Working out during season

[rtaylor2626]

I have worked really hard tho get where I’m at physically for this hunting season and now that my first tag opens up this Friday I wasn’t sure what to do working out wise. Do you guys just continue your daily workouts as usual or do you scale back/focus on other stuff than strength training during season?


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[Poser]

I try and manage my cumulative fatigue levels as much as possible so, there are definitely some "light" days in there depending on how grueling of a week its been, but, for the most part, I stick with the same approach of heavy, low volume barbell training, but I drop the volume back and do more 3x3 vs 3x5. Deadlifts I will drop back to 1x3 and just once a week and find that I can maintain strength levels for several weeks.

There was a study at some point on deployed Marines that found they could maintain their strength levels for quite some time with a single 1x3 working set once a week on the big lifts. Obviously, those guys in the study were young and in their prime, but they were also likely getting a lot of physical and mental stress elsewhere and on insufficient sleep. I've found that study to be generally true as I have experimented with maintenance strength during hunting and ski season.

Otherwise, I still get in at least one mid week conditioning hike.

 

[rtaylor2626]

I try and manage my cumulative fatigue levels as much as possible so, there are definitely some "light" days in there depending on how grueling of a week its been, but, for the most part, I stick with the same approach of heavy, low volume barbell training, but I drop the volume back and do more 3x3 vs 3x5. Deadlifts I will drop back to 1x3 and just once a week and find that I can maintain strength levels for several weeks.

There was a study at some point on deployed Marines that found they could maintain their strength levels for quite some time with a single 1x3 working set once a week on the big lifts. Obviously, those guys in the study were young and in their prime, but they were also likely getting a lot of physical and mental stress elsewhere and on insufficient sleep. I've found that study to be generally true as I have experimented with maintenance strength during hunting and ski season.

Otherwise, I still get in at least one mid week conditioning hike.

I’ll have to look into that seems like an interesting study. That’s for the most part what I’ve been doing plus keeping my cardio up.


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[LCguy]

I usually try to line it up so my de-load weeks line up with my hunts. Doesn't always line up perfectly but taking a week off here and there outside your normal deloads isn't gonna ruin your gains/physique. Might feel a little flat but your muscles will bounce back quick.

As Poser said managing fatigue is also important. My elk and deer tags are usually back-to-back. Doesn't make sense for me to hunt elk hard for 7 days, then lift with my usual intensity in the gym the two days in between and then go hunt deer hard. I'd be too fatigued.