How many of you find that some of the better mule deer can be taken in early season under the following circumstances:

1. Open breaks-type country
2. You've hiked into a low pressure area
3. Glass, spot and stalk
4. Know the country you are hunting from previous years.

I have found that I see some of my better bucks early. I think the rut can make more deer evident to the observer in less glassable country, but I'm not sure it makes that much difference under the circumstances I described.

What do you think?

Early season bucks move less, but can actually be somewhat patterned. I have some friends that have great luck on the early hunts. I still don't think that one can beat a late season migration hunt when the rut is on. The trouble with early hunting is that you have such a limited amount of quality hunting time in a day....

Here in Wyo most mule deer hunts are over by mid October. Way ahead of the stereotypical mulie "pre-rut".
I see more bucks in Sept during archery. Always still in bachelor groups.
But yeah, if you can spot and stalk in a low pressure area that you know holds mulies, lay and wait! But I'd try and go earlier in the year before they get twitterpated.