It's Friday morning, and I know someone is putting a stalk on a mule deer buck right now. It's eating me, but I have some stuff to wrap up this morning before I head into the backcountry.

Deer signs are looking good. There's a decent number of bucks in Unit 39, and there's snow in the forecast, which is pretty rare for this early in October. We're usually dealing with sunny, warm weather and yellowjackets.

Deer hunting is right at the top of my favorite things to do. It mixes me with excitement, anticipation and anxiety. I want to enjoy and savor the whole experience, but I also really want a freezer full of venison. As the season goes on, I will start dreading the thought of a full year without venison, which gets me stressed out and detracts from my enjoyment of the hunt.

But if I get one opening weekend, I will be a little disappointed because my hunt is over.

Regardless of the outcome, I will enjoy the season, including rising before dawn on frosty mornings, hiking knife-edge ridges and descending into "What am I doing here?" canyons.

Hunting is one of the toughest, physical things I do all year, and I can't wait for the sweating and sore muscles to begin.