How long do you sit on stanD and why?

[guythathunts]

We are in a heated discussion in my group about how long to sit. I am thinking about an all day sit. We have been EXTREMELY bad in how long we sit in past years. I have been out of my stand as early as 8:00 - 8:30am. We always have intentions to leave latter but we get cold and lazy... I know that we miss opportunities by doing this. So the questions is - How long do you stay on stand and how long should you stay on stand?

[HD]

We stay out till 10 then back out by 2.

Unless one of the kids needs a potty break, but that is mostly the norm.

[BiggA]

I sit as long as possible. This year I intend to sit all day it is going to be warm enough for sure. Just bring a sandwich and bottle of water.

[Outdoors Junkie]

In recent years, we sit in our stand until 10:30-11 am and meet back at the trucks for sandwiches (lunch), warming up and BS'n then back to the stands until dark.

In the past we have left the woods (10:30 -11 am) and gone back to the cabin for lunch and then back to the woods at 2 pm.  That's when grandpa would take his nap.  

FYI...we have a lot more success (deer) in the recent years!

[Go Big Red!]

Opening day sit time for me is as long as possible unless I get too cold.  Some years I have sat the entire day and the same for Sunday.  I have noticed that the late morning to early afternoon times can be productive as many hunters are leaving and they push the deer.

Do what you can and good luck.

[Realtree]

We normally get out in the stands 45 min to an hour before daylight and sit until at least 1030-11am regardless of temps. If nothing moving or very few shots by 11am, we have already determined when we walked in who will get up first and make a slow predetermined walk through the woods in an effort to nudge/push the deer towards other hunters in our party.

After the intial nudge/push, that hunter returns to their stand and a second hunter will make another predetermined walk ending near the initial walker. If nothing pushed in those drives, we break for a 30-45 minute lunch break depending on temps and then back in the stands by 1-130pm at the latest to sit until dark.

We do this routine both Sat and Sun of opening weekend when our party has the most members and then during the week when it's normally only a couple of us, we play it by ear depending on weather and what's moving. We may sit all day, we may only sit til 11am and then not come back in til 230-3pm. We tend to see more movement in the early am hours and late pm hours based on where we are set up to hunt. The midday hours are very slow

[deadeye]

We typically get to our stands by first light and stay on stand until 11:00 - 11:30 at which time we meet back at camp (not really a camp, I have a couple camper trailers there but no one stays there).
After our fill of sasuage on the grill, we clean up deer if required, and generally lounge around and BS about the mornings events.  Depending on who is most hyped, people start back out around 1:30 or so. Depending on where I spend the afternoon, I may leave before dark and hunt my way out.  Yes, I know we miss some opportunites during our long lunch but part of hunting is the and BS'ing and hanging out. 

[Stensethfan]

Sounds like I am like most of you guys.  I usually try to only come out for a couple hours in the mid day to eat and stretch and get the ants out of my pants.  This year we have a new spot that doesn't really hold deer, but they pass through when other hunters shoot or walk around.  I am hunting by myself saturday so I plan on sitting all day.  I am just going to pack in my lunch and a couple magazines to keep me busy on stand.  Maybe even bring my walkman to listen to the radio in one ear?  Hopefully Sunday myself and my hunting buddy will sit all day as well.  Should not be too bad with the predicted temps and a new comfortable box stand.  Good luck to everyone this weekend and be safe!

[Jdrummer]

The biggest part for me is whats the pattern of their movement is and when are they comming by my camera. last month they (does) have been hitting my spot later at night or at 4-5 am . Now 2 weeks ago we have had a few different decent 8 pointers and a broken racked possible 12+ and they came through at 11:30 am. my buddy seen a 12 last year in this spot but didnt get a shot. I frimly believe the corn is screwing me when I go there. I always come in on the down wind side but there is alot of downed trees/branches so I gota walk close to the trail but I think they hear me every time . the cam has proven it. everytime someone goes and sits there is no pics for 2-3 days after they walk in to the stand. We all use scent elimenator and scent cover stuff .

[deadeye]

Stensethfan,  That brings up a good subject, bringing books, mags, radios, to the stand.  I have to say that in over 30 years of deer hunting, I have never brought a book, mag, radio, or any other device that may distract me.  I'm usually on my feet, slowly turning, while scaning the area that is just out of sight (no sense looking at the obvious close stuff) for anything that could be part of a deer.  I couldn't count the deer I saw (some for only seconds) that I would not have seen if I was looking another direction for just a brief time.  I know everyone hast their own way to pass time but maybe 2-3 hours of total concentration may result in more deer seen than an all day sit while reading a book.   

[Stensethfan]

I definitely know there is a chance for me to miss a deer sighting by reading a magazine, but figure I am better of in the middle of the day taking a break by reading and stopping every couple lines to look around than sitting at a restaurant or in my living room for lunch.  I actually hardly get much reading done on stand, but have had good success listening to the radio in one ear as low as i can hear it and watching the woods.  Like you said you usually look out as far as you can see, as do I, so I usually see them before hearing them.  I guess I will see how it goes, this is going to be my first year hunting in a box blind where I can get away with some movement while reading. 

[JoeFisherman]

um...who is stan?   

[101PROOF]

I go out 45 min before day light and back for lunch by 11: am and in the stand by 2:30 pm

I see some wait to go out after daylight!
My eight point buck this year with bow was at 7:30 AM, the 10 point 2 years ago was at 7:05 am.
I quit gun hunting based on people would always walk by my stand after daylight.
That stand is off private property but on the border of state land.

Last year I counted 14 people that waited at the truck until daylight and then went out.
I had several deer out in the field but not close enough to shoot, as soon as the group started walking and talking, the deer all ran off.
No one in that party did get a deer that day.
That happens ever year gun hunting.
I have only harvested one deer after noon, all the other deer have been in the morning before 10:am

[BiggA]

um...who is stan?   

I just noticed that myself. Can I change my answer cause I dont sit on Stan at all.

[Realtree]

um...who is stan?   

I just noticed that myself. Can I change my answer cause I dont sit on Stan at all.

I modified the original post and also the last post in this thread so future replys should say "stanD"...funny none of us caught that before now. 

[dakids]

I like to get to my stand 2 hours before sunrise.  Yes its very early but I always beat everyone else out.  I try to know where most of the other hunters stands are and how they get to them.  I use their movement to drive the deer to me. hunt in the deers escape routes and stay all day until sunset.  When everyone heads to lunch there is usually a second movement of deer that have been bumped by the other hunters going to lunch.

[Cody Gruchow]

im out in the stand an hour before sunrise. due to working on opener but still able to get out for the morning hunt i cant sit all day. i have seen deer just about every hour of the day so you never know when that big one might step out. there wont be no one running the woods. i count 6 ppl that are going to be set up on this 400 acres at work. if i sit in a box stand i will bring something to snack on and a book if need be.

[MNBucKKiller]

im in my stand by 6 am, 6:15 at the latest and sit til 10:30 go to the truck, eat lunch and back in the stand by 11:30 or noon and sit til dark

[Mayfly]

Put in 8 hours today.... 6-9 and then back out 12 - 5:30

[Ryan]

I am probably in the minority here, but I only sit for an hour or two in the morning.  After that I meet up with the rest of the group and we make a couple of drives during the day.  I like to get back in my stand around 2:30, but don't always make it by that time.  With my stand location I don't see that many deer in the morning.  I do see deer, but nothing like right before sunset.  99% of the deer killed from my stand have been in the afternoon/evening so I don't see the point in spending a lot of time there in the morning.  I'm sure I have probably missed a big buck because I was not there at 11:30 in the morning, but that is a chance I'm willing to take.