Season opens in Kansas next week and I am very anxious to get in the woods. I did not hunt last year until peak rut and saw several nice bucks during this time.

I hunt on private property so there is not alot of hunting pressure. I have the deer patterned and want to set up off of the trails. I am concerned that if I start hunting too soon, I will force the deer out of the area and ruin my chances during the peak.

Thanks in advance for any tips...

use the wind, dont over hunt an area, and be extremely careful getting in and out witouth disturbing much and you ll be fine, you cant kill a deer if your not out there.

In my opinion, those first couple of days of the season are as good or better than the rut. Get out there while you can still pattern them.

Belle said it all, get out there now, their patterns will/may change once the rut kicks in, and as jason said as long as you do not overhunt an area and watch the wind you odds should be really good now.

Get out there and stick one, good luck!

It' s never too early to hunt. I haven' t hunted deer since last January. Our season opens up next week also. You think I' m waiting another month to hunt? No way. As was stated before, don' t overhunt an area and don' t step over their trails. Stay downwind of their trails on your approach and exit. I hunt the transition areas between bedding and feeding areas. That' s where I' ll be Oct. 1st morning.