All day sitting?

[CrappieAttitude]

Here is a question for all of you fellow all day hunters... The past 6 seasons my bro, dad and I have made a pact to sit all day in the hopes that we will bag a deer in the middle of the day. I hear stories about people shooting deer in the 11-1:00 timeframe when most guys are back at the camp eating lunch / taking a nap. We are determined that one of these years it is going to pan out. So far no luck. I would venture to guess that 90 percent of the deer we have taken have been shot before 9:30. Anyone here have a succes story that will keep me motivated for the "all day adventure"?

CA

[CornfedHogs]

I shot a 140 class buck at 11 AM on opening day 2007. I was in the process of climbing out of my stand when 2 does ran by. I quickly climbed back in the stand and retrived my rifle by rope that was at the base of the tree. I had just enough time to load the clip in the rifle and locate the buck in the scope. I haven't got off my stand before 11AM since.

[sticknstring]

I don't have a success story for you but I've got several trail camera pics of mature bucks the past few seasons. All over scrapes between 12-2pm near my stands during the 2nd half of November. One all-day sit may not be enough, but if you put your time in, it'll eventually happen. Patience is the key.

[Meat-Run]

I commend anybody who can sit longer than 4 hours, I just don't have the patience to pull that off unless I can put a recliner in my deer stand. CA, I think a comfortable seat, back rest and maybe even a good book would help pass the time till bambi's dad comes along, eitherway I wish I could pull that off.

It might be even harder in wolf country like up by Blackduck, glad I don't hunt up by those hunters, that might make for a llloooooooooooooooonng day....

mr

[BobT]

Quote:

It might be even harder in wolf country like up by Blackduck

Why?

[bogwalker]

I have never been able to sit all day. Wish I could. I have shot numerous deer mid-day. I was told that other hunters walking out for lunch kick deer out of their beds and get them moving. I have never seen this myself. I do know that deer will only bed down for so long (3 to 5 hours +/-) before getting up to feed. They usually won't move far for their mid-day lunch. Feed before sunrise, bed down a few hours then feed again mid-day then bed down then feed after sunset.

[cupper]

Shot the best buck of my life at 11:15 am in 2007. I was starting to lose confidence that day is it was supposed to warm-up in the afternoon and I had not seen much activity in the morning. I did some doe-in-heat bleats at 11:00, not 5 min later I heard footfalls coming down the hill. By 11:15 he was on the ground. In the span of 15 min, my thought process went from "This isn't looking good" to "Holy _____ I just killed an awesome buck!" I have been doing all day hunts for the past 8 years or so and I am a believer. I have seen many nice bucks between 11-1. Look at it this way... how many bucks have been shot back at camp eating lunch? I figure even if I don't see anythign, at least I gave it my best effort. Stick with it... it only takes one season and a few minutes to change everything.

[Musky Buck]

It may depend on the where you hunt and what type of cover are you in and how far off the road you are etc. My latest observations are different then years past due to pressure which is at it's peak on opening day, used to be zone 4 split hunters now it's 9 days straight, I'm noticing mid-week big buck daylight movement more so than opening weekend as that is such a zoo, takes a few days for them to get there wits about em I don't know. Like for me there are enough groups doing mid-day drives that have kicked deer to me in the area, also try your all day sit on a day where the weather is going to change and the barometer will move, that could be enough to get that mid- day deer chance. Opening day you never know what may occur as is always an all day chance kind of day, my biggest to date was taken at 11:21 AM but the year was 1988 and hardly a hunter in the area for miles and the 7th buck seen that morning, those days are over for sure, that day will never happen again, no way, and hasn't as every so many acres has shooting lanes cut now and or stands galore and each field has a stand or 2 eliminating daylight feeding for the most part once opening day is over. Got to go in deep and hunt as close to the bedding ground as possible wind pending. Good Luck, the 1st time the all day sit works for you guys you can say finally, thing is what else is there to do mid-day ? Dad always said can't get one on the couch but I know the frustration you guys are feeling, your field and stream will have the usual mid-day monster buck strategy pages I'm sure, you may need a lot of land for that to happen with any consistency.

