Saturday or Sunday morning I'm gonna head out to my opening day stand location and do a simulated hunt. I'll be hanging on the tree long before daylight with camera and binos in hand.

The reason being that I have several different places picked out, but since I don't have any trailcams, I don't know what's moving in the area. I know the bucks are there, but just unsure how many and how big.

Last year's opening dayfarm will produce at least an encounter withbuck or two, but I haven't seen much out there with any size. However, my hunting area is tucked away between a remote bedding area and a cornfield. I've only been able to glass deer on the far opposite corner of the property in the soybeans - and while I was seeing 8-10 bucks per night out there, I haven't seen much in the line of shooters- one good seven pointer missing a G3 and some bigger bucks that always wait until dark to show up - by that time, my scope is blacked out. This place has a history of producing some monster bucks, but the poachers start jacklighting them early, so once the corn is cleared, it'll be open season for them. If I'm gonna tag a hog out there, it has to happen in the first week or two while the corn is still up.

On the other hand, I have some other spots on the gamelandsthat are LOADED with bucks, rubbed to shreds already, and I know there are some hogs in the area. But, I'm torn between the two locations on the opener. Both places have isolated stands of oaks that should be dropping mast next week. The deer will be in there. Same problem out there - you've gotta get it done within the first two weeks before small game and youth rifle season starts. After that stuff starts, it's only huntable during the week, while I'm stuck behind this desk.

I justcan't pass up hunting on last year'sfarm that produced a decent buck in 10 minutes of hunting without at least going out there and spending a morning to see what's lurking.

Man, if they would just open Sunday hunting here, I wouldn't have a problem. I'd get a solid four days + weeknights in the stand (60-80 hours) before the orange army and the poachersstart ruining things. I know I would be tagged out by then, unless I was waiting for something special.