What time should I go deer hunting?

Asked by: Tara Duncan

Early Morning and Late Afternoon No matter what the conditions, deer move best early of a morning and late of an afternoon. That’s when they’re wired to move most. It’s when their eyesight is most effective. And there are few things that impact this movement, other than pressure.

What is the best time to go deer hunting?

Deer are most active in the morning and evening, which is why many hunters consider these hours the best time to hunt deer. With some exceptions, deer mostly sleep during the day and move more at night.

What time of day are you most likely to see a deer?

Deer are highly active during the hours just before dark. When they wake up between 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, their first priority is food. They will venture out to the food source closest to their bedding area with reckless abandon. This is the prime time to catch the deer unaware because of their lowered defenses.

What time are most bucks killed?

Dawn and dusk might be the most active time for deer, but it’s not the only time. Just like you might get up to get a midnight snack, it is possible to see deer moving about at midday.

How early should I get in the deer stand?

Try to be in your stand and ready to go at least an hour before shooting light, which often means leaving the truck a solid 2 hours before shooting light. This gives you time to cool off from that extra-long hike, get your gear ready and let the woods settle back down before the sun peaks over the horizon.

Is it better to hunt deer in the morning or evening?

For the first several weeks of the season, the best time to hunt is the last two hours of the evening. Warm mornings and hot days cause deer to spend more time feeding at night, so by dawn they are bedded down and will be less active during the day. As the evening cools, they’ll move around for food and water.

How long should I deer hunt in the morning?

Have put about 85 hours in the tree. I can usually sit for about 3 hours on a morning hunt and about 2 hours on an afternoon hunt. I rarely see a deer on an afternoon hunt until about a half hour before dark or right at dark, so the morning hunts are just more fun.

Will a buck come back after seeing you?

Spooked deer will return to their bedding area, but when they return depends on how much the intrusion frightened them. If they can’t pinpoint the threat, they’ll likely return sooner than if they saw or smelled you.

What time of day is best to hunt during the rut?

They should move especially well from around 11:00 a.m. until late afternoon, so hunt near thick cover and where the wind is right, and hang tight throughout the day.

Do bucks chase all day?

Both bucks and does may hang out in and around the chasing ground all day when breeding is imminent. They’ll run around awhile, lie down, then run around again. And when the chase is on, they tend to run in an oval or circular route. It might be a short 100-yard circle, or four times that size.

Where do big bucks go during the day?

However, it is much more common to see a big deer on its feet in daylight feeding in a staging area. These can be small food plots, pockets of dropped acorns, etc. Find these locations between bedding areas and major food sources. That’s the best way to kill a mature buck while it’s eating.