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Morning hunts: climb in the dark, or wait until light?

B

bluguitar89

New Member
SH Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2023
Messages
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Just curious how most folks approach morning hunts throughout the season. I'm still practicing with my saddle and I'm hesitant to climb in the dark until I'm more comfortable with the process. I'll probably do several daylight/afternoon hunts before I tackle this particular problem, but I'm still thinking ahead on the best way to approach this.

I've seen lots people talk about tethering to your tree on the ground to start the day and waiting to climb until later which makes sense, so I wonder how most people approach their timing? When I've hunted from ladder stands I've always made a point to hike in early and get in my stand early enough to climb and be fully settled in a good hour before sunrise at least, which basically means pitch dark. On a ladder stand this is no big deal at all, I wouldn't even need a light most times. With a saddle, though, I envision myself lighting up the woods and clanging away the whole way up.

Let's assume you can't prep the tree ahead of time, you're carrying in your sticks (or whatever your chosen climbing method is) and starting from scratch. You get to your spot well before sunrise. Do you climb right away and get into the canopy to settle in before first light, or do you wait until you can see? Do you climb at all during prime time, or do you wait until midday to get airborne?

I'd be tempted to get in the tree as soon as I have enough light to be comfortable with what I'm doing, but that also tends to be when deer are moving. I'd hate to watch a buck walk by while my bow is on the ground and I'm setting my 3rd stick. Alternatively, I could also see just hiking in even earlier so if I DO make a spectacle of myself climbing in the dark, hopefully enough time will have passed not to ruin those prime sunrise hours.
 
If I am going to a new spot, I try to reach my general spot and find a tree at gray light. Otherwise, I often get in a bad tree or the whole thing is just stressful trying to get in the tree before first light.

If I am going to a spot I know and know the tree, then I try to climb in the dark (but I often sleep in).

A lot of guys kinda brag about walking in the dark and climb without a headlamp OR with an ultra dim one (like the little 10 lumen red bulb on a cheap energizer headlamp). I won't do either. A key for me for safety in the dark (walking or climbing) is a bright enough headlamp. I also carry a backup because I had my headlamp fall off once in the middle of a climb. My head lamp is a Fenix one that can go SUPER bright (but I dial it down...I use the flood beam (it has spot also) set on low or medium while climbing). That comes in handy when walking out alone and you hear something weird!

My safety >>>>>>>>>>> not spooking a deer with my headlamp
 
Most morning hunts, I get to the tree after sunrise. I find that I bump less deer. Deer are moving at or around the break of day and if you want to hunt those deer, you need to be in stand at least an hour before the break of day. I wait until the deer bed and then quietly go to the stand after sunrise. Later in the morning, the deer will get up and feed/move again and that's when I'll be ready to hunt them.
 
bluguitar89 said:
Just curious how most folks approach morning hunts throughout the season. I'm still practicing with my saddle and I'm hesitant to climb in the dark until I'm more comfortable with the process. I'll probably do several daylight/afternoon hunts before I tackle this particular problem, but I'm still thinking ahead on the best way to approach this.

I've seen lots people talk about tethering to your tree on the ground to start the day and waiting to climb until later which makes sense, so I wonder how most people approach their timing? When I've hunted from ladder stands I've always made a point to hike in early and get in my stand early enough to climb and be fully settled in a good hour before sunrise at least, which basically means pitch dark. On a ladder stand this is no big deal at all, I wouldn't even need a light most times. With a saddle, though, I envision myself lighting up the woods and clanging away the whole way up.

Let's assume you can't prep the tree ahead of time, you're carrying in your sticks (or whatever your chosen climbing method is) and starting from scratch. You get to your spot well before sunrise. Do you climb right away and get into the canopy to settle in before first light, or do you wait until you can see? Do you climb at all during prime time, or do you wait until midday to get airborne?

