Author Topic: BEST TIME TO GO HUNTING (Read 1214 times)

XD40SC · « **on:** January 17, 2011, 05:32:43 AM »

FYI-After watching many hunting shows on TV., I have come to the conclusion that the best time to go hunting is= THE LAST HOUR OF THE LAST DAY. It seems that's when most of the game is killed on the shows. This will save me many waisted hours in the woods and much money driving to and from my hunting spots.

Land_Owner · « **Reply #1 on:** January 17, 2011, 05:46:59 AM »

You are a young man, conscientious about over-spending and the rising cost of gasoline. You own a TV and it would seem to be no stretch of the imagination that you pay either a mortgage or rent for your home or apartment in which to keep your belongings, including the computer upon which you generated this thread. Your education has been good. You have paid attention as you are articulate and convey a positive context in your thought process. Your ability to learn is not unnoticed.

I am older, more experienced, and in a Mentoring attitude today. May I suggest that there is but "one best time" to go hunting, which is:

ANY HOUR, DAY OR NIGHT,
THAT YOU GET OFF THE COUCH,
OUT OF CHORES,
AND AWAY FROM WORK.

Killing, as depicted on shows, is not a end-all reason to go hunting. If there was no "hunting" and we always saw and killed something, everyone would call it killing.

Thank you for your attention.

dukkillr · « **Reply #2 on:** January 17, 2011, 06:23:38 AM »

If you had to choose 4 hours of the day I'd pick the first 2 and the last 2 for almost any species. Maybe, depending on the weather the first three and the last 1. If you pick from 10am-2pm you are generally not going to be as sucessful as the guys hunting early and late. Antelope and caribou don't fit this rule, at least in my experience, neither do traditional upland birds.

kynardsj · « **Reply #3 on:** January 17, 2011, 06:32:41 AM »

What Land_Owner said:

ANY HOUR, DAY OR NIGHT,
THAT YOU GET OFF THE COUCH,
OUT OF CHORES,
AND AWAY FROM WORK

Big +1

powderman · « **Reply #4 on:** January 17, 2011, 07:00:36 AM »

Quote from: kynardsj on January 17, 2011, 06:32:41 AM

What Land_Owner said:

ANY HOUR, DAY OR NIGHT,
THAT YOU GET OFF THE COUCH,
OUT OF CHORES,
AND AWAY FROM WORK

Big +1

YEP. POWDERMAN.

Pat/Rick · « **Reply #5 on:** January 17, 2011, 10:42:05 AM »

Quote from: kynardsj on January 17, 2011, 06:32:41 AM

What Land_Owner said:

ANY HOUR, DAY OR NIGHT,
THAT YOU GET OFF THE COUCH,
OUT OF CHORES,
AND AWAY FROM WORK

Big +1

Was thinking of a couple others like, when the wife has a day off,in-laws due to arrive, etc but yep, that pretty much sums it up.

Old Fart · « **Reply #6 on:** January 17, 2011, 03:17:17 PM »

For me it's always been when I could get away.
So I guess that means my opinion wouldn't mean much.
But over the years I've had pretty good success doing it this way.

Spirithawk · « **Reply #7 on:** January 17, 2011, 03:45:51 PM »

I'm 57 years old. Been hunting since I was eight. Take it from me, and this applies to all species of game, the best time to go hunting is," Any time you can!"

One of my most memorable hunting trips we didn't see a deer all day. What made it so great? It was my first time out after a tripple bypass and my son and I sat together in a two person tree stand, well before daylight, and had a ring side seat for an awesome meteor shower. Wouldn't trade that memory for anything.

If hunting was always about bagging an animal it would be called "killing" not "hunting!"

nomosendero · « **Reply #8 on:** January 17, 2011, 04:54:09 PM »

Quote from: Spirithawk on January 17, 2011, 03:45:51 PM

I'm 57 years old. Been hunting since I was eight. Take it from me, and this applies to all species of game, the best time to go hunting is," Any time you can!" One of my most memorable hunting trips we didn't see a deer all day. What made it so great? It was my first time out after a tripple bypass and my son and I sat together in a two person tree stand, well before daylight, and had a ring side seat for an awesome meteor shower. Wouldn't trade that memory for anything. If hunting was always about bagging an animal it would be called "killing" not "hunting!"

"any time you can" Indeed!

The Hermit · « **Reply #9 on:** January 17, 2011, 05:01:48 PM »

The best time: Some folks around here figured the best time was in the middle of the night. Only problem they keep having is flat tires. You would think they would even know enough not to park next to a Posted sign, but then again I'm giving them credit for being able to read.

