I tagged out a week before firearm, I usually do, as do most people I know. There were some very nice bucks taken. A lot of the problem with the beginning of firearm is that a army of hunters crash the woods all at the same time. Another issue is there are a lot of hunters that tend to "scout" the weekend before, and when I say "scout", they go out walking around looking for a place to hunt. More and more hunters either don't have the time to properly 'scout" pre-season, or don't "take" the time. Many a season I'll be in my treestand in the hottest time of the pre-rut, just to have a 'gaggle" of "hunters" walking around in a group looking for a set-up for gun. Sad but true. Good luck!