Smoking and high elevation

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

Not sure what category this belongs in. I do not smoke however my brother in law does and he keeps threatening to go elk hunting with me. We already know the health benefits of quoting but I seriously doubt his willpower to do so. My question is do any of you smoke and still hunt at high elevation? Do you have problems with altitude sickness or other issues because of smoking? I don't want my hunt hindered or worse cut short because of his addiction.

 

[LostInSpace278]

I smoked when I moved to Colorado, I subsequently quit. Health reason, family, and the shear fact it is hard to walk and breathe at the same time here if you smoke. If you really want to see what your elk hunt is going to look like. Walk him up at least 3 flights of stairs, briskly, then watch his breathing. This will give you your answer.

 

[wawhitey]

his stinking of cigarettes will undoubtedly hinder your hunt. i can smell a smoker in the woods from a LONG way off, so an elk certainly can too, and its a kind of smell that lingers on stuff, even if the wind changes kind of deal, the smell just sticks around

 

[Terrapin]

It might kill him, or it might save his life; regardless it will be eye opening.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

It might kill him, or it might save his life; regardless it will be eye opening.

Lmao funny stuff there. I'd rather he not die as that would really put a damper on the hunt. I'll probably have to bring some extra paracord, just in case, to hang him in the shade so he'll keep till the hunt is over.

 

[hflier]

I used to smoke. I quit a couple years ago after a blown hunt in Colorado because of my piss poor lung capacity. Quit on the way home and never smoked again. I was pissed.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

I used to smoke. I quit a couple years ago after a blown hunt in Colorado because of my piss poor lung capacity. Quit on the way home and never smoked again. I was pissed.

How many times did you hunt the high country as a smoker?

 

[brewer427]

I'll probably have to bring some extra paracord, just in case, to hang him in the shade so he'll keep till the hunt is over.

Now that's funny in kind of a twisted way.

 

[HardcoreHunter]

Well I can tell you this. I quit smoking August 28th. All I can say for sure is, it still hindered my performance, can not wait until next years hunting after a year of no smoking and physical fitness training on a much more intense level than I had already done.

 

[Jon Boy]

It undoubtedly will hinder his hunt. Having said that the greatest elk slayer I know is a chain smoker and he hunts the steep and deep shit. The one thing he has going for him is he carries nothing but a rifle, a lighter and two packs of smokes so he's not weighed down by a pack. It's definitely caught up to him in the last three years I've hunted with him but he keeps going and keeps killing elk. I wish he'd quit, would be unreal what the guy could do if he didn't smoke.

 

[Snowcrest6]

i smoke. bad for me, yes. keeps me out of the woods....hell no.

it takes me about 1/2 mile to get my breath but, after that, i'm good to go all day. i hunt from 6000 at our elk base camp up to about 10,000'.

i still kill elk.

 

[5MilesBack]

his stinking of cigarettes will undoubtedly hinder your hunt. i can smell a smoker in the woods from a LONG way off, so an elk certainly can too, and its a kind of smell that lingers on stuff, even if the wind changes kind of deal, the smell just sticks around

Ditto. One year I was hiking back to the trailhead and was .30 miles from it via GPS (as the crow flies), and started smelling cigarette smoke. It got stronger every step, until I got to the trailhead and found a couple guys at their truck smoking. If I can smell it from 1/3 of a mile away, the elk can smell it from well over a mile. And that's just the smoke. Add in the stench that sticks to the person and you've got your own cigarette-scent machine.

 

[Hardstalk]

How old is your bro in law?

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

How old is your bro in law?

He is 25

 

[Murdy]

And is he otherwise in good shape? I have no experience with the high country (yet), but I do with smoking. I quit 7 years ago, but was a pack-a-day guy for 20 years before that, including when I was in the Army. I kept myself in good shape besides the smoking, and I never fell out of a run or road march in four years. So while the smoking will hinder him, there are other things that go into the equation.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

And is he otherwise in good shape? I have no experience with the high country (yet), but I do with smoking. I quit 7 years ago, but was a pack-a-day guy for 20 years before that, including when I was in the Army. I kept myself in good shape besides the smoking, and I never fell out of a run or road march in four years. So while the smoking will hinder him, there are other things that go into the equation.

"Good" is relative I suppose. He doesn't work out or train but he is not exactly in bad shape either. He works for me in construction so he maintains a base level from physical work. He has always kept up with me fine here in MO but I am 35 and I'm not currently in the best shape.

 

[HardcoreHunter]

where in missouri, if i might ask?

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

Rolla. It's between Springfield and st Louis

 

[Hardstalk]

He is 25

You should be good. As long as he's not a pansy. He is prime age wise. Im a pack a day guy.. Unfortunately. I've quit a couple times but cardio wise I'm sure I'm hindered a bit. But the high country has never left me hunched on my knees gasping. Usually I'm in the front of the group. Especially a couple years ago @25. I still hit the cardio pretty regularly at the gym and at that time had a very active job as well. I've always had a larger than normal lung capacity. Cardio wise my wife who has never smoked a day in her life will tap out on runs and treadmill time long before I do.

Smell wise ask him to try and ween off the smokes and substitute with snuff or chew if he wants to tag along. Tell him to start the transition a month or so before you get in the hills so he isn't a complete feen once you guys get back there.

 

[BOW1144]

Lmao funny stuff there. I'd rather he not die as that would really put a damper on the hunt. I'll probably have to bring some extra paracord, just in case, to hang him in the shade so he'll keep till the hunt is over.

You might have some explaining to do the cops as to why you had to quarter up your brother in law to pack him out. Just make sure you lable your elk meat so it doesn't get mixed up with your brother in law...