What time do you set up for afternoon hunt?

[JHoss]

So the obvious answer is just to hunt all day... but unfortunately I can't just do that for all of October.

What time do you guys try to set up for an afternoon hunt? On the public land I'm hunting, I have seen a lot of deer moving on trails between different types of terrain between 9 am and as late as 11 am. It seems to slow down during the middle of afternoon when it is the hottest.

I try to be set and quiet by 3 pm or so, as I've had them walk in on me as early as 4-5. From what I've seen and gotten on my camera, it seems like they never really stop moving around completely and it really stinks walking a mile into the brush, just to jump deer right in the area and then see nothing else all evening, knowing that if I had been in my stand earlier I would have had a shot.

I'm thinking that after 4 pm or so, it is pushing it a little bit.

[jljjdye]

I try to be set no later than 5. I use a climber on public land and try to get there by 4 or close to. I usually only see deer 30 min before sunset till dark. Sounds like you have a pretty good area. For your circumstance I would shoot for 3 to 4 or as long as you can sit still.

[AgBass01]

I usually set up no later than 4:00, dose off till around 4:45-5:00.

[cgny27]

my hunting buddy laughs at me all the time because I like to be there around 4:30am for the morning...and I could be in by 3pm....while he rolls in about 45 mins till dark....and who do you think has skins on the wall this year so far...yep...TECHZAN!!!

I'm with you...the earlier the better...ya just never know.

[Boomer57]

I'll go out shortly after my afternoon nap.

[JHoss]

Sweet. Last time I did an all day trip. In stand by 5 am, then hunted til 10 or so. Changed locations and for the afternoon I did just that..slept in the stand, (groundblind) for a bit then woke up and watched.