will be placing stands soon, only problem this time of year its still very thick, i leave a few in place every year but put out 3 or 4 around early September once i see how the mast crop will be.

I like to get started right after the Muzzy Shoot. Thought I was born ready..... guess not.  

... mike ...

For me it starts August 1....I choose my bow for the rest of the year, start practicing with and without a quiver and increase my shooting sessions. I also make up half dozen or so new arrows just for broadheads and tune them then put them in the quiver until it's time to hone the heads in October. I work on the clothes in October too...make sure the moths havent chewed up my woolies and then treat everything with permethrin. I organize my pack, change batteries in the GPS and head lamp. Touch up the blade on my knife and I wait.....and wait....and wait....and wait for the southern zone archery season to open......this is depressing.....later

I'm always looking for meat to add to the table, Alaskans are lucky too have some form of hunting available year round so distinguishing a "hunting trip" from a "hike" or "fishing trip" or even hanging around the yard is sometimes tough. I will almost always have a bow or rifle within quick reach.

Having said that though I'm starting too hunt sheep again after a injury that set me back and I have been preparing for that....well since I got hurt. This march I started doing at least 3 hikes above tree line each week and quit smoking cigarettes, other than that I'm tuned up year round.

Oh I do grow a full beard starting august 1 every year.

I start by looking all my stuff that has been scattered and lost over the summer months.:)Decide on what bow I will start out with and may shoot it some between now and opening day.Arrows and broadheads stay sharp and in an arrow box all year.I don't really get going untill after the mid of August however.Our season does not open untill sept.I have one stand in the woods more for observation that I will sit in the first morning.From there I will see where I need to go with my climber in the afternoon.

I shoot a lot of 3D tournaments in the off season and shot the last one of the year this weekend at McAlester..time NOW to start getting tuned up and ready for the season

I shoot my hunting set-up year round. I only have to sharpen my broadheads. As boring as it sounds I haven`t changed a thing for about four years now.

My cold weather clothes are all that is needed to "get ready".

Most of my treestand hunting is done with the use of climbers, but I scout year around.

Last year, I noticed my cold weather clothes seemed to shrink a size or two, while they hung in the basement. I push myself away from the dinner table a little sooner now, and that took care of that problem.

I shoot a lot of bows, both longbows and recurves.  About two months prior to opening day, I pick my hunting bow and shoot that exclusively.  Squirrel and rabbit season opens a month before deer season here and I try to get some actual hunting practice in as well.

Dang near ready now.  Have 32 stands hung with 6 or 7 others in reserve for changing conditions.  All are named and mapped so someone knows where to find my carcass if I don't get back. Limbed out.  Haul lines in each tree, steps and/or ladders all up.  ( Except for ones that could get ripped off.)  All broadheads sharpened.  I do that incase I cut myself I will have time to heal before the season.  Clothes washed, descented and bagged away.  I shoot my recurve most days off my deck or out of the treestand I have in the back yard.   October 1st can't come soon enough for me.
 Lots of work and sweat especially for a guy who isn't getting any younger.  But it is a labor of love.

I can't put my bow down, so I guess i'm just ready.