Need help with plan analysis and time of day should I sit in stand?

[fishnfur]

Four more days and nothing left to do but finalize a plan for the late buck season.

I'm committing to (finally) getting into my climbing stand on the first day of the Blacktail late buck season.  It is located in fir trees above a small alder flat/old logging landing, where I believe I saw a really nice buck hanging with a doe last Wednesday at 12:15, (which was the date of the new moon - for you moon phase guys/gals).  Thursday will be the date of the first quarter moon, which has been shown in studies to have the least amount of daytime movement, at least for whitetails. 
   
I'm not too worried about moon phases other than the fact that it may affect the time of day the does get up and decide to get a snack in the middle of the day.  I've got many trail cam pics of does feeding on the alder flat so I''m fairly confident I should see some does during the day. The entire area is rubbed out, but apparently, mostly by elk.  There are a few new deer rubs above the alder flat and stand area, so there should be one or several bucks around.   I'm hoping the buck in question will have found a new doe by the start of late buck and possibly herd her back (or follow her back) to the same area on that day.  There might possibly be several other bucks cruising by the flat to check for does as well. 

I'm thinking that I may use a drag rag around the perimeter of the flat and perhaps the remainder of the bench that sits a little below and off to one side of the flat.  Once in the stand, I plan to do an occasional can call and grunt sequence - perhaps once an hour.  If nothing shows after an hour or two, then try some quick/light rattling as well.  The does on the property know me by sight and smell and don't really run when they see me.  They just move out of my way when I'm in the woods.  I'm hoping that will give me a better edge on them tolerating my scent trails while dragging a rag around, especially if they have a buck in tow.

I think I'll be lucky to make 5 or 6 hours in the stand before my bad back sends me back down to the ground.  My questions for you all is:

1).  If you had to pick 5 hours of the day to be in the stand on the 19th, would you pick morning (0700 - noon), mid-day (9:00 - 2:00/10:00 - 3:00) or afternoon to last light?

2) Do you see any major problems with my plan, or would you proceed in a different fashion?

Thanks for your thoughts.

[lokidog]

I'd sit first thing and see how long I could last and then be back out at least an hour and a half before dark.  Sounds like you have a good spot.  I can't speak to the calling as I have never called a deer in, that I know of.  Good luck.

[MIKEXRAY]

Definitely first light. I've seen 100 times more deer at first light then in the afternoon / evening. Might be my choice in set up location. I get up in the dark & am quiet for a good period of time before sunrise.

[JakeLand]

My  :twocents:would be the last 2 hrs of light

[trophyhunt]

All day, bring a book and a tree stand umbrella.  I've killed a lot of animals around noon.

[7mmfan]

Copy that, all day. Those deer will surprise you around 10:00. I have killed more deer between 10:30 and 1:00 than about an other time of day.

[fishnfur]

Pretty much what I expected so far.  First light during the earlier part of the season would be my first choice, last light second best.  I'm not real keen on using a climber stand in the dark - they make me nervous when I can see.  It would be just minutes before first light before I could muster up the guts to go up in that thing. 

There's a significant number of guys that like mid-day during the rut.  Many, many reports of rutting bucks getting up and searching for does during mid-day.  Also, I've read a couple articles that stated the percent of bucks taken during the rut at mid-day is higher when you base it on the number of hunters actually in the woods at that time of day.  Compelling evidence for hunting the 10 AM  - 3 PM period, especially after seeing that nice animal in there at noon a few days ago.

New posts while I was writing agree with the above.  Hmmmm......

[billythekidrock]

I prefer the morning, but it also depends on hunting pressure. If there are a lot of people around I would choose mid day.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Copy that, all day. Those deer will surprise you around 10:00. I have killed more deer between 10:30 and 1:00 than about an other time of day.

      Bring a jug to pee in and a two handled grocery sack to poop in.

[bobcat]

I know I always get lots of pictures of bucks in the middle of the day during the first two weeks of November. But after that, buck activity drops to almost nothing during the day. Since you don't want to use your climber in the dark, I'd sit the last two hours in the evening.

[BABackcountryBwhntr]

I would hunt all day, suck it up... but if not the last 5 hours IMO are the best most days... the last 3 big bucks we have killed have been 1030,11 and 330.... we dont see as much in the early mornings.... I would  drop some corn and drag a estrus rag around and hand a few as well as have a grunt and bleat/horns.

[fishnfur]

Unfortunately, I can't make my bad back just suck it up and sit still all day.  I'd end up with incredible spasms and writhing in pain on the ground.  Hard to shoot from that position too.  .  That's why 5 hours +/- will probably be the limit in that stand.  I've got both a blind and a ladder stand uphill of there, so the hunting day isn't over when I'm not in the climber, I'm just not sitting on the spot where I'd prefer to be.

Just because I'm watching football with time on my hands, I'm adding pics for clarity:

1.  Satellite view - 3 years old showing alder flats, stands/blind locations, and intended drag rag route.
2.  View from alder flat looking uphill towards climbing stand in conifer knob on right
3.  looking down onto alder flat from 12 feet below and right of stand position.

-G-