First you need to figure out if it is a bypass (usually on earlier engines) or full flow (usually on later engines but could have been retrofitted) filter.
If it is a full flow filter I wouldn't even think about removing it, particularly without replacing it with a bypass line.
You can often remove a bypass filter and plug the ports, but why wouldn't you want the cleanest oil possible? If you can follow the lines and the return just dumps into the oilpan you are probably OK to disconnect, but again, why? - there's lots of space under the hood for a filter.
