Morning or Afternoon Deer Hunting

[NorthNJHunter]

I've been hunting in the morning until around 1 but haven't seen a deer the past 2 weeks. Do you think it's time to start hunting in the afternoon?

[rgw]

time for some kind of change

[Axiom]

 I had a spot The deer would rarely visit in the morning but would show up every evening like clock work 30 minutes to 1 hour before sundown.. I know there were a few other bait piles in the area.. Maybe that had something to do with it I dunno... But yeah, seems like its time for some kind of change..

[Heavyopp]

I hate morning anyway...

[johnnyo8148]

I haven't been able to figure it out 100%, but in the piece that I hunt, I have seen more afternoon (12-4) activity, then anytime in the AM. Now, that changed this week when I took a buck at 8:30am (pics and story to follow) on Thursday. However, this boy was in full rut, so if the rut had been over, I think that the activity would have switched back to the afternoon. If mornings aren't working and you can swing it, pull a few afternoon hunts.

[NorthNJHunter]

Ttt

[Matty]

The only time I really like morning hunts is during the rut. 

 

It may be just the way I hunt, but I think morning hunts mess up spots faster than anything. 

 

- It's way more difficult to slip in undetected.

- Mature bucks are usually in their bedroom if not in bed before legal shooting light.

- If you last long enough in stand for them to get up and mill around, you still have to be close enough to the bed that they come within shooting range. Very difficult to get that close in the morning.

 

 The only way I see it being productive enough to be worthwhile is if the food source is far enough away from the preferred bedding that they arrive back after legal shooting light starts. Then you can cut them off. Otherwise you're mostly just alerting them or you're sitting where they were feeding all night..not where they are.

 

 

During the rut, I've had a lot of success in mornings, but in my opinion it's a different game than the rest of the season.

 

If you've only been hunting one spot, that's the first thing I would change. Try somewhere new immediately. Map scout and hunt on the fly.

[Meshach]

Read what Matty said...  then read it again ... really good advice    ...    Mornings you have to be close to bedding areas(it can be tough)   Evenings{pm} in between bedding and feeding areas   (easier imo)      With nocturnal bucks you may have to get into their bedding area well before first light,  Wich is hard becuse its often a one shot deal. If you dont score you may push them out completely

[NorthNJHunter]

Ok, thanks. I'll hunt the afternoon on Tuesday.

[Turkeyboy44]

I hate morning hunts but sounds like you might have the deer moving threw at different time might have you timed and you don't even know it try hunting 1 till dark might just see some deer work threw

[NorthNJHunter]

I hate morning hunts but sounds like you might have the deer moving threw at different time might have you timed and you don't even know it try hunting 1 till dark might just see some deer work threw

Yeah, I'll give it a shot. The activity on my trail cams have come to a halt lately.

[BowhunterNJ]

I agree with Matty's post too.

 

Early season, I prefer evenings.

During the rut (mid October through November), mornings are usually quite good, so it's all day sitting time.

Once the cold weather hits hard, I definitely prefer slipping in after sun up, and even hunting a lot of mid morning until dark periods. I see a lot of deer midday during the coldest days.

 

I use cams a lot to time my entrances and exits, if I can spot a pattern in their movement, I'll use windows where they're unlikely to be there to get in.

That might be an hour before light, might be right at first light, might be mid morning...all depends on the spot and the deer.

And even with all that planning and thinking, you're still going to get busted from time to time...it happens.

I just try my best to not get busted while on stand, or getting in or out of my stand.

If I bust them on the ground that's one thing, up in a tree and they know where to look next time and you'll likely have to change trees/locations.

[smoking gun]

Anytime is good morning midmorning evening it doesn't matter I don't think deer bed all day serious I've seen bucks and does at 11am and 1pm

Edited November 23, 2015 by smoking gun

[Rusty]

What Matty said.  

[Silver Belly62]

I hate mornings also, things just never seem to go right for me. I have had better luck in afternoons or going in around 9 - 9:30 in the mornings