Convince me to get up early for the start of the season?

[Carl Tuesday]

I'm hunting new (to me) public land that is NO SCOUTING allowed, so I've never been on it. It's 1,000 acres and change of woods with some creeks and wet stuff split up into 3 zones. One side is crops, so there is ag food and whatever oaks/browse is around.

Due to check in process I can't be getting into the field until 5:15am, and I haven't picked an exact spot since I'm limited to drive by scouting. The gung ho part of me wants to be dressed and waiting to walk at 5:15, even though I'd be walking blind. That's about an hour before nautical twilight here.

Weather is forecast for decent wind based on my novice e-scouting and plan, but also probably drizzling. I'm looking at the pros/cons of getting early, and being new to this I'm second guessing my plan:

Pros:
Go for it, its the opener! Beats working!
It's public, and other people will be out there too, so deer will be getting bumped whether it's me or someone else.
Useful scouting and learning of land, even if I bump deer I can learn.
Might get lucky.
"Everyone" says don't hunt mornings early seasons, but that means less pressure and I doubt they're talking about pressured public like this.
Rain will help cover sound.

Cons:
It DUMPED rain around here, so it's gonna be wet with high water. Tough for walking new ground AND do the deer hunker down too?
Deer bumping and blundering around blind.
Odds I find a decent tree or natural blind to observe aren't great going in blind and in the dark.
"Everyone" says don't hunt mornings early season.
I like sleeping.


What would y'all do? Pros and cons?

No matter what I'm checking out a nearby place for the afternoon, so I will get out tomorrow no matter what.

[Joe68]

It’s deer season. Why not?

[brancher147]

What’s your goal?

Go hunt and have fun and get outdoors? Maybe kill a deer? Or kill a good buck?

[Carl Tuesday]

I'd say I have three goals (now and this season):

1. Brown it's down... Meat in the freezer, since we're out of caribou, and last I heard they aren't coming down to MD.

2. Learn more about deer behavior, tactics, etc for public land around here.

3. Goal of getting an "ok" buck this season, and figuring out how to get on mature ones in the area. If that's this year, great, but I'm not expecting it.

[Mschmeiske]

Sounds like a good time to learn the property and maybe get lucky along the way. Some aerial scouting may help put odds more in your favor.

[Boogieman1]

Your scenario is a far cry from mine, where I have spent 20+ years on small woodlots answering my concerns. If I were in your shoes I would be at the gate at 5:15! I would more than likely spend the majority of the day still hunting/scouting. Would keep my eyes open wide for a high odds situation and I wouldn’t be to picky. Just getting on deer in such conditions isn’t easy and if u could drop one that’s a heck of an accomplishment.

[headgear]

I have seen enough average hunters tag nice bucks opening weekend in the AM to give it a try. I do way better in the PM but I am not sitting home opening weekend so I will hunt some new/different spots to try and catch them on their feet. You could even call it an observation sit or a doe hunt if one shows up but nice to get out when you can, you can also scout your way out of the woods and see what is around. Like usual everything needs to line up right and I don't want to burn up my best spots unless I have cam or visual evidence of them in daylight.

[headgear]

I'd say I have three goals (now and this season):

1. Brown it's down... Meat in the freezer, since we're out of caribou, and last I heard they aren't coming down to MD.

2. Learn more about deer behavior, tactics, etc for public land around here.

3. Goal of getting an "ok" buck this season, and figuring out how to get on mature ones in the area. If that's this year, great, but I'm not expecting it.

Sounds like zero reasons to stay home unless the bugs or weather is driving you mad.

[Moose]

Id go hunt it. Maybe the other hunters are feeling the same way and you get the place to yourself. Its worth a shot, never know what will happen. Good luck!

[Carl Tuesday]

Sounds like zero reasons to stay home unless the bugs or weather is driving you mad.

Not as mad as the kids if I stay home, plus I won't know if bugs and weather will drive me nuts unless I hear out, right?

Alright pep talk complete. Better get to bed early then.

[Motivated]

Can you cyber scout it beforehand and make a plan?

[Carl Tuesday]

Can you cyber scout it beforehand and make a plan?

Been e-stalking it for awhile, and I'm very comfortable with map reading... but whether I know enough to apply it to deer habits is why I joined here.

[Hawthorne]

I missed a monster two years ago on opening day in the morning. It’s was pouring the rain and it quit. A group of deer came in a bunch of does followed by some small bucks and the last was the big one. Shot under him. It still burns me. I’ve killed in the AM in the past the first week of the season

[Motivated]

Can you cyber scout it beforehand and make a plan?

Been e-stalking it for awhile, and I'm very comfortable with map reading... but whether I know enough to apply it to deer habits is why I joined here.

That's cool.

Maybe find a place on the map that looks like good observation point for the morning. Glass in the AM, or still hunt through till you find good sign. That way you have all day to find good sign before the evening.

[Tennhunter3]

You can't kill a buck laying in bed.
Pick up some coffee.

My problem is im so excited for opening day I don’t go to bed the night before. By 9am I'm sound asleep in stand or suv.