With deer season less than a month away in most of America, many hunters already have a plan for opening day. The big question is, “Morning or Afternoon?” This post ends with a link to David Blanton’s take on the subject, drawing on his career of filming and hunting with the Realtree organization, where he spends an entire season filming or hunting across the nation. Blanton focuses on three key questions to answer this age-old question.
Getting There
The edge of a food source is a wonderful place to begin a day if you can get to the stand without deer detecting you. Perhaps you have a stand near a back road where you can sneak into the timber and catch deer leaving a field. Possibly deer filter from a corn field where they can’t see you, or have a deep woods spot where deer won’t show up until after sunrise. The danger of a morning sit is spooking deer on the way in, and one negative encounter can change their feeding pattern. Afternoon stands offer the advantage of access during times when deer are bedded, so no headlamp is needed, and you can sneak quietly to your special spot.
Ask a Camera
Deer movement is a second criterion. Instead of deer traveling to a food source and returning by the same trail, deer may take a looping route, perhaps to drink or visit a secondary crop on the way back to bedding. On most of my trail cameras, I catch deer in the morning or late afternoon, rather than both. This trail camera data can help you plan the best time of day to hunt.
Play the Wind
The hunting industry has made progress toward reducing human scent through ozone generators, specialized clothing, sprays, and other tactics. Some products actually work to counter a deer’s sense of smell. However, if you have pictures of a mature buck or two passing your stand, ignoring wind direction is a gamble that can negate your chances without ever seeing that deer. Numerous studies have shown that the first time you hunt a stand is your best chance of success and that each repeated sit reduces the likelihood of deer approaching. Passing up opening day is difficult, but if the wind is wrong, it’s better to hunt an alternative spot until the wind is right. David Blanton discusses the morning and afternoon question using his 34 years of hunting and filming experience.