Physical prep for season

[hoosierhunter11]

Forward motion. Forward motion with weight is even better. I push mow my yard with my pack on. Get work done and get training done all in the same motion Get away from a sedative lifestyle if possible. Work hard at work or at home…all this helps

Happy to hear I’m not the only weirdo push mowing their yard with their pack on in the summer!

 

[hoosierhunter11]

I do nothing to prep and I'm successful. I'd be willing to bet that 95% of total elk killed annually are by people who haven't physically prepared.

I don't know a single person who physically prepares for hunting and I always end up helping them pack the critters they somehow killed without a minute of previous physical preparation.

I get it. It’s not a requirement. However, the benefits of training are greater than just preparing for the hunt. The benefits to overall health and longevity are undeniable. Additionally, if a guy can do something to better enable himself to capitalize on opportunities with his physical abilities why wouldn’t he?

Admittedly outliers do exist like guys who work strenuous jobs but I myself drive a desk for living and occasionally supplement with work in the wood shop. I need to train to stay in shape.

 

[mike.adams.467]

I do nothing to prep and I'm successful. I'd be willing to bet that 95% of total elk killed annually are by people who haven't physically prepared.

I don't know a single person who physically prepares for hunting and I always end up helping them pack the critters they somehow killed without a minute of previous physical preparation.

While wearing Levis, flannel shirts, and cowboy boots........

 

[WeiserBucks]

While wearing Levis, flannel shirts, and cowboy boots........

That's good for a laugh

 

[cnelk]

I prepare like simulated hunting. Lots and lots of walking with my pack of 25lbs.
My average speed is about 3.7 mph.
Along those walks I’ll also do squats and lunges.

I don’t run when elk hunting so I don’t feel the need to do any running.

This technique hasn’t let me down yet

 

[COJoe]

I workout three times a week at 4 am before I go to work to keep my body strong, flexible and confident to do some of the most simple things such a putting on socks without a back spasm, lol. At 54 yrs old now, I have had two surgeries on my L-5 disc in the last nine years so I can't afford to not stay in shape and give myself the best chance to live life enjoyably. Everyone is unique in what they can/cannot handle or push through on the mountain. Each year I learn what hurt or what made the hunt tougher than it needed to be and I work on that area in the off season. I do a 3-6 mile ruck each Sunday with 40 lbs. which I greatly enjoy as it has become a wonderful stress reliever from my overly stressful job lately so there are great side benefits too. Don't neglect to eat quality home cooked meals too.

 

[Phaseolus]

Living where the desert meets the rockies has it’s benefits. I’m skiing three days a week, riding my mtn bike, and hiking real mountains. 4 days a week I do light weights, protecting my knees and lower back is important at age 65.

 

[Marble]

I do weights year round. I generally don't do any cardio. Never had an issue with endurance at all. 48 yoa...

I believe a routine of weights can work the entire body and build cardio. Weight lifting has a lot of benefits beyond strength and looking better.

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

 

[jtevanMT]

I signed up for Mountain Tough over 1 year ago, setup a minimal gear gym at home and it has been great. They have programs for mountain athletes, weekend warriors, and people over 50 yo. I backpack hunt in MT and it makes a huge difference where I can go and feel confident in getting myself and an elk back out of the woods. I feel better now (over 50 yo) than I did at 30. Mountain Tough will help keep me in the woods chasing elk with my kids for many more years to come.

 

[kcm2]

I hike with 65 lbs in my pack for up to 3 miles at a time. On level ground, I'm fast. Uphill, not so much Downhill, you go slow for your quads and for balance issues, as you don't want to crash.

 

[Tmac]

What kind of physical conditioning are you guys doing to prep for packing out an elk?

I’m making sure both my boys, my son in law, and the two oldest grandson’s block out the dates of my hunt. Really takes quite a bit of coordinating texting and emailing, so I work on finger dexterity mostly, for communicating and popping pull tabs…

 

[Indian Summer]

I don’t know if you want to switch your routine up or not, but you might wanna get in shape to find and kill an elk more so than to pack one out. Once you kill one, it doesn’t matter what kind of shape you’re in. You’re adrenaline will help you get it out of the hills. Personally I firmly believe that elk hunting is 90% mental. If your mind breaks down your body is going nowhere.

 

[OXN939]

The idea of doing nothing until it's go time is ridiculous. Good for you, if it seems to work, but color me dubious.

Honestly, thank God for people like that. Western hunting would be totally hosed if everyone with a tag were physically prepared

 

[S.Clancy]

You don't need to be in shape to go elk hunting, I know fat guys that get it done every year.

I still lift and do cardio year round cause I want to be able to do hard hunts and spend 50+ days hunting in the backcountry every year and do it until I die. It's hard to be a fattie and do that.

 

[justinspicher]

I don’t try to get ready for elk hunting. I work to stay in shape all year. Living in the mountains helps.

I try to do daily walks around the neighborhood along with a few hundred KB swings.

A few times a week I try to get out and take my rifle for a walk.

Splitting wood by hand has really helped me stay in shape.

I hate gyms, they are full of people and everything in there is heavy.

 

[grizz19]

Another vote for MTNTOUGH. I didn’t realize what I was leaving on the table until I started their program. Only 7 weeks into the post season strength program and my cardio and hiking ability has already made a very noticeable improvement.

 

[Fogalo]

I started elk hunting about ten years ago. The first bull I killed I was absolutely shot packing it out and those first years I worked out with mtn specific really hard. I was also in my early 20s.

Nowadays, I just try and stay in shape. Nothing crazy, hardly any mtn specific stuff. I don’t have any problems. I think your body remembers and you figure out a better system.