Physical prep for season

[LongWayAround]

LWA-How old are you? Perspectives change as we log many years of elk hunting. What I did for training at 3x (or thought I needed to do) is different today (As I knock on the 6-0 door) No one size fits all approach.

My year around approach is a mix of endurance (cardio days) and strength days. Once the snow is gone, pack training is integrated into my week. The month prior to season, a few hikes will be heavy weight (To remind my legs and brain what a heavy load feels like)

My training approach enables me to elk hunt every day in places that might hold elk. Every meat packout has sucked, but it is a good suck. I know how long I will suffer (~ 2 days) and I know it will end with elk protein in the back of my truck.

I'm 36. Definitely not the same guy I was at 26. I don't really lift heavy anymore either.

The thing is, the animals weigh the same and the mountains don't get smaller just because we age.

My training approach is pretty similar to what you describe.

 

[Scoot]

The thing is, the animals weigh the same and the mountains don't get smaller just because we age.

Which is why I quit beating the shit outta my knees, hips, and back hauling 50 lbs and more. No doubt 50 lbs is a realistic load when hauling meat (I've hauled double that plenty of times), but that doesn't mean you should pound your joints into oblivion through the repitition of training. I'll save that for when an animal is down. When i was your age i thought exactly like your posts suggest. Like Z said, I'm guessing you will back off over time. With age comes wisdom...

Ultimately LWA (and all), whatever works for you is great. Good luck this year.

 

[Coveyleader]

The hardest thing about elk hunting is getting up so dang early. The rest is easy.

 

[NotchElk]

This may be a plug for a workout program but I'm speaking on personal experience here as I've done both MTNTOUGH and Human Predator Pack Mule. Both serve great purposes and get you into good shape for chasing elk out west. In my case, I come from MN and spend 12+ days out west in September and need to do all I can to prepare my body for that. Either program works fine and I'd recommend either for someone looking to get into better shape. I will say this, with HPPM I feel more capable and ready to withstand the load I'll put on my body over 14 days. I was in great shape and still felt great with MTNTOUGH but with HPPM I just feel more confident that I'm doing the right exercises to ensure my body is ready.

That being said, you don't need to do one of these programs to successfully hunt, rather, do what you can with what you have and any physical exercise ahead of time is going to benefit you.

 

[cnelk]

I'm 36.

Oh man. To be 36 again

When I was hunting elk at 36, there wasn’t any beetle kill and the Colorado elk herd was at its peak.