I leave two days before opening day. One day to set up camp, and the second day for scouting prior to opening day. If I anticipate local squatters claiming "their sites" early, I'll leave three days early.
Although I have used natural ground blinds for deer hunting, I need protection from unpredictable late season mountainous weather during elk season. Does anyone use ground blinds for public land elk rifle elk hunts? What ground blind do you suggest?