Conditioning for an elk hunt.

[ladrones]

Back in February I decided I needed to lose some weight and get into better shape after a few injuries had set me back both mentally and physically.
My main reason for starting was of course for health concerns. But another was to get ready for the upcoming hunting season.

Last fall my brother and I were out mule deer hunting and we spotted a 380-390 class bull. We know that the bull made it trough all the hunts and I wanted a shot at him this fall. My brother already has killed 3 bulls over 350 and he wanted to help me go after this big one this fall.

Of course I did not get drawn for any hunts this year. So I will not be hunting.

But I am felling much more healthy and have lost a great deal of weight.

Here is what I have been doing.

I started riding my mountain bike back in February. I have built myself up at that quite well and I have no problem at all doing 20-25 miles at a time.
I marked out a 3.8 mile course at the end of the course is the uphill portion of the ride. There is a 90 step stair at the end of the ride and I do the stairs five times per ride set. The stair is at 5300' elevation. I do the ride/stairs 5 times.
I have also been doing swings and turkish getups with kettlebells 3 times a week. I have put that on hold due to a finger injury.

I'm eating clean six times a day. I have also been keeping a journal using body minder fitness diaries. http://www.memoryminder.com/bodyminder.asp

I will start putting weight in the eberlestock and going for walks. I will also drive the 15 minutes to get above 8000' for hikes a few times a month.


Is anyone else conditioning for the upcoming hunt season?

[Bill]

Of course I did not get drawn for any hunts this year. So I will not be hunting.

Don't let your conditioning go to waste. Hunt CO or OR with an OTC archery elk tag.

I'm working upper body with weights at the Y, not loosing any pounds, but getting bigger and stronger.

[Thorson]

Absolutely!

1. I quit smoking. 5 Months as of June 26th.
2. I have been crossfitting 2-4 times per week since February.

I am heading up to CO for OTC archery cow tags late in September. This will be my first attempt at Elk.

[ladrones]

Don't let your conditioning go to waste. Hunt CO or OR with an OTC archery elk tag.

I'm working upper body with weights at the Y, not loosing any pounds, but getting bigger and stronger.

Not sure any out of state hunting is in my plans. The company I work for is having a third layoff. They have been paying out 1500 hours a day in non-billable lost time. I don't think that bodes well for many that work for the company.
I won't even pick up a bow until next spring as I'm still rehabbing from a ruptured bicep.

[ladrones]

Absolutely!

1. I quit smoking. 5 Months as of June 26th.
2. I have been crossfitting 2-4 times per week since February.

I am heading up to CO for OTC archery cow tags late in September. This will be my first attempt at Elk.

Thats great on the smoking. Congrats and keep up the good work.

[D12]

I am going to start after reading this!!

[Bill]

I am heading up to CO for OTC archery cow tags late in September. This will be my first attempt at Elk.

You know, if you buy a cow-only tag a giant bull will walk right in front of you and block your only shot at a cow, don't you?

Cow tags are about 1/2 the price of a bull/cow tag- unless the GMU you're hunting does not have OTC bull tags?

[ballisticbudda]

Hitting the gym five times a week. One hour of cardio each day, then to the weight room. Getting ready for a trip to CO for elk. Feeling better everyday. The only thing I'm missing out on is higher elevation hiking. If I remember I'll take my running shoes to Taos later this year for a little high elevation training.

[Wudstix]

Football stadium steps are good and also do away with elevator rides.

[Thorson]

Thats great on the smoking. Congrats and keep up the good work.

Thanks! It has been a long time coming. Last year I went to WY to chase antelope in the high desert. Just about killed me.

You know, if you buy a cow-only tag a giant bull will walk right in front of you and block your only shot at a cow, don't you?

Interesting that you say that. Last year in WY I was spot and stalk hunting antelope with my bow. The best opportunity (under 40 yards) I had, the herd buck ran over to check me out and blocked my shot. He was a great buck too. One that I would not have hesitated in dropping had I had a buck tag.

Anyway, I keep going back and forth about which tag to get. I figure its my first time hunting elk. I will be backpacking a fairly long way into a wilderness area. I would much rather eat a $250 tag than a $500 one.

If nothing else it will be a learning experience, and I will have my fly rod if I get hungry.

[Thorson]

In April, I took the wife on a day hike in RMNP. We hiked almost 5 miles one way before we started hitting snow too deep to travel through with out snowshoes. The exercise and a couple of months of no smoking really helped. I will not be running any high altitude marathons any time soon, but I was able to maintain a steady pace pretty much all day with no problems. The only time I really got fatigued was when we started post-holing in thigh deep snow. I was carrying a fairly decent load for a day hike. It is nothing like what I will be taking with me to hunt elk, but who needs 60lb worth of gear for a day hike.