Trail Head/Gate Walk Start Time

[SeatoSummit88]

I've been curious on how you guys/gals target your departure time when hitting the trail.  I know that everyone's hunt scenario/plan is a bit different, in regards to terrain, distance, pack weight, walking, bike, etc.  I think the bigger question, which I tried searching for, but came up short (maybe the words I used were incorrect)...Do you believe that walking/biking on a gravel trail (no vehicles allowed) pre sunrise, would bump any game (particular to what you're targeting) and blow any chances of that odd shot you could take before you get to the actual area you want to hunt..or scare them out in general. Of course I'm not taking shot out of legal hours, but, as others have mentioned, sometimes you get those deer/elk that are so frozen/hidden along the road, and you do that look back, you will catch them peeking.  I have a 2 mile ride in to the area I would like to glass. Packing about 40lbs of gear with me. Probably will take me 20/30 min to get to my cut... I don't want to wait too long and not catch a buck in its clear cut/timber edge bed right in the morning because I was hoping to see a trail deer. Trying not to over think this...Also, I have the ability to get out the night before the opener, but not until 630 pm or so...although I cant scout/spot...I'm wondering if I should set my blind up then, or just wait until the morning and pop it open slow and as quiet as possible... standard dog house pop open style...Thanks for your input. 

[vandeman17]

Area dependent for me. I have some areas that I want to be way back in and either glassing or in my stand at first light so I leave plenty early for those. I want to be able to take my time hiking in so I don't work up a big sweat. There are other areas that I go in where its good hunting all the way from camp or the pickup so for those, I will wait until first shooting light and then start still hunting my way in.

[Stein]

I agree, it all depends where you want to start hunting and if you need to beat other guys to the trail.  I try to be where I want to start actual hunting a few minutes before legal light.  That might be right at the trailhead or a hour or even longer back.  If it's popular and you want to be first in you might need to add to that.

[Buckhunter24]

If you can set the blind up the night before, I would definitely do that.

[SeatoSummit88]

Appreciate your replies. This is definitely a place that has very little pressure, although the area is a bit smaller.. so if you had 3 or more guys within this area, it would consider as stronger pressure. Usually its myself and one or two other hunters and we can typically talk at the gate whos going left or right. Right is better though ;-)    I think ill work to make the extra effort for setting up my blind the night before..even if its a bit of low light..id like to have it prepared so I can get some solid AM glossing.. I hate sweating too after trekking hard or biking fast and then getting cold after im plunked down glassing.

[blackveltbowhunter]

If I'm familiar with the area, travel in the dark is pretty much a given. 

[NOCK NOCK]

I have killed several critters that others have walked right on by.......in the dark.   

The second I leave a camp or vehicle I am hunting, walking in the dark in a hunting area is just......walking. 

[Aeron]

I like to be sitting in my spot at least an hour before sunrise, preferably closer to two hours.  Some may think its a bit excessive, but I really enjoy
 just sitting, melting into the woods, listening to the woods slowly wake up.  It also gives me plenty of time to get comfortable, have a small snack, adjust my clothing requirements after the hike in (usually adding clothing so I am not sweating on the hike in), etc. 
I also hate getting to my parking spot and finding someone else parked there.   If I see someone else parked where I want to park, I change my plan. I don't want to be stepping on anyone else's hunting grounds just as I don't want anyone else tromping right on by me while I am trying to see what sort of animal is breaking those twigs and rustling through the brush in front of me. (usually just a big old squirrel unfortunately). Just in case I always have plan b and c, but, I always prefer plan a. 
If I am going to be doing more walking, I tend to start a little later.

[fishngamereaper]

Different options for different areas, but for gated logging roads into clear cuts I've never been a big fan of slipping into them before shooting light. You never know what the thermals/wind is doing with your scent. If you cant see it you never knew it was there I guess.  And I don't think I would set up a blind the night before. The thing will have your stink all over it and could keep the deer from showing up at all.  All the stands, hides, blinds I build or set up I do at least a month in advance so the critters get used to it. 