I pick my hunting time based on the time of year, what animal I'm hunting, etc. Sometimes I just go out all day since I got nothing but time now(retired). I always take a flaslhight with me since I've been known to fall asleep. One of the boys come looking for me onetime, said I looked just like Rip Van Winkle sleeping under a big ol spruce.

The Hermit

powderman · « **Reply #10 on:** January 17, 2011, 05:24:42 PM »

SPIRITHAWK. True. I don't have to make meat to have a good hunt for sure. POWDERMAN.

Pat/Rick · « **Reply #11 on:** January 17, 2011, 05:39:47 PM »

Spirithawk, great story, great memory. So often i have not been disapointed when not seeing "the buck" or whatever else the quary may have been. Alot of memories just watching animals, trying to figure out tracks, looking for mushrooms instead of hunting, and just sightseeing in general, and times spent with family and friends.

spikehorn · « **Reply #12 on:** January 17, 2011, 06:55:35 PM »

I agree just get out there and do it. My son got a 5 point buck on thanksgiving because at about 11:15 it started snowing and he said I'm going to go sit in the tree stand about an hour later he texted that he had gotten the buck. The thing I love the most about spring turkey hunting is being out there before first light and just listening to the world wake up, all I can think about at that time is how much God has blessed me.

Sourdough · « **Reply #13 on:** January 17, 2011, 07:47:25 PM »

Just some words from an old man.

When I was a kid growing up in Tennessee, I always wanted to go hunting. I would get up and do my chores, eat breakfast, then want to go out and do some hunting. I felt anytime was a good time to go. My Grandfather finally sat me down and explained a few things to me. First he said, "Look at them cows boy, what are they doing"? "If they are laying down resting, so will all the other animals". "Time to stay home and do some work". "If they are up eating, the squirrels, rabbits, turkey, pheasent, quail, and deer, will be up eating". "That's the time to go hunting". I have always planned my hunting by that one rule. I'm not always successful, in that I don't get what I am looking for, but I always see animals. When I was hunting wild horses and cattle in New Mexico, it was the same way. If the domestic animals were bedded down so would be the wild ones. If the domestics were up feeding so were the wild animals. Wild Horses always went to water just before bedding down. I got to where I could predict when they would be at the water holes on any day. When the Wild Horses went to water so did the Mule Deer and Antalope.

It has been my observation, that under a full moon as we currently have. The animals have a major feeding time during the middle of the night, then again during the middle of the day. With a minor feeding time late morning and late afternoon. As the moon changes so will their feeding times. Right now you are not going to see any early morning or late evening. But as the days go those feeding times will shift everyday.

But get out into the woods anyway. Even when they are bedded, you stand a good chance someone else will be moving around and jump something up from it's bed, and run it to you. Good luck, be safe. Rog

stubshaft · « **Reply #14 on:** January 17, 2011, 10:31:11 PM »

I agree with anytime!

There are more productive times like just before daybreak or evening but over the years I have been reminded that animals can't tell time. They don't have anywhere special that they have to be and like humans will eat at odd hours.

PowPow · « **Reply #15 on:** January 18, 2011, 12:26:37 AM »

Quote from: XD40SC on January 17, 2011, 05:32:43 AM

FYI-After watching many hunting shows on TV., I have come to the conclusion that the best time to go hunting is= THE LAST HOUR OF THE LAST DAY....

The reason its the best time to go on hunting on TV is that's when they finally SHUT UP about what brand products they are using and how the hunting preserve that they are advertising that week was such a great host to invite them, and they finally START HUNTING.

XD40SC · « **Reply #16 on:** January 18, 2011, 01:58:39 AM »

Quote from: PowPow on January 18, 2011, 12:26:37 AM

Quote from: XD40SC on January 17, 2011, 05:32:43 AM
FYI-After watching many hunting shows on TV., I have come to the conclusion that the best time to go hunting is= THE LAST HOUR OF THE LAST DAY....

The reason its the best time to go on hunting on TV is that's when they finally SHUT UP about what brand products they are using and how the hunting preserve that they are advertising that week was such a great host to invite them, and they finally START HUNTING.

