Depends on your perspective. It's convenient if you draw the tag because you can hunt labor day weekend. And, since the rut has not really kicked in like it would be later in the month, you have the chance to view lots of bucks together for comparison. I don't think it is the earlier date that makes the area hard to draw. The quota there is pretty low, which means that the odds to draw will be low. Look at the surrounding areas there and some of the quotas are much higher, thus they are easier to draw. Big bucks can come out of any of those areas. The winter of 07/08 was particularly hard on the area. If you are lucky enough to draw, don't be fooled by dreams of big bucks everywhere. You will have to work to find an 80" goat there about as hard as you would have to work to find one in surrounding areas, the only difference is that there will not be as much hunting pressure. The pressure is the highest in that area opening weekend, just as it is in other areas, no matter what the start date is. The magazines out there that advertise this area as among the best make it seem like if you draw you have a golden ticket to a big buck in your hand, but the truth is that you have your work cut out for you. Draw the tag on a bad year and you will be dissappointed as the antelope there are suseptable to hard winters and horn growth varies from year-to-year. If you want a chance at a good buck with little competition from other hunters, then this area is among several that could offer a good hunt. Areas with higher quotas are often just as good once opening weekend has passed because most guys are done hunting after opening weekend.
