It's always like that.  Kinda like a kid for Christmas time.  Definately anticipation.  Good luck to you!

Sounds like the best night of the year to me!  Compare it to the night AFTER you have filled your tag.  Then you know that you have to wait until the next year to be able to get out and hunt.  I'll take the night before the opener over the night of not being able to hunt any more any day!  Just my opinion though.

Good luck!  Hopefully you're already skinning teo big bucks right now!!!

I think the anticipation of the hunt along with the day dreaming and unlimited trophy possibilities is the best part of hunting.  Kind of like having a lottery ticket for a future drawing.

I always like the night before a hunt as I lay in bed and think about the next day's hunt.

I must say it is both the worst and best night. It is the best of times... it is the worst of times. Whoops, my bad. If you are talking in terms of hours of sleep, I would say that it is the worst. That feeling in your gut and the drastic desire to just go to sleep are not fun. But there is a good side to all that anticipation. Just think about it, you could be anticipating a lab final in invertebrate zoology or a deadline for something at work. Instead you are anticipating the hunt. You are anticipating going back in time and itching that need to hunt that is still embedded deep in our minds. The night before the opener is bitter sweet but I have to end up taking the side that it is the best night of the year. Although it is easy to say that in hindsight. On that night I might try and make a different argument.

I know that many years ago when I was only able to trail along and was the designated gutter and packer I always had a hard time sleeping the night before the opening.  Now after many years of multipul opening days a year I usually sleep like a baby until that noisy alarm goes off.  My only real worry is if somebody gets to my spot before I do and usually that doesn't happen anymore.  I found that if I have to get up at 3am to get to my spot before anyone else that is the time that I will get up. 

It is a lot like buck feavor. I usually don't get it until after the shot and then depending on the animal I can get it bad just knowing that what I have just shot is what I waited for all year. 

havent been seeing much for deer in the black hills since opener it has been soooo warm.

have you filled tags yet?

Tagged my first deer, a 4x4 want to be, late on Saturday November 6th.  It got dark quick so no pictures.  Sunday Nov. 7, I tagged this little 4x4 less than 14 hours later within 100 yards of the first one,( see pic.....I hope)

My girlfriend tagged out the following Saterday, November 13. of course, she had to out do me.  We got a picture of that one too.

When I got my deer, it was 77 degrees that day.  I have never deer hunted in short sleeves before.  Warm is putting it mildly...lol

After 13 days, we are tagged out.  Now we have to wait till Dec. 11th for M/L season to get some more hunting in.

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Well congratulations on filling your tags. And did I catch that it was your first buck? I think someone needs to get a little bit of blood smeared on their face. Good work and sorry to hear it was so warm but it looks like you did not let it slow you down.

Sorry about the confusion.  It was the first buck of the season.....it was my 4th buck ever.  Just keeping the record clear.  BTW, the other buck pictured is my girlfriend's second buck ever.  I must admit, the one she got was a very impressive animal for our ares.