By Ben Romans

I can hardly wait, and to be honest, it’s starting to affect my sleep.  Just the thought of tiptoeing along a game trail gets my adrenalin going, and before I know it, it’s 2 a.m. and I haven’t slept a wink.

In my neck of the woods, the elk archery season begins in three days. I spend the other 11 months of the year waiting for these next four weeks. Even as I sit here and type this post, I’m interrupted with visions of antlers crashing through the tree branches or that feeling of distance that comes from sleeping on the ground miles from the nearest road.

I’ve gone over my maps so many times that I nearly know them by heart. I know which ridges I want to traverse and where I can set up to glass. My bow is tuned up, and I’m dialed in. And last but not least, I know where the springs are pumping out fresh water—an important necessity when your legs are putting on miles a day.

I’ll be sure to post a few photos and stories here as I come and go between outings (and hopefully a video or two if I can get someone to tag along with me). But in the meantime, who else is ramping up their fall plans? Anyone going bowhunting or planning a little early season shooting (like for doves)? If so, what’s one of the highlights you can’t stop daydreaming about?