[sticknstring]

It's the rut. Mature bucks are cruising looking for does. The best time to cruise? When the does are bedded and congregated together - 10-2. If you know of a good doe bedding area, sit downwind of it all day. Eventually, you'll be rewarded.

[Meat-Run]

BobT,

I'm just poking fun at CA area he hunts, by no means that this is a wolf/thread about wolves, etc. he's a good buddy of mine.

mr

[Musky Buck]

In my area mature bucks are cruising for does 90% of the time after dark since old zone 4 ended, but you got a 10% chance and that's better than nothing.

[MUSKY18]

I am not quite the "all day" guy, but the last few years I have had a pattern that has worked very well for me. Everyone in the hunting party leaves camp at 0530 and sits until at least 10am. Couple years ago, i started getting off stand about 830-900, running back to the camp, answering Ma Nature, quick bite and back on the stand within 20 minutes or so, then sit the rest of the day. First year I did this, after climbing back up in the stand, 30 minutes later I shoot a buck. Get down, gut him and tag him. Climb back up into the stand. From 11 until 1230 I had deer all around me. I couldn't have gotten out of my stand even if I wanted to!! Mostly does, but during that time, when the does come, usually a buck will show up too. This has been the case for the last 3 years. I have shot more deer out of my stand between 10-2 than the rest of the camp does the entire weekend.

Another case in point. Two years ago my brother and niece were sitting in a stand that had a couple of big scrapes on the trail by it. Since it was my niece's first year hunting, they sat until about 10, got down and went to camp to eat and rest for the afternoon sit. When they were walking back out to the stand, they discovered that both scrapes had been worked while they were back at camp. Next day they went out later and stayed on the stand. Needless to say my niece could have shot a nice 8 pointer, but couldn't find it in the scope!!

[Bear55]

Here are a couple of stories to hopefully keep you on the stand. I shot my biggest buck at 10:45, not quite 11:00 but close enough. I tracked him back to see where he cam from and he got up out of his bed, stopped to make a few scrapes and then ran right into my bullet. Not sure where he was going but he was on a mission to get somewhere because he wasn't running but moving fast.

My dad one time shot a nice 8 pointer at high noon when it was 70 degrees outside. Everyone else was back at the shack having a little lunch when we herd him shoot. That was about all the motivation I needed to hunt all day.

Since then I have seen several other bucks on the move mid-day, some I couldn't tell how big they were but they looked to have good size to them and I suspect they were mature bucks. Keep fighting the good fight and one day you will have your mid-day buck.

I like to sit opening weekend all day, then wait until think some of those prime November days when I think the big bucks will be moving to sit all day again. Hard to sit all day all week long. You could also tell yourself (like I do) would I rather be on the deer stand or at work right now.

One more quick tip, if you can't make it all da, at the very least hunt until 12:30 or 1:00 to catch most of that mid day action, then get a quick lunch and back into the woods for the evening sit.

[Bear55]

I have also noticed from year to year things can be different, some years I have seen a ton of deer in the morning before 9:00 while other years its like the deer don't start moving until 9:00 and I see a lot more mid-day action. So lots of variable there but you will never know unless you hunt all day.

[Musky Buck]

Agree Bear55,2nd biggest forgot 2004, got down at 9:45 to head out, lost faith, heard neighbors hail of bullets realizing this is a drive, not normal AM shooting, stopped,went back, decided I better give it another hour just in case and here he came less than 10 seconds back on stand, 1 loud whistle and I couldn't believe what I walked up to. Biggest lesson was a snow year, saw 3 in the early AM, got down at 10ish headed out, walked back in and of course in my boot tracks were several tracks that were made between 11-3, was a heart breaker as I had only a 2 day season then .

[Musky Buck]

Right on Bear you really take into account how each season can and is often times different from what you expect or from past experience, go with your gut instinct.

[nonteepical]

another 10-2 factor is, a deer has to eat at least every 3-4 hours so when a doe gets up to browse, a buck that is tending her won't let her out of his sight and will follow her every step, alot of times against his instincts, wich often times leads him to a bullet.

[nonteepical]

and don't forget the obvious, while everyone else gets up to strech their legs and walk back to the truck or cabin they will kick up deer hopefully right to you if you stayed in your stand.

