Getting Physically Fit.........

Tennessee Deer Sporting & Deer Hunting Community Forum

Help Support TNDeer | Tennessee Deer:

F

FallRutSpringStrut

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2005
Messages
370
City & State/Province
Tennessee
How do some of you get physically fit for hunting out west. I am heading out to Wyoming for a Mule Deer hunt in October. I have been working out several weeks preparing for the hunt. My regiment has been weight lifting, chin ups, and power walking with a 50# back pack. The walking part usually consist of about 30 to 45 minutes with several steep hills. I am currently trying to do this 5 times a week. I know that you can not be totally prepared but will this be enough. I have heard the thin air is the toughest part. All I know is that I want to be in good shape when I get there so I can make the most of my hunt.
 
Well, I am hardly an example of fitness, due primarily to the number of birthdays that I have had, but I have made several trips to Colorado(and Wyoming), so I have at least had enough experience out there to comment. The toughest trip that I have had was the first, at age 50. What bothered me so much was the combo of altitude and the cold. I just couldn't work at those conditions, and never did get aclimated the entire trip. Ironically, the last bull that I killed was at 11,600 ft. and I was fine, until it got dark and cold, and I had to field dress the animal by myself! Even turning an animal onto its back that weighs 650 lbs becomes a terrible chore under those condtions. However, the best advice that I can offer from my own experience is to GO SLOW with everything that you do. Not to mention the fact that you will see more game and kill more game by moving slowly. When you start to gasp for oxygen, just stop, until you can get your breath. And for whatever reason, I have been aclimated to the altitude far better on my subsequent trips than I was on my first. I can't really comment on your excercise regimen, except to say, that IMO if it is not enough to get you "in shape", then nothing is.
And, stating the obvious, if you smoke you will have a rougher time than if you don't.
Good luck
 
When still hunting in the West remember this if nothing else.

When you are huffing and puffing up a drainage, coulee, ridge, switchback etc, and are almost ready to break out on top to slowly creep over the top to get your eyes into the next canyon, coulee, draw, avalance chute etc remember to just halt. Stop. Get your pulse and breathing under control before going over.

Get your wind and breathing under control first before topping out. And keep an eye on what you might have close by to use as a shooting brace. If there is a massive amount of bone laying over that skyline and you walk over on top of him completely winded it will do two things. One, it will upset you that you can't hold your scope on him and two, upset the animal as he is getting shot at and bullets are flying all around him and not coming close.

I might also suggest you walk with at least 10 pounds of weight on your back which is about what your rifle will weigh as well as putting some binocs on with shoulder straps. You won't believe what 10 pounds will do to throw your balance and muscles off after a full day of hitting the hills and the weight of the binocs, however minimal will also affect your gait. The best way to acclimate to the altitude is simply get to altitude 3 days early which may or may not be possible. Three days is about what it takes. Good luck, hunt hard and practice getting horizontal and bracing up against trees, fenceposts, rock outcroppings etc to get steady on that all-important first shot. And hold out for a big buck. Don't settle for a dinky 4-pt. western count when there are monsters in the area. Get back into the rough stuff and hunt slow. Seeing a massive brute and having an opportunity beats a back-end full of dinkers in my humble opinion.
 
Even though I will only be hunting between 3 an 4k ft, I have been swimming in a 5-6 mph current for 4 to 6 minutes(This is much harder than it sounds) and doing flutter kicks until my legs feel like jello.
 
dang! you ARE working out!
yep, the hill walking is the best- no need for 40 lb pack though.
Look up altitute sickness- I found a medication that is supposed to help with getting acclimated- it's main purpose is not that but something else- my doc had to look it up and ask the pharmacist- don't remember what is was- 12 yrs ago
 
Shoot me your e-mail in a pm and I will send you a 30 minute workout that will get your cardio up and really work your legs.
 
forget the weights. run, run, run. distance run. work up to 5 or 6 miles. you need to stretch your lungs and increase your hearst ability to pump blood.
 
redblood said:
forget the weights. run, run, run. distance run. work up to 5 or 6 miles. you need to stretch your lungs and increase your hearst ability to pump blood.
Click to expand...

What if you have a bad knee?
 
trealtree said:
Even though I will only be hunting between 3 an 4k ft, I have been swimming in a 5-6 mph current for 4 to 6 minutes(This is much harder than it sounds) and doing flutter kicks until my legs feel like jello.
Click to expand...
I goat hunt at Limon, Colorado at 5,400 ft with no problem, even being an old man. However, I do notice the difference at around 8,000 ft and up.
 
If you have bad knee, running will help it. Strengthen the muscles around it. You are gonna have to use that knee to get up thhe mountain anyway.
 
Start taking an Iron supplement a month before the trip.
Don't over do it or you wont crap for a month.

Anything you can do at altitude will help and your walking with a pack is a great idea.

If at all possible, get out there a couple days early and just hang out at altitude. Go for a couple leisurely walks to get acclimated and STAY OVER HYDRATED.

You should be fine. Enjoy your hunt and post pics when you get back!!!!
 

Latest posts

Back
Top