Have we been getting into the woods too early for deer?

[9x56MS]

Over many years of Midwest deer hunting I have concluded that I see the most deer activity when I am in my stand. Almost none when I am not. If I have the time, especially early bow season, I’ll go out and sit awhile regardless of time of day.
One season I finished my longbow. I had hung a tree stand and realized it was too high for longbow so I went out midday to move it. I was wearing blue jeans and a camo shirt. I took my compound bow with me just so I wasn’t empty handed.
After rehanging the stand and trimming a couple branches I was sweaty so decided to sit in the stand and cool off before walking out because I was going to come back and hunt it later that afternoon. I looked up and saw a nice mature buck walking right toward me. I got my bow ready and shot him at 12 yards. Never did shoot one from there with my longbow.

The deer gods smiled upon you that day.

 

[crstrode]

The main benefit to an early rising deer hunter is to get the jump on late rising deer hunters.

 

[FL-NC]

In my area, almost every deer I have ever seen has been within the first hour of daylight or the last hour of daylight. So in the morning I will sit for the first 2 hours, or the last 2 hours in the evening. Mid-day deer on the move just aren't a thing here, unless someone or something bumps it.

 

[.308 Norma]

"Have we been getting into the woods too early for deer?"
NO, not in my experience. But then again, I’ve never hunted deer anywhere outside of the state of Idaho. As a matter of fact, for the last 56 years, I’ve never hunted deer anywhere outside of this corner (the SE corner) of the state of Idaho, and I’ve never hunted or killed any deer other than mule deer. I’ve killed a whole passel of mule deer in my 60+ years of hunting them though, and my favorite place to be during deer season is on the side of a high saddle just before daybreak.

Of course, for seeing legal mule deer to shoot, sitting alongside a hay or grain field at dusk during deer season ain’t a bad place to be either. I won’t deny it though - being on a highway at night in this part of Idaho can be a bad place to be for both you and your vehicle/insurance company and unlucky mule deer. I’ve had a few close calls myself on my way before daybreak to some of my favorite mule deer hunting spots.

 

[Anchorite]

I hunt south Alabama. The most deer I’ve ever seen were within an hour of dusk, but I’ve seen deer at all times of the day. Because we remain warmer than you other guys, I think our rut is shorter and later (think first of February). And let’s not forget the impact weather plays.

With all of that taken into consideration, I’m an afternoon hunter now. Fortunately I have access to my lease with 10 minutes of home, so I go about my day normally, have lunch, and I’m on property by 1 or so, and generally in position by 2 or 3pm. Home in time for dinner with the wife. I’m just at the point where I’m not going to bust my a** if I don’t have to.

 

[9x56MS]

I hunt south Alabama. The most deer I’ve ever seen were within an hour of dusk, but I’ve seen deer at all times of the day. Because we remain warmer than you other guys, I think our rut is shorter and later (think first of February). And let’s not forget the impact weather plays.

With all of that taken into consideration, I’m an afternoon hunter now. Fortunately I have access to my lease with 10 minutes of home, so I go about my day normally, have lunch, and I’m on property by 1 or so, and generally in position by 2 or 3pm. Home in time for dinner with the wife. I’m just at the point where I’m not going to bust my a** if I don’t have to.

So you don’t like getting up early?

 

[Anchorite]

So you don’t like getting up early?

Not for deer.

 

[Ranger99]

IMO depends on the region and the
hunting pressure. I've killed wt deer
during every hour of legal hunting
hours. The only way to know what's
happening is to get out and see for
yourself. I've also been told that
if it's raining, or if it's not raining,
or if the wind is blowing hard,
etc. etc. etc. that you might as well
stay in bed. I've killed my "biggest "
deer within about 2 minutes of
getting to my spot with it pouring.
I've said it before and I'll say it again.
Fish are wet 24/7, and animals are
outside in whatever weather 24/7.
You can't kill em sitting in front of
the television or wallowing in the bed.

