Gaining muscle for hunting?

[wstribling]

More muscle mass needs more oxygen- not a good thing for back country hunting. Go for Strength not mass and whatever muscle shows up is a bonus

 

[JakeSCH]

I'm the opposite, where I have been "naturally" stocky. For years I would have hiking routines starting in May / June for years adding weight to my back and lose weight. It would get my feet tough and strengthen my cardio but never felt like it was enough when in the hunt.

Last two years I do strength training 4 days a week mixed in with some running / hiking. Last year was noticeable difference packing out an elk out of the bottom of a basin. First time in my life that I was doing extra trips to make up for others and felt great doing so.

I do agree about high rep ranges / muscular endurance training starting a month or so before you go out. I was doing 225 back squats for 3 sets of 20 or put on 135 for a sets of 50. They absolutely suck but it made a world of difference. I also cut out sugar / alcohol / processed foods at the same time of muscular endurance.

 

[MDurham]

I'm the opposite, where I have been "naturally" stocky. For years I would have hiking routines starting in May / June for years adding weight to my back and lose weight. It would get my feet tough and strengthen my cardio but never felt like it was enough when in the hunt.

Last two years I do strength training 4 days a week mixed in with some running / hiking. Last year was noticeable difference packing out an elk out of the bottom of a basin. First time in my life that I was doing extra trips to make up for others and felt great doing so.

I do agree about high rep ranges / muscular endurance training starting a month or so before you go out. I was doing 225 back squats for 3 sets of 20 or put on 135 for a sets of 50. They absolutely suck but it made a world of difference. I also cut out sugar / alcohol / processed foods at the same time of muscular endurance.

What was your workout routine? I’m getting back into the gym and improving my diet, I really just want to have the type of strength you seemed to have gotten, plus having some chest and shoulders to make concealed carrying easier is a plus

 

[JakeSCH]

What was your workout routine? I’m getting back into the gym and improving my diet, I really just want to have the type of strength you seemed to have gotten, plus having some chest and shoulders to make concealed carrying easier is a plus

My workout routine changes every 4 weeks. I change phases from flexibility, to stability, to strength, to endurance, then back around. I pay a buddy who is a personal trainer to come up with my routine because I do not want to figure it out. Lol.

I have him program 4 workouts plus a HERO but I usually miss one or two.

 

[Block]

I’d say there’s definitely a happy medium. I’ve ranged from 190-225 (6’ ~9-13%BF) the past 3 years and right around 195-205 @10% I feel best in the mountains. My cardio suffers and my knees and lower back seem to feel that extra 20 lbs

 

[Miflatlander91]

I’d say there’s definitely a happy medium. I’ve ranged from 190-225 (6’ ~9-13%BF) the past 3 years and right around 195-205 @10% I feel best in the mountains. My cardio suffers and my knees and lower back seem to feel that extra 20 lbs

I think your spot on with the happy medium my weight will go up and down throughout the year but I seem to end up around 205 going into hunting season and that works best for me. Sure I’m stronger at 230 in early spring but I don’t think I’d have the lungs or even muscle endurance to do multiple days hiking in the mountains at that weight


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[Watrdawg]

I 60yrs old and 5'5" 165lbs and I'm down to 14% body fat. I do Crossfit 4 nights a week, a strength workout the other 3, ride my Mtn bike 20-25miles a week and then hike with a weighted vest 8-10 miles a week. Diet plays a big part of being able to maintain this workout regiment. No sugar or processed foods. Basically just meat, poultry, fish, pork, vegetables and fruit. I'm picky about the carbs also and I'm only taking in 50-75 grams of carbs a day. Protein is easily 1 gram to 1.5 grams per pound of body weight. I've been in the gym most of my life but this year is different. Changing my diet has made a huge difference. Last December I was at 193 and just barely getting through my workouts. I was only doing Crossfit and that wasn't fun. I decided to change my diet and dropped 30lbs pretty quick. Workouts are a breeze compared to previously and I'm recovering much quicker than before also. My workouts are vastly more productive! 90% of that is the change in diet. If I eat something that has a good bit of sugar or full of shitty carbs I get nauseous very quickly. Messes me up for hours. Gaining muscle/strength is a definite advantage.

 

[T-town]

I’m naturally a thin guy. In the last 6 months or so I’ve started doing some simple strength training. Have definitely gained strength, muscle mass, and weight.

I’m wondering if others who have done that have noticed any changes, positive or negative, for backcountry hunting. Strength in the legs, back, and shoulders seems like an obvious benefit, especially during the pack out. but I wonder if muscle elsewhere is superfluous mass in the mountains. This all assumes that one maintains their cardio fitness, of course.

I didn’t notice much this season, but I also didn’t push myself that hard this year.

Share your experience.

As many of the others have said, finding that physical sweet spot is the key. More strength is never a bad thing and the muscle gain/ hypertrophy will come quickly if you've never lifted or done strength training previously. I doubt you'd gain so much new muscle that it would hinder your cardio if you've always been "a thin guy".

Using a football analogy, I'd rather go in the mountains as a linebacker, fullback or tightend rather than a big lineman or thin receiver/ defensiveback.

 

[mtwarden]

Using a football analogy, I'd rather go in the mountains as a linebacker, fullback or tightend rather than a big lineman or thin receiver/ defensiveback.

DB’s these days aren’t that thin

 

[P Carter]

DB’s these days aren’t that thin

My thought exactly. I think a 6 foot, 200 pound freak athlete would do just fine…