How long do you stay in the stand?

[Lady Archer]

So I learned a valuable lesson this weekend...

I set up a pig hunt on a friend's ranch for 6 guys. My friend's been scouting all week and getting things ready. Well, half the guys backed out 2 days before the hunt. That's what I get for not taking deposits. The rest show up and were gonna hunt Saturday night for a couple hours before dark then all day Sunday. The one hunting across the creek from me took over 45 minutes to set up his blind. I tried to tell him he didn't need it, but didn't have any luck. When he FINALLY gets it set up I'm ready for it to get quiet but again, no such luck. I don't know if he was dancin' around in there or what but I've never heard so much noise coming from a blind.

45 minutes before dark, the BEST part of the night, I hear unmistakeable human footsteps. Surely he's not up moving around NOW! Oh yeah, then he walks outta the woods. I don't know about you guys, but dusk is my FAVORITE time to hunt. The woods just comes alive. I had a really cool close encounter with a sorry looking raccoon that saved the night's hunt.

Anyway, the next day we get to the woods and I ask what time they want to be picked up. They only wanted to stay until 9:30 AM! These guys drove over 2 hours one way and paid to hunt, but only spent maybe 4 hours actually hunting. I stayed in my stand 8 hours. Yes, it was hot, but I don't get the opportunity to go very often so you make the best of it.

I guess I took it for granted that not everybody hunts the same way I do. But MAN, how do you expect to do any good if you don't spend at least SOME time in the woods quiet???

[arrowdynamic]

weekend camo mannequins and wannabees.

[lameduck]

Want-a-be hunters, sorry that happened

[Smart]

Depends on what we are hunting....

Deer...

4 hours in the am and 4 hours in the PM in Texas, unless my trail camera says they are moving during the day.....

As hot as it is in October, our deer don't move much during the day. The rut is a different deal and we might go out in the middle of the day.

Turkey...until we find one and kill one....break for lunch and then get after it again.

[Big Spec]

ummm, i usually stay in the stand way past dark with the hog light ready. I am like you I think he got out at the best time.

As far as morning hunt right now I get out pretty quick if it gets hot. During hunting season 10 am. If there are deer out or its overcast and cold I stay longer.

[Zeeter]

That is usually a guides dream...... paying clients that don't really want to hunt! hahahahaha I know it stinks and we used to have clients that did the same thing but what I came to find out quick is they are paying the money and for some its not about killing but just getting out of the city.

sorry to hear about your weekend!

[Tubby]

I'll sit all day if the critters are moving. Most of the time 3-4 hours each sitting.

Sometimes I'll come in around 10ish then head back out at noon.

[Redneck Archer]

I only live 30 miles from my blind and 25 miles from my hunting partners place.

for hogs we will just stay a few hours (but do it a few times a week).

for deer I have been known to sit till noon (maybe a potty break in between). then go back out at 2 or so. although my deer are moving around right now all day (think its due to my water).

So it depends. sometimes I just go after work till dark or shortly after if the woods liven up! sometimes it stays dead and we head out.

but I know what you mean. dawn and dusk is my favorite time to hunt. dawn the birds are waking up and singing and starting to move around. dusk the bats come out and fly over my tower (not far from bat caves).

[Lady Archer]

We've been seeing hogs moving back and forth from the creek all day long. That's the only reason I stayed so long. You know what it's like when you've been sitting there so long you just don't want to quit. You start thinkin..."OK! This is it! They've gotta start moving now."

I'm sure paying for that line of thinking now. Everything I own hurts. I'm way outta hunting shape. Maybe those guys weren't so dumb afterall...

[Patton]

depends on the weather I guess. But aometimes if im just extremely bored and its close to 9;15 or so Ill go stalk around in the woods

[D C]

For hogs Ill sit from 7:30-10 in the pm and 6-8 in the am (this time of the year)

Deer season- I get out of the blind @ 9-9:30 Rarely do I sit for more than that.

[Mac...]

I try to stay all day if I can and I can stay comfortable.
If not, I'm usually out and stalking by 9:30-10:00a make a big loop around the property where I don't normally hunt which takes about 2-3 hours depending if I get on something or not then back in my stand for an afternoon nap then wake back up for the evening hunt. (best sleep in the world setting in Gods country!)

Sorry to hear about your weekend with the warriors....
That stinks. Not knocking you (I assume this was your place) but don't take peoe hunting if you plan on hunting yourself. That's my rule of thumb anyways.

If I take someone out with me, I pretty much set back and relax. I let them dictate how and where they wanna hunt. I'm still taking my stuff! If they wanna set with me or get my suggestions, I don't mind doing that or giving it to them. I'll lay down the law but give them the freedom to do as they please when it comes to tactics.

Thyself just me tho..... Again, sorry you had a bad experience in the woods... That's my place of zin, an I wouldn't let anyone mess that up. Remember their names, write em down somewhere and never let em come back.

[Dale Moser]

Until I feel like gettin out!

[txdukklr]

if they paid, I don't think it should matter.

Summer, I candidly stay as long as I can tolerate but that is not long. I'm not that mad at hogs, in fact I kill them more for the nuisance factor then any desire to hunt or eat them.

Deer I stay a long while, even longer if I'm after the trophy. I've stayed hunting from dusk to dawn in below 25 degree weather to chase a buck . . . . I've also stayed in the blind an hour.

[Lady Archer]

The whole weekend wasn't a bust. I was just really surprised at how little they actually hunted. When I was putting it together they bugged the crap outta me...calling all the time, wanting to bring four wheelers and blinds and asking all kinds of questions. I thought they'd be more serious.

And it far from ruined my hunt. The best part is how far outta town it is. I live in Dallas, so just to get to spend the weekend in the woods made it awesome. And my phone doesn't work out there so there's absolutely no distractions. I hear ya on 'zen'. It was definitely that!