Here in Central IL(and I think in many areas as well) we had a lot of rain/flooding during the key crop planting time of year. A lot of fields were planted very late. I'm looking to see some fields still standing into November, almost 1 month later than normal. Most of the late-planted fields were near creek beds or other low-lying areas, places that offer more hunting opportinites than wide open fields with a good crown to promote drainage.

One area that I hunt has one low-lying field, surrounded by timber on 3 sides,that is only accessible from another field, so BOTH were planted late. This means an extra 1/4 mile walk through standing corn for me, plus another 1/4 mi. access road, just to get to the further field.

What tactics do you guys use when faced with these early-season obstacles?

I do have a few stand locations that are accessible anyway,(pastures, creekbeds and such)but for somebody that may not, and has to deal with it for almost 1 month longer than usual, what do you guys do?

Probably the biggest thing that we should be worried about is an early frost this year. The corn in my area will probably have record yields this year, we have a very good crop, and if we get that early frost, everything is going to be wet, and need to be dried. Dumping corn at the elevators will be limited to how fast they can dry it, and it will make for a very long harvest.

As far as tactics for hunting them, I think a person just has to be extra careful not to spook those deer, if they feel threatened there will be plenty of virtually un-huntable cover for them to hide out in and not have to come out of.