Morning or afternoon hunts

Crossbow Hunting

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Do you like afternoon or morning hunts?

Morning
22
51%
Afternoon
21
49%
 
Total votes: 43

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robertyb
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Re: Morning or afternoon hunts

Post by robertyb »

I am a morning man. I love watching the world come alive from stand. I am also a solitary hunter who is getting too dang old to be tracking, gutting and dragging deer after dark by myself. The few afternoons I did hunt this year I left and headed home an hour before dark. I figured if I had a deer down at least an hour before dark I could have it loaded up by dark.
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evaughan
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Re: Morning or afternoon hunts

Post by evaughan »

Morning only with a bow. Next day recoveries aren’t for me.....
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grouse
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Re: Morning or afternoon hunts

Post by grouse »

I prefer mornings because I enjoy them more. Success is about equal for both time frames, but I love sneaking into my stand in the darkness and watching the world wake up. My favorite stand is a tripod with a 360 degree shooting rail and a comfortable swivel seat. I have a well insulated, leakproof coffee mug that I carry to my stand so I can sip coffee while I enjoy the morning sights and sounds. It's always good to get a deer, but tracking, gutting and transporting deer seem tougher more urgent in the evening. I happily hunt both times of the day, though.
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AJ01
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Re: Morning or afternoon hunts

Post by AJ01 »

I voted "morning", but like most, I'll hunt ANY chance I get!! I will admit I have shot my biggest bucks in the morning. Actually looking at the times, they run between 8:30a-11:00a. Might sound strange, but that's my personal experience. I killed a BIG 9 this year at 10:55AM!! Caught him in a cleared right-of-way looking at the ladies!! :lol:

Field research says that Whitetails get up and feed 5 times a day! That includes all those "nocturnal" bucks we catch on camera. Somewhere at sometime they are moving during the day. Perhaps not on your property due to food sources of other factors, but they ARE moving!. They don't get out of bed at 5 in the evening and say, "I'm gonna party all night"!! :eusa-naughty:
Nope at least 5 times a DAY they get up to eat, drink and cruise. Especially pre-rut and post rut. Post rut even more so because they are trying to replenish what they lost during the rut, and prepare for a cold winter ahead.
At lot of luck depends on scouting your area and NOT bumping deer going to or coming from your stand. Some understanding of deer behavior, and what to look for... But most importantly, If you ain't in the woods, you can't harvest that buck!!

Go hunt every chance you get! :thumbup:
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Re: Morning or afternoon hunts

Post by Patcon »

I prefer sitting in the morning because I love seeing the woods wake up and identifying and tracking deer is much easier
I also struggle with "...am I leaving too soon?"
but I tend to hint more in the afternoon. If I hunt in the morning I come up and eat some grits and sausage and then take a 2 hour nap. It just blows the whole day. If I hunt in the afternoon I still get most of the day. Just have to head to the woods a little early
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curious
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Re: Morning or afternoon hunts

Post by curious »

For morning hunts I am always in my stand or ground blind at least an hour before sunrise. I see most deer between 7am and 9am I also hunt late afternoons most of my deer have been taken close to the end of legal shooting time on afternoon hunts. My personal preference though is morning I love to see the woods come alive.
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Re: Morning or afternoon hunts

Post by colouredchameleon »

evaughan wrote:
Tue Dec 31, 2019 8:01 am
Morning only with a bow. Next day recoveries aren’t for me.....
Agreed
Where I hunt next day recovery is not an option. unless to don't mind sharing half you deer or less with nasty :thumbdown: coyotes

Besides even if I push anything out on the way in the AM usually between 8:00 am and 9:15 am they return or pass thru again.
I also don't like the fact that if you need to take another shot when you do find your deer after dark :eusa-naughty: you have nothing to do it with legally. Except you or could use your hunting knife to finish the job which is not recommended if you value your health.
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Re: Morning or afternoon hunts

Post by papa bear1 »

grouse wrote:
Tue Dec 31, 2019 10:14 am
I prefer mornings because I enjoy them more. Success is about equal for both time frames, but I love sneaking into my stand in the darkness and watching the world wake up. My favorite stand is a tripod with a 360 degree shooting rail and a comfortable swivel seat. I have a well insulated, leakproof coffee mug that I carry to my stand so I can sip coffee while I enjoy the morning sights and sounds. It's always good to get a deer, but tracking, gutting and transporting deer seem tougher more urgent in the evening. I happily hunt both times of the day, though.
LOVE my tripod also. :thumbup:

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elkaholic
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Re: Morning or afternoon hunts

Post by elkaholic »

Love the 1/4 walk in the pre dawn . Barely enough light to follow the path. If you hear a snort or a grunt ,its not really going to spook the deer out of the area . Plus if it's a grunt. I know a buck most likely.

Sitting in the stand waiting for first light to illuminate shooting conditions, is awesome to experience . The sounds of the woods coming alive for the day.

Afternoon hunts one has to be in stealth mode, the moment your ready to walk in. Otherwise every deer in the woods will know exactly where you are. If they are anywhere near you!

Sitting till dead dark is hard to do sometimes, especially if you've been in your stand for hrs.

Morning and early afternoon kills are far better than late night flashlight recoveries. But knowing the big boys didnt get big by being day trippers, makes evening hunts a must !

Anytime you can spend hunting is what most of us desire, plan for,and thoroughly enjoy , even if we end up with tag soup.

Mother nature does her part in the decision of what is the best time too!
Farmer
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Re: Morning or afternoon hunts

Post by Farmer »

I prefer morning hunts , same as Don . Easier to track in the day light . Have had slightly better luck hunting in the am . As I get closer to retirement all day hunts may become an option .
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Boo
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Re: Morning or afternoon hunts

Post by Boo »

Farmer wrote:
Fri Jan 03, 2020 9:27 am
I prefer morning hunts , same as Don . Easier to track in the day light . Have had slightly better luck hunting in the am . As I get closer to retirement all day hunts may become an option .
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amythntr
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Re: Morning or afternoon hunts

Post by amythntr »

.....Farmer wrote: ↑Fri Jan 03, 2020 10:27 am
I prefer morning hunts , same as Don . Easier to track in the day light . Have had slightly better luck hunting in the am . As I get closer to retirement all day hunts may become an option
.

....that's exactly what I am hoping for Paul :thumbup: .....only 1749 days to go to full retirement age :shock: ....however, I might be looking to go out 365 days earlier! :eusa-dance:

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Re: Morning or afternoon hunts

Post by Hi5 »

Afternoon. To heck with what the deer are doing.

I need both eyes open to hunt, and until at least one hour after sunrise, I can only hold one of them open.
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Farmer
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Re: Morning or afternoon hunts

Post by Farmer »

LOL , Don I am always looking find new and inventive ways to hurt myself ! No more wood duck boxes !
Hester0305
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Re: Morning or afternoon hunts

Post by Hester0305 »

I prefer the mornings because I love to see everything waking up in the woods including the deer movement, I've killed nice deer both in the morning and the late evening, but when the deer season has been going on for a while the late afternoons just before dark is when the big bucks show up in the area that I hunt.
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