Do not underestimate how much it rains up there. In either case it could, or likely will, rain every day. I'm maybe a lightweight, but a week or two of never getting dry is a drag. I'd MUCH prefer to have a cabin on POW. As far as early v. late, two different kinds of hunts. Early season you'll likely be up on the ridge tops, late season they'll be down low for the rut and you can bleat them in. If it were me I'd go early and get a cabin, then hunt locally during the regular season wherever you live.