Is it better to walk or sit deer hunting? (2023)

Is it better to walk or sit deer hunting?

Some believe that it's easy just to go into the woods, sit, and wait for a deer to walk by. It's not. By sitting, you are basically exposing yourself to the elements, and they can be harsh at times.

Should you move around while deer hunting?

The most common method of deer hunting is to get in your stand before dawn and sit there until late morning or midday. Break for lunch, then again to sit in a stand from early afternoon until dark. Getting down and moving around is considered unproductive and prone to spooking deer.

What is the best method for hunting deer?

How long should you sit for deer?

During all times but the rut, I like to plan for a solid, 3 hour sit. Because of blocked and hidden access there are certain stand or blind locations that I can easily slip into an hour to two hours before dark, even with deer in front of the stand location.

Do deer smell where you walk?

ANSWER: Under normal conditions, a deer can smell a human that is not making any attempt to hide its odor at least 1/4 mile away. If the scenting conditions are perfect (humid with a light breeze), it can even be farther. So they are pretty impressive.

Should I stay in the deer stand all day?

Deer Move All Day - As a rule of thumb, most hunters know that deer move the most during the mornings and evenings. However, when sitting all day there is an opportunity to see deer throughout the entire day, this is especially true when the rut is in progress.

What not to do when deer hunting?

What time of day are bucks most active?

Regardless of moon phase, bucks move most at dawn and dusk.

One project, contrary to popular belief, even found that deer were more active and moved earlier during the day following a full moon.

What time of day are most deer killed?

Deer are most active in the morning and evening, which is why many hunters consider these hours the best time to hunt deer. With some exceptions, deer mostly sleep during the day and move more at night.

What attracts deer instantly?

By far the most popular and widely used bait for attracting whitetails is corn. Not only is deer corn highly consumed and well received by whitetails in almost every habitat across the continent, but it's also one of the cheapest options for hunters.

What will attract deer fast?

Food Plots

From larger plots of forage soybeans covering 10 or more acres, to small parcels of broken tree canopy planted to brassica; various crops including corn, milo, turnips, peas, clover, and alfalfa will attract and keep deer. One of the surest ways to attract deer is through their stomach.

How do you hunt deer while walking?

Move slowly and use the noisy forest and field to hide your approach. Walk into the wind and also use it to your advantage. During brisk winds deer sometimes like to hide in cornfields, so go there and sneak from row to row and press your head between standing stalks to study lanes before you enter.

When should I start sitting all day deer hunting?

The Peak-rut is when I start to consider an all day sit for whitetails. Mature bucks become extremely active during the morning hours when the temperatures are cold and the conditions are calm, but the activity levels take a sharp dive by lunch time, and seem quite lazy until about an hour prior to dark.

What are the best hours to hunt deer?

Early Morning and Late Afternoon

No matter what the conditions, deer move best early of a morning and late of an afternoon. That's when they're wired to move most. It's when their eyesight is most effective. And there are few things that impact this movement, other than hunting pressure.

Where should you sit when deer hunting?

Just as you would in a treestand, think about typical wind direction and make sure the trail will provide a broadside shot. If you're a public lands bowhunter, the sitting on the ground with decent cover is probably the way to go. If you have private ground to hunt, consider a hub-style, pop-up blind.

Is it better to hunt in a stand or on the ground?

Over the years, it's been hammered into our brains through strategy-based articles, hunting shows and expert commentary that tree stands are the way to go. And in many cases, that's right. A bird's-eye view often provides better visibility and fewer problems with scent control and hunter movement.

How long should I sit for deer in the morning?

I can usually sit for about 3 hours on a morning hunt and about 2 hours on an afternoon hunt. I rarely see a deer on an afternoon hunt until about a half hour before dark or right at dark, so the morning hunts are just more fun.

How far should you walk to your deer stand?

Most archery hunters kill deer at about 20 yards or so, which means you don't have to be right on top of the trail itself. Pick a tree that is about 15-20 yards off the trail. It should be relatively straight with a few small branches and leaves at the right height to offer some cover.

Is it good to hunt same stand every day?

Stand burnout happens when a given stand receives too much pressure. For example, if a hunter goes in and hunts the same stand day after day, for the entire season, it becomes susceptible to stand burnout. This happens more often than we might think.

What should you not do while deer hunting?

Is it better to hunt deer in the morning or afternoon?

No matter what the conditions, deer move best early of a morning and late of an afternoon. That's when they're wired to move most. It's when their eyesight is most effective.

Is it better to hunt in the morning or afternoon?

For the first several weeks of the season, the best time to hunt is the last two hours of the evening. Warm mornings and hot days cause deer to spend more time feeding at night, so by dawn they are bedded down and will be less active during the day. As the evening cools, they'll move around for food and water.