For something like a sheep hunt, I would like to walk in around 245lb I think--but admittedly still figuring it out. In 2018 I was right about 235lb but lost 16 pounds during the hunt that I didn't have to lose. Did a body scan before and soon after, finding most of what I lost was muscle. I end up spending all fall/winter/spring building muscle to feel like I lose most of my efforts doing long treks throughout the summer and hunting season. Last year for sheep I was heavier, going in around 245lb, and managed my food intake better by packing more food. Felt stronger throughout the hunt than the year before--also likely because my partner was stronger as well.
Since then I also swapped up my training, working with a sadistic personal trainer (I think she really might be the devil) and made big gains all the way through the Covid shutdown. During that time, I put on a fair amount of additional muscle (much of which might be better described as regained) and was able to keep it while leaning down. Jump forward through Covid, and now like a few others, I seem to have found a little extra fluff through the down time. I don't feel bad about it, kept my eating as intended, just hard when I was used to hitting the gym 5-days a week to trying to sort some fashion of at home workouts that just never reached the same level of intensity.
So here I sit at 257lb. Cardio is still on point, tested it this weekend doing one of our most steep local mountain trails carrying extra camera gear and random stuff to add weight--3,700' climb in under 2-miles before ridge-lining further. Hoping I will roll into the first sheep hunt between 245 and 250. I will have 6 days off after my brother's and my hunt before going in to help my wife search for her sheep in the Tok Management Area. Have moose and a separate mountain goat hunt in the 4 weeks that follow sheep season--so we will see how I hold up. Getting older--will turn 47 the week before we head to Delta for wife's (she's silly lucky) bison permit.
