Best Time of Day to Hunt?

[AtTheMurph]

Saturday I will be going on my first deer hunt. I will be hunting on private land, so I do not anticipate too many people out there (if that matters). I'm curious the best time to go out, I've heard some say early morning, other say afternoon...

Any thoughts are appreciated!

I always try to get to the stand 1 hr before shooting time. The first hour or two after sunrise is very good. Then I try to stay in the stand until at least 11am as I have found most hunters will leave the stand around 10am. As they do the deer have a secondary move avoiding the guys who can't hang in the tree.

Next best times are before sunset but if the rut is on, you just need to be out as much as you can be.

 

[Hookeye]

I shot mine at 8:30. Buddy shot his just after 10.

Getting to stand early doesn't make much sense when driving a noisy truck and slamming doors.
Yet many are clueless, think arrival time most important.

Stomping around to get to stand on time LOL

 

[rhslover]

The best time is any time. Got mine today at 11:30. Get out there until you get one.

 

[Michigan Slim]

Opening day we saw a monster at 8:30am, another nice buck at 9:30, a monster @10:00, another nice one @11:30. As we walked out around 1:00 another nice buck ran across the neighboring farm. I shot my buck @ 4:30pm.

 

[bstewrat3]

I only have access to public land and for that reason I try to be the first one in the woods to have what I call "shiners rights", where I can shine my light to let another hunter know the spots taken. I stay all day, because most people do not have the patience to stay in the woods and they tend to get things moving on their way out.