Sure, here in the South this term might be lumped into the hipster or even narcissistic hunting community. Brands like Under Armor jumped right in on the bandwagon and instantly glamorized the "Athlete" with pro staff members like Spook Span and Cam Hanes, Spook not so much anymore but Hanes has a cult like following. Not that the following is all bad, any inspiration he has on someone to get fit and healthy is a good thing, its the ego that I question and given I dont know him personally I will make no more judgments.
The Hunter Athlete, I personally like this new term coined to the hunter. It pertains more to the backcountry hunter than it does to the stereotypically Southern tree stand hunter, although it applies to all of us the same. How can you argue that getting into shape and staying healthy is a bad thing?
My thoughts on becoming a Hunter Athlete are evolving and honestly I like the idea of it. Sure it may sound corny to some of us that dont visit the vast country of the American West where this "athlete" has the advantage. But training to hunt simply makes sense to me. The East TN Mountain hunters that get out off the beaten path are naturally conditioned versus the West TN flatlander that hunts bottom land and in order to effectively hunt a given terrain your body and mind must be in the best condition possible so focus can be given to the hunt and not the obstacles that lie in the way.
-Climbing a tree stand, dragging a deer, stomping rabbits through a thicket, chasing a gobbler over and around ridges are much easier when you are in good physical condition.
-You lessen the chance of injury.
-Your mental focus increases and the true predator in us becomes more maximized.
-Feeling better simply feels better, its easier to wake up in the mornings and you have less sick days in the field.
-Training is a year round endeavor and my mental reasoning behind it is for hunting, which makes it fun.
-One of the "unattended" consequences is that it gives a new image to the hunter, thats a good thing IMO. I will take all the good we can get to shadow the little bit of bad we have.
-I say hunting is a sport; physical endurance, aptitude, and over all well being make for a better hunter/athlete.
What do you guys say about it? Im sure a lot of you shoot your bow year round, run your dogs in the off season so why not get in the best physical condition you possibly can? So many benefits to this "new" image that its hard to list them all and anything I can do to extend the years I am able to go afield and hunt I am all game for, plus the benefits extend beyond hunting as it has a positive effect on your life as a whole.
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The Hunter Athlete, I personally like this new term coined to the hunter. It pertains more to the backcountry hunter than it does to the stereotypically Southern tree stand hunter, although it applies to all of us the same. How can you argue that getting into shape and staying healthy is a bad thing?
My thoughts on becoming a Hunter Athlete are evolving and honestly I like the idea of it. Sure it may sound corny to some of us that dont visit the vast country of the American West where this "athlete" has the advantage. But training to hunt simply makes sense to me. The East TN Mountain hunters that get out off the beaten path are naturally conditioned versus the West TN flatlander that hunts bottom land and in order to effectively hunt a given terrain your body and mind must be in the best condition possible so focus can be given to the hunt and not the obstacles that lie in the way.
-Climbing a tree stand, dragging a deer, stomping rabbits through a thicket, chasing a gobbler over and around ridges are much easier when you are in good physical condition.
-You lessen the chance of injury.
-Your mental focus increases and the true predator in us becomes more maximized.
-Feeling better simply feels better, its easier to wake up in the mornings and you have less sick days in the field.
-Training is a year round endeavor and my mental reasoning behind it is for hunting, which makes it fun.
-One of the "unattended" consequences is that it gives a new image to the hunter, thats a good thing IMO. I will take all the good we can get to shadow the little bit of bad we have.
-I say hunting is a sport; physical endurance, aptitude, and over all well being make for a better hunter/athlete.
What do you guys say about it? Im sure a lot of you shoot your bow year round, run your dogs in the off season so why not get in the best physical condition you possibly can? So many benefits to this "new" image that its hard to list them all and anything I can do to extend the years I am able to go afield and hunt I am all game for, plus the benefits extend beyond hunting as it has a positive effect on your life as a whole.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
