Agreed Like most states that are difficult to draw a tag for, it's usually nonresidents that feel there is a problem with the system. I'm no different myself.

Mid-Vermont,
I'd agree with btomlin. The big boys are on the move around Thanksgiving, trying to find those last few estrous does. More times than not things usually don't 'start up' until a few days before Halloween. I've never had much luck the 3rd week of October.

I would go on the October hunt. It is a little early but there should be plenty of buck movement ( scrapes, rubbing, fighting, ) I see most big bucks before Thanksgiving here in Kansas.

I understand where ya'll are coming from and what you say has validity. I would not want out of staters coming in my back yard bringing the herd #s down either. It is just very frustrating for me personally. I have an uncle that farms 5000 acres and I am welcome to bow hunt there as much as I like IF I can get a license. In fact there is only one other guy that bowhunts the entire property. The only problem is I can only get a license about every 3 years. Maybe there is a common ground that makes more sense for everyone. I think they are just a little too conservative with the amount of licenses they give out each year.

Come on guys, you have started a good discusion on the resident / nonresident thing, but that's not the topic of this post. Let's help Mid-Vermont decide when to hunt. Jim

I'd do Oct as well.
I'm from Waterloo Ia and I hunt NE Iowa.

Don't worry fellow non-residents, if we keep waving money, the rules will change. Their is a huge demand for IA tags and the amount of money that will circulate through these little farm towns is significant. The times they are a changing, and I expect the tag system to change as well within the next few years.

early hunt gets my vote....

Looks like the October dates win the vote. Thanks to all for the input.

October is my choice also. The deer will respond pretty well to calling then. In response to Double Creek, if the rules change to allow a lot more nonresidents you had better be prepared to wave A LOT more money. Leasing and nonresident land ownership is just starting to become a problem now. If more nonresident tags are allowed, the days of knocking on a door and gaining permission (common now) will be gone for good. We'll be no different than Texas and Illinois, etc. I hate to see it but have bought a farm because I am afraid that it is only a matter of time. I had lost a couple of good spots to nonresident land ownership and they arent even guaranteed a tag. Just think about how bad it will get if they are able to get a tag each year. We have the deer to justify huge money. No sour grapes here, I hunt in several states myself, but have talked to hunters in Illinois that feel their state has been "ruined". Just makes me think that what we have right now might be as good as it can be for anyone lucky enough to get a tag.