I'd be tempted to get in the tree as soon as I have enough light to be comfortable with what I'm doing, but that also tends to be when deer are moving. I'd hate to watch a buck walk by while my bow is on the ground and I'm setting my 3rd stick. Alternatively, I could also see just hiking in even earlier so if I DO make a spectacle of myself climbing in the dark, hopefully enough time will have passed not to ruin those prime sunrise hours.
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I'm usually in the tree all setup 30mins BEFORE daylights. A red headlamp really help with setting up and being able to use 2 hands is a must. It just about trusting your gear and practicing. If you're lucky enough to have a good tree in your yard, practice before going to bed a few times. Its not that scary at all once you learn to trust yourself and your equipment. ALWAYS be tethered to the tree if your feet leave the ground.

-Oh, having equipment in bright colors like orange helps too.
 
Dmathews87 said:
I climb in dark with a headlamp. take it slow to minimize noise and to also assist with your comfort. Linesman belt from the moment you take that first step up.
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Or, lineman's AND your safety tether advanced before you the whole way up (only have just one on when you momentarily go around a branch)....the lineman's will often not catch someone especially if not perfectly used
 
I like to be done climbing and minimal setup still to do a half hour before shooting light, so an hour before sunrise I want to be in the tree. Let the woods quiet down a half hour at least. That's when I have an exact tree picked out.

On the rare occasion that I don't have a tree picked out in the morning, I give myself an extra half hour because I'm going to be shining my light all around scoping out trees.

Shot my buck last year on just such a morning going in semi-blind. Had a general area scouted from the year before, specifically a subtle bench I was slipping along looking for sign. Not ideal going in semi-blind in the dark, but life happens. Found a scrape, found a tree, had one down by sunrise. My rule with that method is just go really slow and watch your ground scent. Don't want to backtrack/circle. It's definitely high-level woods navigation.

That particular area bucks were coming back to bed and I just caught them on the right day where they stayed out a little late. The terrain set up that me strobing my light through the woods wasn't likely to be an issue since they were coming up and over the ridge to me on the other side. Nice cool October morning had their juices flowing. Outside the peak rut those pre-rut cool mornings are my favorite conditions to hunt. Just always been more of a morning hunter, and if you want to have success in the morning you have to be good at navigating in the dark.
 
elk yinzer said:
I like to be done climbing and minimal setup still to do a half hour before shooting light, so an hour before sunrise I want to be in the tree. Let the woods quiet down a half hour at least. That's when I have an exact tree picked out.

On the rare occasion that I don't have a tree picked out in the morning, I give myself an extra half hour because I'm going to be shining my light all around scoping out trees.

Shot my buck last year on just such a morning going in semi-blind. Had a general area scouted from the year before, specifically a subtle bench I was slipping along looking for sign. Not ideal going in semi-blind in the dark, but life happens. Found a scrape, found a tree, had one down by sunrise. My rule with that method is just go really slow and watch your ground scent. Don't want to backtrack/circle. It's definitely high-level woods navigation.

That particular area bucks were coming back to bed and I just caught them on the right day where they stayed out a little late. The terrain set up that me strobing my light through the woods wasn't likely to be an issue since they were coming up and over the ridge to me on the other side. Nice cool October morning had their juices flowing. Outside the peak rut those pre-rut cool mornings are my favorite conditions to hunt. Just always been more of a morning hunter, and if you want to have success in the morning you have to be good at navigating in the dark.
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This^^^^ I like to get in early but that’s personal preference. Make sure you’re extremely comfortable doing so before you do.
 
elk yinzer said:
I like to be done climbing and minimal setup still to do a half hour before shooting light, so an hour before sunrise I want to be in the tree. Let the woods quiet down a half hour at least. That's when I have an exact tree picked out.

On the rare occasion that I don't have a tree picked out in the morning, I give myself an extra half hour because I'm going to be shining my light all around scoping out trees.

Shot my buck last year on just such a morning going in semi-blind. Had a general area scouted from the year before, specifically a subtle bench I was slipping along looking for sign. Not ideal going in semi-blind in the dark, but life happens. Found a scrape, found a tree, had one down by sunrise. My rule with that method is just go really slow and watch your ground scent. Don't want to backtrack/circle. It's definitely high-level woods navigation.

