As dusk approached, I looked at my watch and pondered heading back to the truck. It was 5:50 on a chilly December evening. I then heard some rustling and looked down the creek bottom to see a large-racked buck 40 yards out. I carefully picked up my bow, hoping he would present a shot before dark fell.

The buck hopped a ditch and headed down the trail toward my stand. I drew back as he passed behind a tree branch and at 5 yards I held on him at full draw. In the waning light, I was barely able to see my brass sight pins but found them, put the top pin on his chest, and touched the release trigger.

The broadhead smacked the buck and he whirled around and galloped back the way he came. Thirty yards later he staggered and dropped. It was night by the time I approached the buck and was elated to harvest the 140-pound 8-pointer.

That was my first real trophy with a bow and it taught me a valuable lesson -- that the big boys become active at dusk and if you want a crack at one, you'd better stay in your stand till dark.

Trophy whitetail bucks are an elusive lot, and the most common way of harvesting one is during the rut, which can be unpredictable. Most mature bucks have learned to go nocturnal to avoid humans. While night hunting is illegal, the only other chance at harvesting a big buck is to catch one when they start to move at dusk.

Some bow hunters may leave their posts and head home when dusk arrives, but those seeking a good buck should stay till the end of legal shooting light. In most states, hunting hours end 30 minutes after sunset. You should check the time of the official sunset in your area to know how long you can hunt.

The main problem with bow hunting at dusk is the difficulty in seeing well enough to shoot. This is complicated with the tiny peep sights and pins that most archers use. There are several ways to make your archery tackle more "light-friendly."

Sight selection

First, get rid of the peep sight. Those minuscule holes are too small to see through when dusk falls. Either bore them out larger, find a bigger hole, or use another sighting method. Then you will need to use bright or lighted pins. Glow paint can be touched on the pin tips or a small light can be mounted on the pin bracket to shine a small red light on the pins.

The fiber optic sights are the greatest thing in bow hunting since the compound bow. The fiber optic pins practically glow brightly in low light, providing superior visibility. Every bow hunter should consider fiber optic sights, which are readily available and will add valuable minutes to your shooting time.

Other sight options include the rifle-style sights, which entail lining up the sight pin with a V-notch much like gun iron sights. These are fairly new to the market and eliminate the need to peer through a peep sight. They do mandate the use of only one sight pin. Whichever sighting system you choose, try practicing with it at dusk in your backyard first.

Choose your terrain

Terrain selection is also a factor for dusk hunting. Thick foliage with heavy leaf cover will reduce visibility and shooting time. The best evening stand locations for visibility are next to an open field, lake, or clearing that provides light penetration. A field on the west side of your stand works well for utilizing the last rays of the sun setting in the West.

The type of habitat is also key for evening hunts. Setting up close to a buck's bedding area will get you closer to his movement while it is still light. Avoid walking through an afternoon feeding area that will spook deer already there, such as the does and small bucks. If you are hunting near a field that is used at night, walking out through it will not help your future chances.

When expecting a big buck at dusk, it is to your advantage to be up and ready for action during the final moments. Those last 30 minutes of light are big buck prime time. You should be standing with bow in hand, release on the string, peering into the shadows for movement.

Safety first

Safety is an important consideration if you stay into the night. Know your area and how to walk out in the dark. Reflective tape and pins along your path will help in navigating out.

A good flashlight is standard gear and will also help in tracking. Descending trees in the dark takes extra care. Let someone know you'll be getting home later, hopefully because you'll be dragging a whopper buck out.

With dusk bow hunting, it is a given that you will be tracking in the dark. While following a blood trail in the black woods is not ideal, it beats going home empty-handed. After the shot, listen carefully as the buck runs off to tell which direction it went.

Unless it fell close by, go get a buddy or two and a good lantern or light. And don't forget a camera with a flash.

Having bow killed three 8-pointers and one 9-pointer at dusk, I know to wait until the last light has vanished and am sure that no deer are in the area before descending.

Often the last one back to camp, I know that there is an excellent chance at a wall-hanger if I wait till dark. Having light-friendly tackle and a dose of optimism will prepare you for the moments when that big buck walks down the trail with dusk falling.