Morning hunts...

[tresleggos]

It varies for me and the time of the year

[Ridgerunner7]

Depends on the location, access, ect. In a bedding area..I get in there 2 hours before light. I shot a 140" public land buck in Michigan this year setting up in his bedding area in the AM. In Illinois a few years back I got busted climbing my tree an hour before light as a big buck was returning to his bedroom. I've got photos of bucks returning to their beds prior to light several times. Even during the rut, bucks will sometimes bed down before daylight and intercept does as they come in off the food sources.

In contrast, in a funnel I could get away with an hour or less before light because I'm not expecting deer to be holding there. I still usually like to get in a minimum of 1.5 hours..just gives me time to mentally prep and gives me confidence.