That particular area bucks were coming back to bed and I just caught them on the right day where they stayed out a little late. The terrain set up that me strobing my light through the woods wasn't likely to be an issue since they were coming up and over the ridge to me on the other side. Nice cool October morning had their juices flowing. Outside the peak rut those pre-rut cool mornings are my favorite conditions to hunt. Just always been more of a morning hunter, and if you want to have success in the morning you have to be good at navigating in the dark.
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As a nonmorning person, this is hard for me to pull off....but when I do and the time of year and the weather is right....and I can stay at least until like 2 pm....it's an exciting feeling knowing you've done your best and the chances of you seeing a shooter is better than usual
 
I climb 100% in the dark I also go in 100% in the dark. Probably the best thing I acquired from listening to eberhart. I tend to primarily hunt pre determined locations in the mornings though however if I am going to stray off the beaten path to a location I don’t have a tree at already it’ll either be in an area where I’ve been before in daylight so I have an idea of my direction or I’ll use a topo to figure my best area based on the wind and wait till it’s just before gray light when you can see somewhat the shape of the tree just to kinda know what’s going on. I have a head lamp in my pack with the battery’s removed and it’s all in a bag for tracking and or emergencies but everything else is by moonlight
 
This is what I have found works for me over the years. When I am going in to hunt a morning destination location like a hot feed tree that I already know about, more times than not, the deer will be there no matter how early I get to the tree in the dark. I would usually blow dear out from under the tree. I started waiting until it got light because I found the deer were moving to nearby bedding after sunup. That would allow me to slip in, set up, and be waiting for them when they returned to feed again near midday. I usually stay until 1 unless I shoot one. I have taken a lot of deer between 11 and noon.

For bedding locations, I like to slip in really early since the deer should be out in the open timber feeding in the dark and will return to the security of bedding before daylight or just after. For rut and pre rut, these are well scouted out spots and I get in early and set up well before daylight.
 
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On my cut trails i go in without the light as often as i can .you would be surprised at how much more of your surroundings you can see and get a feel for without the light. But fog and cloud cover will call for light.going in to à New spot blind it tipically takes me till grey light to pick à tree, with or without à light.just being slow and picky.i have walked right between 5 deer with a red light, climbed 20 feet up and spooked them when my release tapped the top metal step.went home.
 
If there is a spot that I think is appropriate for morning assault I usually target before light, but the only way I would do that on a ‘new’ set is to look up and see that this is obviously a live tree, straightforward climb.

Don’t push it in the dark if you have any discomfort.

Particularly in the first three weeks of November you are not missing out on much at all if you’re not up that tree before sunrise, 10AM is usually just as good at 7AM, it’s just hard to convince yourself of that.
 
I climbed a dead tree.dropped my bow twice out of a thick fir tree that was rejecting my advances.climbed à tree one day and there was a tree leaning àgains it the next day.climbed a tree blind and saw a stand in the tree next to me when it got light.climbed a tree with poison oak.climbed a tree with dead trees all around it when it got windy.so yeah....theres thatScreenshot_20230912_191059_Gallery.jpg
 
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I generally 1-stick when I can see. If there's a problem with the tree I want to spot it before I'm in danger. I haven't had a lot of experience with SRT but I'd be comfortable doing an SRT climb (of a tree I've previously climbed and set a preset on) in the dark.
 
Similar situation for me. I use the JRB method and if I have a preset I will go in before sunrise and climb in the dark. If I go to a new area I will walk most of the way in the dark and wait for grey light to pick out a tree. Whatever you end up doing,you want to practice enough to be quiet with your climbing method. That will help you immensely in any situation.
 
Whenever I get in the tree and setup is right on time. Sometimes that is well before shooting light, sometimes it's closer to 8 or 9am lol. It's always situational for me. There are 5-6 spots I intend to hang this year that I will be lucky if I am setup before 7am due to distance and/or difficulty in getting there. One spot for example, short drive (15 minutes to boat ramp), launch boat, 11+ mile boat run, mile hike. There is a limit to how early I will get up, lol.
 
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