My dad used to say “ the best time to go hunting or fishing, is when ever you can”. If you don’t want to go while the black powder hunters are in the field, go the week before black powder opens. We again go when we can, and have some of our best luck the same time muzzle loader is open. You just gotta be in the right place at the right time. If your on your couch or at work, you don’t have a chance in hell of being in “ that place”.