I know- it was a tongue in cheek statement. It's supposed to as some sort of drama to a majorily fake event. My friends and I are all in or near 60. We hunt for the fun and sometimes an animal runs into one of our bullets by mistake. That's when the work begins- as the saying goes.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #17 on:** January 18, 2011, 02:55:29 AM »

Best time to hunt is every day all day. It will be invaluable when you decide to go harvest (kill) a critter. To me hunting is finding . Best way to find a critter is look for it all the time. So when i travel to and from anywhere i look for critters , same working around the place . I watch while fishing etc. Sometimes I see the same critter so much I name it. At some point you know its habits . That said if you watch enough critters when you travel to hunt you will still have a general idea what the critter you are after will most likely do.
I admit that its hard for some to seperate hunting and killing but it was the way were were raised. We hunted quail and we shot dove . We hunted deer but shot geese and duck. Sometimes we shot squrrils by sitting under a tree and waiting other times we hunted them with a dog. Its all in how you look at it. Some people hunt , some shoot ( snipe if you will , a very productive way) others do both .Hunting with bait is a term that makes no sense to me ( I don't knock the pratice ) you spread bait and shoot no hunting is involved really . Same with a food plot ( I do this ) trhey come you shoot , most hunting done is finding my boots and shells. Hunting is one of those words that has been over used to decribe more than it really means. Like they say a walk in the woods is hunting with out the gun is a walk . To me its hunting add the gun its hunting and harvesting if you get lucky.

Old Fart · « **Reply #18 on:** January 18, 2011, 03:16:17 AM »

What's the old saying?

The worst day hunting is better than the best day working.

Sourdough · « **Reply #19 on:** January 18, 2011, 05:09:27 AM »

As far as the TV shows are concerned, they have to build some drama into them. The Director will build it up to a grand fanalie. In actuality that deer could have been shot the first hour of the first day for all the general public knows. They go out there and over the period of two weeks they make a lot of footage. Then it is all put togeather by an editor to make it look like what ever the director wants it to look like. Then add sound later as well. Would you talk to the camara with a big buck strolling under your stand?

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #20 on:** January 18, 2011, 05:22:28 AM »

Would you talk to the camara with a big buck strolling under your stand?
[/quote]

Well what kind of money we talking ?

Ron 1 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 18, 2011, 05:37:25 AM »

any time is good to go hunting

i better go hunting as this is a good time
rw

powderman · « **Reply #22 on:** January 18, 2011, 06:07:26 AM »

Quote

Would you talk to the camara with a big buck strolling under your stand?

HEH, if the money is right I'll sing and dance for it. POWDERMAN.

Conan The Librarian · « **Reply #23 on:** January 18, 2011, 07:54:12 AM »

Sprithawk +1.

Most of my favorite experiences hunting are not the shooting of game. I get to see so many cool things when I go hunting, it's amazing that there are so few of us who do it. This goes for fishing too.

A couple of examples: My son and I were out squirrel hunting when he was about 12 years old. We were sitting with our backs to trees and five deer came up to us. One sniffed his boot.

I was out bullhead fishing one spring and saw 50 bald eagles in one spot.

Spirithawk · « **Reply #24 on:** January 18, 2011, 08:18:27 AM »

Yep, we often see things that non-outdoorsmen only see in films or books, if ever at all. Each instance pricless. And even more so when shared with family or friends.

Old Fart · « **Reply #25 on:** January 18, 2011, 09:56:18 AM »

Then of course most of don't really watch those shows to learn something.
Just the see what it looks like in different parts of the country and maybe a nice critter or two.

powderman · « **Reply #26 on:** January 18, 2011, 10:33:10 AM »

Years ago while squirrel hunting I spotted a big ol coon laying in the fork of a limb. It had been napping and was just waking up, stretching real hard as it arched it's back. I watched til it moved on. I wondered at that time how many people would have killed it. I enjoyed the show. POWDERMAN.

Spirithawk · « **Reply #27 on:** January 18, 2011, 12:25:19 PM »

That reminds me of a time I was out squirrel hunting myself. I was sitting under a big oak when all of a sudden I heard the awfullest racket. Sounded like two critters trying to kill each other. I quickly realised the noise was comming from above me in the tree. Standing up, and walking slowly around the tree I soon saw the culprit. About 12 foot up was a large hole in the tree. There was a mama coon with a bunch of baby coons in it and my sitting under the tree had anoyed the mama coon to no end. She was poking her head out while trying to keep the babies inside. She didn't like me there one bit and was giving me a thorough cussing. I told her I could take a hint and I moved on laughing all the way.

DANNY-L · « **Reply #28 on:** January 19, 2011, 12:29:19 AM »

Alot of these shows today are from fenced in ranches and if they get what we consider a beauty of a buck on the last day it's probably one they turned down for several months while filming. As for time I think most mature bucks are taken at the most unpredictable times,never when you think. You can do your scouting in july,aug,sept. and comes october thier pattern has changed completly. I think the best time for scouting is during the season preparing your next years hunt.

Shu · « **Reply #29 on:** January 19, 2011, 02:57:28 AM »

Anytime you can skip work and go hunting you are way ahead.

Pops and I were archery hunting one year, we walked by a beaver dam. He pulled a 6 piece rod out of his pack and a mosiquito fly. He cuaght a nice mess brook trout. They were great eating. I learned a few things about the old man that day. What a great hunt.