Getting physically ready for elk/ hunting season thread

[unclefish]

This helps a lot especially with a pack. Unfortunately, I have to jump the fence at the high school because it's usually locked.

I get the whole Crossfit thing, but for me, with the little amount of time I have for working out until Sept 1, I 'm concentrating on my feet, legs and lungs. I'll need all the help I can get.

I'm with you on the feet, legs, lungs. Everything else is purely optional.
Its all about the lower body and lungs.

The only other thing would be to carry a 5 pound weight in your hand to simulate a bow. That was the most difficult part when hunting was getting used to carrying my bow around all day. I have a primos bow strap and it works ok but where we hunt we walk out the door and start hunting right there alot of times.

[bwssr]

Back pack and the bleachers at the foot ball field.....up and down...a lot!

[KHoes203]

I have never been before but I would train out on the road and not a treadmill. It is TOTALLY different. Just my opinion.

[Russ]

to the OP, sounds like you have a good plan together. Just keep walking, excercising, doing that cardio and lifting weights.

Biggest thing is the cardio....you have to be physically able to walk 2-5 miles in varied terrain no problem, but since you have an elk in your sig pic, you already knew that.

Ya I have bout 14 mountain hunts under my belt. I usually always train really hard before my hunts. The one time I did not, my mountain lion hunt, it just about killed me...lol

I switch into crossfit training usually 2 months befor the hunt. This first month will be building endurance and strength.

[Russ]

I have never been before but I would train out on the road and not a treadmill. It is TOTALLY different. Just my opinion.

I vary the incline and speed. I run for endurance and stamina. Concrete is tough on your knees and feet. Not much running involved in real hunting scenarios.

I also mix stair steppers in bout every other day in place of the bike. That's great mountain training. I wish I had a good steep trail nesrby to walk on for training.

[rsquared]

biggest thing I always found on my hunts in Oregon besides cardio fitness was carrying my filled pack and a heavy stick to simulate a gun or a bow on hikes in the evenings.

it was also a good idea for me to go walk trails with hillsides, inclines, declines, etc using my hiking boots. the reason is that when you get tired, the knees and ankles tend to get tired too and you can make some poor choices with footing and things like that.
good way to injure yourself in the middle of nowhere.

so preparing on hillsides and walking at all types of angles helped strengthen the joints and feet to prepare me for the up down and sideways all day hikes I would endure in Oregon.

[Legdog]

Just work up to 30 of these and you will be fine!

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SllKEWhCoo"]Rich Froning - 30 Burpee Muscle Ups For time - WR - 4:10 - YouTube[/ame]

[Habanarrow]

http://training.goruck.com/

These guys put some good workouts.
Also I would say load up your elk bag and go rucking for distance. When I say load I mean put heavy stuff in there, more than you're planning on carrying during the hunt.
I carry my backpack with 6 bricks anywhere from long distance walks to mowing the yard.
Get them shoulders conditioned.....good luck

[Split Arrow]

till he gets hurt and can't go on his utah elk hunt

Poor form is poor form, regardless of where you exercise. People get hurt exercising everywhere. Crossfit is no more dangerous than any other form of exercise, as long as proper form is used.

[ladrones]

Don't forget to include your trekking poles into your prep. They will help you feel better out on the trails.

[Hart8]

Squats.

[Habanarrow]

http://training.goruck.com/goruck-pt-video-library/

[Russ]

I have never been before but I would train out on the road and not a treadmill. It is TOTALLY different. Just my opinion.

I vary the incline and speed. I run for endurance and stamina. Concrete is tough on your knees and feet. Not much running involved in real hunting scenarios.

I also mix stair steppers in bout every other day in place of the bike. That's great mountain training. I wish I had a good steep trail nesrby to walk on for training.

[Habanarrow]

I vary the incline and speed. I run for endurance and stamina. Concrete is tough on your knees and feet. Not much running involved in real hunting scenarios. I also mix stair steppers in bout every other day in place of the bike. That's great mountain training. I wish I had a good steep trail nesrby to walk on for training.

Unless you get chased by a bear or mt. lion

[Codie]

I am sure everyones efforts will end up being enough to get the job done when the hunt comes but for myself I would want to be in the best shape possible before going into it. Heaven forbid I shoot an elk 4 miles from the closest road and have to pack the thing out.

Give me the same 2 exact out of shape 40yr old men 2 months out from an elk hunt and put one of them through 2 months of Crossfit and the other through 2 months of hiking,running, and stairs and I will put every cent that I have to my name that the guy that did Crossfit for 2 months is going to look like a mountain goat up on the side of the mountains compared to the guy that hiked,ran, and did stairs for 2 months. Again, hiking,running, and stairs WILL get the job done but to get into the BEST shape possible I would choose Crossfit myself (and that is because I have done both types of excercise and there has been (at any time) NO comparison between the two as far as results goes) - I hope you kill another monster! Good luck