The decision to hunt deep in the woods to escape the opening day crowds of deer hunters came without too many debates.

After all, with nearly a million people afield, it can get crowded on any public lands, and that is where we were aiming to go on the first day of buck. season

Some preseason scouting with the help of my brother-in-law's guide service, allowed us to narrow down an area that was about a mile off the beaten path and up some steep climbs.

We had topographic maps of the area, and we decided to cover an area that was a series of draws and crossings between thickets of cover that a smart buck might choose for a trail.

There was one catch though: I'd have to find a place for five hunters to stand on the opener, as I would host a group of out-of-state hunters.

Finding one good place is difficult, but finding five was asking a great deal, so that is why scouting in the woods, the maps and a little hike off the beaten path was needed.

When I discussed my strategy, everyone was in agreement, except on one issue: How were we going to get a deer out of those woods!

We spent some time discussing this until I made the executive call, "To the garage!"

My wife claims that hunters have too much unnecessary junk that just clutters up the house. I know she means other hunters because my junk is very important and I might use it sometime soon.

This was one of those times when I went to a forgotten corner and pulled my super duper deer carrier cart off the wall. It was guaranteed to carry 300 pounds of deer or elk with ease across broken trails and woods.

Of course, my wife countered with, "The only thing you've done with that cart is give the kids a ride around in the garage."

Opening morning found everyone ready to go without too much difficulty. We had sandwiches, drinks and plenty of junk for the nephew to snack on. I would have my 14-year-old nephew hanging with me on the opening day, and he usually brings me some kind of luck and a lot of laughs.

We arrived at our stands deep in the woods more than an hour before dawn and settled in for first light. I always look forward to hearing the first shot of the season and wondering how a hunter can be so lucky.

The kid was sleepy and he rolled up against the old oak we chose as our stand and promptly took a nap. I heard plenty of sounds of wildlife in the darkness, as well as deer moving around us in their normal patterns of travel.

We chose wisely as the deer were not spooked by hunters and we would not have to pick out racing deer in thickets to check out their antlers.

The first light of morning finally came and I could hear deer approaching us. I whispered to my nephew to wake up and get ready for the hunting day, and he mumbled something about being too early and he was going to sleep a little longer.

An unmistakable sound of a lone heavy deer came to my ears. I gave my nephew one last wake-up call and he promptly pulled his coat over his head.

I was on my own on this one because the deer was nearly to us and any extra activity would scare him. I pulled up my rifle and there he was and it was a buck.

I could count five points on the antler beam closest to me and that made him a legal buck in the four-point management area.

He stepped out in the clear and I took my shot — the first shot of the season!

I was the lucky guy this year, as I admired the 9-point buck with an extremely heavy body.

As I walked down the trail to get my cart, I didn't know which made me feel smarter, being prepared by having a successful plan or finally using that cart.