[CrappieAttitude]

Every theory that was mentioned thus far I have pondered numerous times in the stand. I never really gave much thought to the every 3-4 hour feeding routine. Makes perfect sense. Typically I am only able to hunt Sat, Sun, Monday, so thus another reason for the all day sits. It seems to me that I hear more stories about "quality" deer taken during this time period. "10-2 factor"... I like it. Keep the stories coming guys.

CA

[Bear55]

I had only a 2 day season then .

If I only had a two day season I would probably sleep in my deer stand. I've been there before though, leave the woods and see big tracks over your tracks. A lot of time mid-week there is just two of us to cover a dozen stands, I pick the wrong stand more than I pick the right one but it is sure nice to have options.

[Bear55]

I just remembered another one, I think it was 2nd weekdend so everyone was in for lunch and we were probably having a few "beverages" and had a lot of company visiting and telling deer stories. Well a couple of guys decide to hit the road, then coming back right away and hop out of the truck. They saw a "big one" cross the road right in front of them, it was about 12:30.

Sometimes big one can mean different thing to different people but the drive was stuttering and said "big and tall and at least 10 points". I later confirmed a jumbo track. We had a stand right where the deer crossed and the young guy hunting there was in for lunch but he has been hunting hard ever since then.

[swampbuck]

If you like to hunt not just love it,how can you notspendall day in the woods? Most of us only get the chance to have all day sits a couple times during th season

You cant kill one from he couch!! I have had some success at mid day and have more than once jumped a big deer on the way back iin for an after noonhunt

These where all killed between 11 and 2

[bogwalker]

Yes, but where?

[LatLong]

We've been hunting the same ground since 1986 and this will be my 22nd deer season hunting there. In all that time the vast majority of our deer have been shot between 9:00 and 1:00. You could probably count on one hand the number of deer we've shot before 9:00. Last year was a freak year for me..got my best buck so far at 7:30 on opening day. I waited 21 years for something like that to happen. In fact we so rarely see deer right at daybreak all the rest of the guys were still at the shack drinking coffee and eating donuts when I shot. I'm always in the woods early though....and after 21 years it paid off And for the most part I try to sit all day. If I get too bored I go still hunting instead of heading back to camp.

[swampbuck]

They where shot in a "remote" area I will give you that but we see more big deer mid day than early and late.

Like I said you cant kill one from the couch

[paceman]

I have shot most of my deer in the mornings/evenings but other guys in the group have done better mid-day. Odd but that pattern plays itself out each and every year.

[Double D]

I am not trying to weewee on anyones charcoal, but when you say you can't shoot one while in camp eating lunch.....

Well....5 years ago we were all in eating lunch on day 3 Monday around the table. My brother says look a buck is running right for the house. We usually NEVER have a gun in the cabin but my cousin had brought his in that day for a little repair work. We just cracked a window, my cousin dropped an 8 point, we finished eating and then went to get him. His antlers were mounted with a home kit and hang above the table still today.

DD

[Boar]

Cool topic an great stories. When i sit, I sit all day, an it not always easy. depends on if I sit in a ladder stand or my box blind, box blind is very nice, almost to nice. One thing that helps pass the time is I chew sunflower seeds an try an make a game out of it. Like how many can i chew in a minute, or spit the seed on the bug before it hides, or how many empty seeds can I stuff on my left side of my check while I chew the ones on my right side of my cheek, befor my cheeks cramp up. Chewing seeds really helps with the head nods too. Havent shot to many big deer but got good at chewing seeds. Boar

[Meat-Run]

Swampbuck, you have one of the best hunting spots north of the Iowan boarder. Isn't it true that behind every tree is a 150 class buck, just kidding of course. You and Greg shoot some beautiful bucks I'm just jealous. The 10-2 shouldn't apply to you guys in that "remote" area!......

mr

[gurkster]

The largest buck I shot was at 1:17 in the afternoon. I also shot a nice buck at 11:30 one year. I have also seen some others "midday" too. I now stay on stand all day both Sat and Sun of opening weekend. I may do it one or two other days too, depending on how things are going for me. It is hard, but once you have success doing it, it gets easier. Can't shoot them if you aren't out there.