How Early?

How long have you sat in a stand before daylight to shoot a specific buck? I feel like I'm making to much noise walking to my stand. Thanks in advance.

As much as 45 minutes to almost an hour last year at times when I was after one specific buck. I drove in to put my stuff in the blind then spread out corn by hand and with a road feeder. Then parked and got back in the stand ASAP. I had to put out extra corn to hold the deer since the deer where in before daylight eating in front of me.

So since I'm being kind of noisey on the way to the stand, should I get there early enough to let everything settle back down. Or should I take my time walking in and tip toe to the stand?

depends... if you are hunting a high pressure area or a place where feeders aren't reliable like I do then you may need to be seated and completely settled at least 1hr before shooting light. which for me means that I need to get to the stand (climber) about 2hrs before LST.

luckily, most deer activity is between 8am -1pm in my area so over the last few season I've actually been walking to the stand right at LST and settled by 8am just in time to see the deer start moving thru. bigger bucks tend to move between 10a-12pm - YMMV

do you run game cameras? why time is that buck coming in?

I love hunting after a rain or a heavy dew so that I can walk at a moderate pace & not make a bunch of noise! Outside of that you're going to make noise and no amount of being sneaky will make enough of a difference. even less so as dry as it is right now. Id say just walk normally to your stand dont worry about the crunchy leafs but do try to avoid breaking limbs. If its a big old mature buck youre after you best just wait until the leafs are softened and the wind is perfect.. dont risk it otherwise.

but thats just my two pennies.

How long or far of a walk do you have?

One morning was 3:15am and the other day was 9:00am

About 200 yards

What are you walking thru that is so noisy? Do you use a spin feeder?

Downed trees and limbs that I mostly step over, and a lot of leafs. Yes I use a spin feeder.

I drive to most stands and either park directly in front or 15-20 yards behind. Get there 30-45 minutes before first light. I shot my biggest buck on a drizzly morning 10 minutes after sitting down and I was running late and got there at sun up.

I would say deer aren't scared exclusively of noise. I've walked right up on deer in the woods before with lots of leaves on the ground. If you're worried about the noise, try changing up your step to be less rhythmic (like a human). Take long pauses, pick up your feet, and tread lightly. It may take you a little longer to get in the stand, but you won't sound like a freight train (human) coming through the woods.

It goes without saying to approach your stand with the wind in your favor as well.

I've gotten in the stand 2 hours early before and just took a nap. Set my alarm on vibrate for 30 minutes before legal shooting time and killed the buck the 6th day in.

Just work the wind and get in the stand is all I do. I'm usually set up a half hour before legal. Walked right up on deer in the before legal light, they trust the dark hides them.

I always take the time in late summer to clear a path to my stands. Mow it, weed it and trim limbs if needed. If had a lot of leaves I would rake me a smooth path if needed to get in and out of the blind as quiet as possible.

I'm kicking myself in the butt.

I have said it before and I will say it again, some
Of you guys hunt deer that are way more "tame" than the deer I hunt....lol.

No really, the better way to say it is the deer I hunt are so skiddish the cows will spoil them from the feed pen. Don't know what it is since there doesn't seem (key word there) to be that much hunting pressure around my lease. Maybe the old lady is right and they just know when the old white truck pulls in it means killin time

I did my serious trimming last year after deer season. Did my mowing for a trail to the stand a month ago . I like to be in the stand about 30 minutes before the feeder goes off which will be around 6:15...
I have seen guys get in their blind at 4:00 am hunting the same property as I but have not seen them have any better luck. I don't park any closer than 2 or 3 hundred yards to the stand but have seen others park close and have good luck generally on the does.
Do what makes you feel comfortable be patient and persistent.

There is no way to sneak into my bow blinds without bumping deer. I get in a hour before the sun is up (6 cutrently) and do not walk out in the evenings until it is completly dark. 830

Do you guys walk to the stand with a red light, or do y'all walk in the dark?

Dark if there is enough moon or small dim headlamp if not.

Rule #1 Listen to STX

Personally I like to be the first person to the stand and to be sitting and quiet before everyone else in camp gets up and starts walking or driving in. Plenty of times I have heard deer crashing/snorting through the brush spooked by someone driving in at 0600.

Least amount of light the better. Step out of camp or the vehicle and just close your eyes for about 2 minutes. Human night vision is actually pretty good once you get them accustomed to no artificial light. Sometimes just a flash here or there on a dark night or foggy mess.

If noise is the big issue you can still clear your trail to the stand.. do it in the middle of the day after your last morning hunt of the week. I have never seen chainsaw or tractor work drive deer out of an area where there is food. You might have to sacrifice that last evening hunt but the next time you get out there to hunt you'll be glad you did it!