minutes of daylight.
I’ve passed 1 or 2 three year olds and I missed a good 3-4 year old in the first 30 minutes after daylight.
I’ve had more success mid morning, around noon, early afternoon and evening than I have had in the first 30 minutes of hunting.
I think a big part of that is my access and tipping my target off in the dark.
I have often had spots that I had so much confidence in that I couldn’t wait for it to get light but for the most part I’ve not been able to catch one within the first 30 minutes of the day.
How often have you guys had a good one in your lap right after daylight? And is there anything you would be willing to share that led to the hunt and setup coming together?
This thread has me thinking back about past hunts and just how many 3+ year old bucks I’ve had encounters within the first 30 minutes of daylight.
I’ve passed 1 or 2 three year olds and I missed a good 3-4 year old in the first 30 minutes after daylight.
I’ve had more success mid morning, around noon, early afternoon and evening than I have had in the first 30 minutes of hunting.
I think a big part of that is my access and tipping my target off in the dark.
I have often had spots that I had so much confidence in that I couldn’t wait for it to get light but for the most part I’ve not been able to catch one within the first 30 minutes of the day.
How often have you guys had a good one in your lap right after daylight? And is there anything you would be willing to share that led to the hunt and setup coming together?
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