I need some expert input

[drdaven]

Wanderer,

I like your first choice and the way you plan on handling it.  More as observation. 
I am all about less intrusion early on.  When the season picks up and the deer movement is a little more erratic I tend to move into transition corridors. 
Those areas that JPH described would be great for later in Oct or early Nov, but your season admittedly starts on Thursday.  Gotta get out there just for the sake of saying you did.
Good luck with it!

[Woods Walker]

One more thing. Avoiding that bull might be a good call.

 
Oh I don't think he's that big of a threat. He looks like a beef bull (as opposed to a dairy breed)....Angus cross maybe....and they usually aren't too bad unless you really rile them. They aren't near as territorial for some reason as dairy bulls....Holsteins and Jerseys in particular. They will a lot of times come at you, "just because"! [:D]