I spooked a deer the first hunt of last year goin before daylight. I decided to go this route in hopes it wouldn't go far. First light, boom, a group of four came from that direction straight up the ridge to me within 30 or so yards. Since then I haven't bothered to stop and hear which way they go.

Yeah Thats about how i've always felt also. I got a hike in as well.

I hunt a lot of public land as well and thats the other reason I always would get in earlier is to beat the other hunters in.

Is the green light better then running the red light? Cause I know on evening hunts went I roll out after dark I usually run the red on the way out till I get out of the timber and into open fields

You are talking about how they are saying 30mins before and 30mins after sunset. To me that is based on what? What my weather channel app says sunset is or after the sun is all gone. I've always hunted till I can't see for an ethical shot. Then I usually sit just a bit longer and leave when there is 0 light

I walk in at breaking light. I don't like to use a light and can't stand walking through the woods in darkness. Worry to much about getting turned around and not finding my stand or low hanging branches.

It depends on your set up (terrain). That's my opinion anyway. I hunt NE AL near TN so I like to avoid getting in too early when the wind is still. Also, the deer bed so high where I hunt you can get away with getting in right at day break. I don't get in to the "time to let the woods settle" mindset. I have arrowed many deer 10-20 min after getting in my stand. The main thing is watching the thermals and stand locations. You can get away with a lot noise-wise if you play the wind and thermals.

2 years ago in November I was hunting a 10 I knew frequented an area. He had a rub line that he made with a SW wind so I set up about 50 yards downwind of that line. I barely had my bow pulled up in the tree when he came walking by. I didn't get a shot at him because I overshot his scent line...the point is, there isn't a "best" time to get in the woods. You just need to know the spot you're going to hunt and play the wind and heed the thermals

Since I quit hunting in a club I generally don't get into the stand until first light unless I have someone with me that wants to get in the stand earlier.

I have spooked way more deer in the dark than I have at daylight.

x2, if I have to use a light and make more noise than a herd of buffalo I wait till I can slip in at first light...personally I'd think light would cause more of an issue than noise.
If its an easy, like walking down a pipeline etc...I'll be in stand before sunrise

I know atv,s bad bad, but i ride in from 1mile to 7 or more then walk 1 to 2 hundred yards , then set in for the day, just light to dark, don't move.then out

I like to be in the stand and hunting by 6:15. Don't feel like I have missed anything by not being on stand before daylight.

Im kind of mixed on this it really depends on a lot of factors the last buck i killed was a messed up 7 point and i killed him 5 minutes after daylight and i was only in the stand probably 15 minutes. sometimes i get there 30 minutes before sunrise and other times i like to ease into my stand as the sun is coming up it really just depends on what i feel like doing that day. had one guy in our club who didn't head out until 7 every morning and he would sit until 1 in the afternoon come back for lunch and then go back out again at 3:30 and he usually killed a buck or 2 every year. but keep in mind we don't really have strict rules on what we shoot its just 6 point or better and he was shooting every 6 point or better deer that walked out lol

I personally like to be set up any where from 30 min to an hour before civil twilight, if I'm hunting from a climber. If I'm hunting a shooting house or ground blind or ladder stand, maybe 15 minutes before civil twilight.

I did once kill a small buck with my bow and my climber still on my back as I was looking for a good tree to climb in an unfamiliar area. Since I didn't know the area, I waiting until it was light before I went in.

I try to be settled in at least 30mins before daylight