I've hunted near Artesian in late Nov and early Dec a couple of times. Never early season. I always did really good on the public state sections, though they require non-toxic shot.
People do good there in the early season too but the crowds being thinned out by Thanksgiving and December make the choice easy for me. The snow also helps me find birds. I'll happily deal with fewer birds than I would earlier in the season and deal with some birds flushing out of range---to not have to deal with so many people. You'll for sure see a lot more standing corn and sorghum if you go in Oct or early Nov, which can draw the birds out of the state areas and into areas that are off limits to you.
I have zero idea about the camping though.
