About Meade, any qualification time you can make it is fine. The only time I've found it to be busy is opening day of shotgun season, and even then they have quotas for each area to keep themfrom having too many hunters andyou are likely to get your spot (preregistration to reserve a spot is usually the Sunday before Thanksgiving).

I would recommend driving around and seeing where youwant to hunt. When you find an area,tell them you want to scout it and they take your registration card, andgive you two cards, one for thevehicle and one you keep on you, same as hunting. When you leave, turn in the cards and get your registration card back.