[SeatoSummit88]

Thanks for more follow up advice everyone.

Reaper, should I still pack it out with me and set up in for the day/half day etc, then taking down every night... Or is it null and void with me setting up right on the opener? The plan was to use estrus scent (which is a whole other topic) on the blind or near the blind with a scent stick.. Also considered scent dragging estrus rag behind me on the way in to see if I could potentially catch a buck on the way out scent checking the road...I will say that the thicket on either side of the road consisting of short evergreens/some dog hair/some alders (North and South) has pass through trails that game use to get to that road or to at least cross...  Should I pack my tree stand with me and use that instead and just sit on a stump for the cut glassing?

[fishngamereaper]

Personally I would only use a blind or a stand if I knew the habits of the deer in the area. You could sit for days and not see a deer. Especially blacktail.  Allot of people have success sitting and waiting but that's not my style so my advice comes from my experiences. I generally glass a cut for an hour or so then move on, at least until late season when it's more likely to catch a buck moving in the open.The only places I will sit are heavy game trails in the timber near likely bedding area's.  But again, that's just me. Public land deer change their habits based on pressure so I'm always changing my tactics.

[GASoline71]

I have killed several critters that others have walked right on by.......in the dark.   

The second I leave a camp or vehicle I am hunting, walking in the dark in a hunting area is just......walking.

Me too... Even at legal shooting hours in the AM it's barely enough light to see.  So I like to have just enough legal shooting light when I start to hunt my way in to where I'm going.  I also hunt my way out.

Gary

[SeatoSummit88]

Personally I would only use a blind or a stand if I knew the habits of the deer in the area. You could sit for days and not see a deer. Especially blacktail.  Allot of people have success sitting and waiting but that's not my style so my advice comes from my experiences. I generally glass a cut for an hour or so then move on, at least until late season when it's more likely to catch a buck moving in the open.The only places I will sit are heavy game trails in the timber near likely bedding area's.  But again, that's just me. Public land deer change their habits based on pressure so I'm always changing my tactics.

Good advice!

[huntnfmly]

I plan on doing the same as you I have some trail cams out and will see if they are getting any deer on them if so I will set the blind up like you were planning and sit
If you have a spot picked out I wouldn’t hesitate to put up a blind especially if ther are other hunters wondering around
Sit tight and let them push them to you

[fishnfur]

A lot of good answers, none of which you could really argue with.  There is some potential to scare deer no matter which way you go.  Ultimately, you have to make a choice on what you think is best in your situation and go with it.  Jumping a few deer in the dark doesn't ruin their day (or yours) unless they catch your scent.  Normally, they just freak from the movement and run without ever deciding what made the noise.   We hear about deer watching hunters pass as they remain hidden in their beds.  They know they're being hunted, but if they think they fooled you, they often just go back to standard security measures, and stay hidden where they are.  Sometimes, they'll get up and move off for a few hours then return to that same spot.  The best bucks may retreat to a core area with moderate pressure, but the younger ones will still be out acting like kids. 

 I like to get in place 30 minutes before shooting light, just 'cause I hate getting up earlier in the AM. than I have to.  I can hardly sit for five hours straight, so wasting two of them sitting in the dark seems silly.  I'd put up the blind the night before.  Making a bunch of commotion in the dark and on the edge of your spot in the early morning seems way more likely to spook deer to me.  If one or two discover your scent around the blind overnight, they may stay well away from your area, but I don't think they're telling all their buddies about you.  I agree that putting up a stand or blind well in advance of the hunt is the best way to proceed, but when hunting areas where you can't or won't leave your gear, then getting your gear out and in place the night before makes more sense in my mind.  Alternatively, if you had a climber and knew what tree you were going up in the AM, then I'd probably recommend just carrying it in at that time and climb in the dark (which I hate). 

Good luck!