Crowd or road less traveled??
 

OK fellow deer hunters here is the question. The Mo firearms opener has snuck up on me and I dont have a plan (opens tomorrow). Here are my two options. I know where a very large buck is hanging out on public land. It will be very crowded tomorrow(bullets flying) do I tolerate the crowd and go after him or do I go to plan B, hunt in an area I know well that is primative weapons only. Wont be any crowd there but without my trusty 7mm my chances of success are less.
What would you do?

RE: Crowd or road less traveled??
 

Tough decision since you know a good buck will be in direct line of fire with the opener. However I have always preferred to go where I am on my own, while this may prove to be a poor decision your chances at a perfect setup and connecting are hampered with all the boot/tire tracks that come with opening day.
This is not to say I would choose plan B though! First of all can you intercept this buck, with minimal chance of some yahoo screwing it up by yelling or walking with the wind in his arse? Is he known to be in a open area, where other have seen him and easy access?? If you where there first would others come too or move on? Finally if you know where he is you have a chance at getting him vs. saying screw it and go to plan B. I would propably opt for getting out real early and setting up for a first thing crack. Then see how the early am goes, it may be better than you think. If it is bad, then you have plan B which is better than what most guys have.:D

RE: Crowd or road less traveled??
 

You know there are guys walking all over that public land today trying to find a " spot" . That will send that big boy out of the county. Figure out where he might go and try that. Otherwise, primative weapon it is. Shoot a big one.

RE: Crowd or road less traveled??
 

Hmm, interesting idea. Plan B is about 50 miles from A but I could make it there for the evening if I had to.
He has been hanging around a deep gully(very thick) area and coming out only just before dark. I figured he would get driven out with all the traffic opening morning so I would set up on his thickest escape route which he also has pretty scraped up. Only down side would be if others had the same thought or just got there by blind luck.
Hmmm, decisions decisions:)

RE: Crowd or road less traveled??
 

Skeeter has a good point, maybe checking ' yur spot' in the early am. then if nothing other then being envaded by other hunters, then goto plan b. good luck on what ever you decide, hope its rewarding!! --:)

RE: Crowd or road less traveled??
 

do what you feel is your best option...kinda hard being you didnt do much scouting and prep for the season....i hunt state game lands...i know what a crowd is...but they eat my dust on the way in....i walk 5 times as far as most of the other hunters.....i see very few guys all day....i can hear shooting near the roads...i use them guys to spook the deer my way right into my hole in a thicket....its a bottle neck and the deer have to come through or dont come at all......usually i see them....it works for me good luck......do what you feels best....

RE: Crowd or road less traveled??
 

gotta hunt public land. But I' ll walk as far in as I can to get away from the less dedicated.

David