Did you know that one of the biggest game species is white-tailed deers? They’re actually responsible for bringing in the highest amount of revenue from hunting.
But regardless of what you’re hunting, it’s important to get into the deer stand in time.
So you must be curious about how long before sunset to get in the deer stand?
It’s best to get into the deer stand at least a few hours before sunset. Or before it gets dark anyway. Because it’s usually when they’re most active. Plus, this way you can avoid your prey catching your trail. And you’ll have more luck catching them off-guard instead.
Luckily, you’ve stumbled upon the right article. Because we have all that you need to know about that is explained in detail here.
Just stay tuned and we’ll hook you right up!
How Long Before Sunset Should You Get into Deer Stand?
It’s good practice to get set up in the deer stand at the correct times. Like when it’s more likely for deers to be around.
Well, deers are the most active at night. That’s when it’s time for them to feed. And based on that, what would be the best time to get into the deer stand?
Now, to match the timing, you’ll have to get into the deer stand sometime before sunset. And three hours before sunset is actually a great time to get in and set up.
That way you can be prepared when your white-tailed deers show up.
It’s good to know how to clean deer mounts with smoke damage. But before that, you’ll have to hunt them right. And we can help you out with that!
Where Can you Make your Deer Stand Placements?
It’s important to get in the right position at the right time. And more so if you want to hit your shot.
So, it’s also good to have an idea about where to set up your evening stand.
Well, there are two kinds of placements you could make for your deer stand. And they’re based on the time of the day.
Why don’t we get into those right away?
Morning Deer Stands
The majority of whitetails spend their time in huge agricultural fields. And the time most suited for them are evenings.
But they end up staying around at least a couple of hours before daylight. Because that’s when they start getting back to their cover.
The best thing about this is that you have a chance of spotting them. Not only will they be tired, but you might even catch a few whitetails together.
Here are some quick tips for your morning deer stand placement:
Tip 1: Try not to hunt too close to a deer’s food source during the morning. If you get spotted by them, you’ll scare them away. And they might be compelled to go a different route.
Tip 2: Try to fit your deer stand into natural creeks or ravines. That way you can ensure slipping into position undetected.
Tip 3: The best place for you to hunt during the morning is where the deer will rest. So try to find their bedding area first. And that way you can catch them when they come back to safety.
Evening Deer Stands
For evening hunts, deers are most likely to lurk near a hot food source. In this case, the opposite happens. Such that after resting during the day, they’ll be up in search of food.
However, it gets trickier around this time. Such that, they’ll be looking for food sources where they can feed while in cover. And the darkness is pretty sufficient in itself.
But keep in mind, it’s mostly doing that you’ll catch when the evening first sets in. With mature bucks, they’re warier of appearing until it’s completely dark out.
Here are some simple tips you could keep in mind for setting up your evening stand:
Tip 1: Note the direction of the wind. Suitably, it should be blowing in the direction of the food source. Or at least in a perpendicular direction to it.
Tip 2: Try to avoid the wind directly blowing towards where the deer might be coming from. That way you can prevent the deer from catching your scent and getting warned.
Tip 3: Use a trail camera near where you’ve planted their food sources. This is an excellent way for you to determine when the deers come to that spot.
Feel free to check out some simple food plots that you can set up as bait.
Now, trail cameras are normally used for gathering inventory. But, it can also be used as a good scouting tool.
Regardless of the tactical morning and evening stand placements, it’s still good to be on standby. Let’s find out why!
Keeping Your Deer Stand on Standby
Anyway, while morning and evening stands are often ideal, you can never be too certain. So, in case things don’t go as planned, what is more ideal?
Well, a good idea is to keep your deer stands on standby. And sometimes you may have a great setup. But not close enough for you to have a clean shot.
So, for those times when you’re not having any luck with your normal spot, change up. Pick a new spot and set up there instead.
Just be prepared to move if needed. And you’re good to go!
Here are some portable deer stands that you could get for your ease:
| Image | Product Model | Price |
|---|---|---|
  | Summit Treestands Viper Pro SD Treestand | Check Current Price |
  | BIG GAME Hunter HD 1.5 Treestand | Check Current Price |
Hope they are helpful to you! Also, if you’re looking to preserve deer hooves, we’ve got you covered there too!
FAQs
How long before sunrise should you get into the deer stand?
Ideally, try to get into the deer stand at least 30 minutes before sunrise. That way you can catch the deer when they’ll be returning to cover. And will likely be tired. Plus, if you can get in a little earlier, you can take time to settle in.
How long does it take for the prey to get used to the food plots?
Generally, it takes deers around 2 weeks to get used to food plots. However, young deers actually take less time for that. They can get used to them in about a week. They’re normally not bothered by the nearby stand too much.
Can white-tails learn to avoid treestands?
Yes, white-tails can sometimes learn to avoid treestands. What happens is they figure out where your treestands are placed. Plus, often they get tipped off about your stands too. That’s why it’s important to place them just right. So that they can’t catch your trail.
Final Words
That’s all we had on how long before sunset to get in the deer stand. Hopefully, you have a better idea about when to get set up!
Remember that there are no absolutes. So, be ready to switch location, time, and tactics at any moment.
Good luck and happy hunting!