Wildlife departments all over
depend too much nowadays
on electronics, cameras and
such instead of going afield
to gather information. Nothing
beats eyes-on intel

 

[Savage30L]

I've killed deer at all times of the day, but probably 2/3 of them in the last 3 minutes of legal shooting light. I also worked outdoors, usually by myself, in rural areas and woods, for 23 years, and of course I saw plenty of deer. It seems to me that I saw most of them, while working, between noon and 3PM....but the only deer I have killed during that time of day were on dog drives when I lived in SC.

I prefer to shoot them in the morning, when I can, because I always skin and quarter my deer the same day I shoot it. I hate having to do that at night (especially when the weather is cold and rainy, which it often is during the gun season here). Here in KY, after the first 2 days of gun season, the deer become mostly nocturnal, and only appear as the light is fading....

 

[Ranger99]

. . I prefer to shoot them in the morning, when I can, because I always skin and quarter my deer the same day I shoot it. I hate having to do that at night (especially when the weather is cold and rainy, which it often is during the gun season here). . . .

^ ^ ^ ^ this ^ ^ ^ ^

And there's the occasional deer that
takes a few bounces into heavy cover
that makes it way harder all around.
I much prefer the AM hunt

 

[Savage30L]

^ ^ ^ ^ this ^ ^ ^ ^

And there's the occasional deer that
takes a few bounces into heavy cover
that makes it way harder all around.
I much prefer the AM hunt

And then, there's the issue of just getting it out of the field. I'm 64 and have arthritic knees.....I imagine that soon, I'll have to butcher them in the field, and just pack out the meat in increments that I can carry, as I usually don't have anyone to help me anymore.

 

[Ranger99]

And then, there's the issue of just getting it out of the field. I'm 64 and have arthritic knees.....I imagine that soon, I'll have to butcher them in the field, and just pack out the meat in increments that I can carry, as I usually don't have anyone to help me anymore.

Had to do that a few years back with
an adrenaline pumped buck that made
it downhill from where he was perforated
at . He was well fed and heavy, and I
couldn't budge it alone. Ice and snow
everywhere. I fell on the ice a couple of
times and wrenched my knee really
bad and lost my green handled knife
under the snow
I finally just had to cut it up ( extremely
poor job) where it laid and carry piece
by piece up the hill. I was very glad
I hadn't unpacked much. I had to
wag everything to the truck and drive
the several hours home. On the way
my knee was swelling the whole time.
By the time I got everything inside,
I could barely get my britches off
past that swollen knee.
One of life's adventures

 

[rdnktrkr]

I've shot deer early morning, midday and late day, I let the ones I see late day walk now so I don't have to quarter them out at dusk. I think the early and late ones are heading to forage for food from where they have bedded down for the day, the midday ones have been young deer that haven't learned the ways of hunters.

 

[wis bang]

My camp is on the edge of the state forest near a few developments that grew up since the 50's.
One of the neighbors in the oldest development commented about the daily 'shift change' seeing the deer leaving the neighborhood as he leaves for work and returning around the time he gets home.
My cousin buys a camp around the corner and they take a few deer a year across from another development.
We see deer early but not always close most of the deer I've talken in PA rifle were between 11:00 and 3:00 except during the rut at a little after 4 with my x-bow..

 

[richhodg66]

Seems like most of mine the past few years have been one to oneand a half hours after it got light.

 

[archeryrob]

From my experience it depends on the spot and the sex. Bucks I spot more morning and evenings until the rut makes them move more. two to two and half hours after sunrise and before dark has more sightings, but they move mid day also.

The does have a route they run on the farm we hunt. They show up at my buddies at sunrise or just after. His place is only good morning and evening with occasional mid day movement. another spot they cross a creek and meander to the bedding area in a different spot and sometime two hours after daylight. Move more later after noon and pop out mid day to eat some beech nuts or acorns or multiflora or other greenery. Some deer move through my buddies to the back area and the time you see them is based on the route they take.

 

[buck460XVR]

The main benefit to an early rising deer hunter is to get the jump on late rising deer hunters.

......and the opportunity to shoot the deer they spook on their way in during legal shooting hours.