Question for elk hunting

[yodasheet]

Dear all,
It seems the hunting season is still a little bit far from the corner. Although I've been hunting with my family for past 4 or 5 year. Next year, I'll like to try it myself. I'm thinking about doing some training before jumping into the woods. I want to gain stronger legs and able to walk longer. So, here comes the million dollar question, what kind of exercise/routine do you guys recommend.

Cheers

 

[FEENIX]

Dear all,
It seems the hunting season is still a little bit far from the corner. Although I've been hunting with my family for past 4 or 5 year. Next year, I'll like to try it myself. I'm thinking about doing some training before jumping into the woods. I want to gain stronger legs and able to walk longer. So, here comes the million dollar question, what kind of exercise/routine do you guys recommend.

Cheers

Welcome to LRH and enjoy!

This should get you started >>> http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f132/my-100lb-plan-2016-elk-hunt-157276/

Good luck!

Ed

 

[Jerry M]

Find a hill - hike up and down. Use the boots you plan on taking. I hiked the relatively flat areas of MD and it did not prepare me for the hills. Boot fit is very important. Check to make sure you can hike down hill without banging your toes against the front of your boots. One guy in camp suffered from this problem with all of his shoes. He was a hurting pup by mid week.

Good luck

Jerry

 

[maninthemaze]

Sounds bad, but after the holidays when I have time to actually commit to a workout program, I'll be starting this one. I'm planning my first elk hunt in Montana for 2017.

Basic Elk Hunting Workout Program | Elk101.com | Eat. Sleep. HUNT ELK!

 

[Catahoula]

I hunt spring & fall black bear. Average year for me is 115 miles hiking. Last winter I cut & sold 91 cords of firewood. Other than that I just stay active. Turned 56 in August & it gets a bit tougher each year. Also hunt with my grandkids. Helped pack a 5x6 mulie buck my grandson shot 2.5 miles. It is just lifestyle. Cannot stand to sit in front of the TV.
Good luck.
Thanks, Kirk

 

[LongBomber]

That program looks decent, but I would add some cardio to that. Not grinding away on a treadmill for hours, but short sessions with the machine set at max resistance. I do intervals on my elipical at max resistance for 5 min then a short break at min, and 5 min at max again. Legs and lungs get you to the elk, your heart gets it packed out.

 

[jaeger19]

Core strength every day. Crunches. Planks. Bridges. Prone superman.
2x week stairmaster
2x week treadmill or hiking
I didnt catch your age level. But balance may be in order for mountain hunting.
3x week leg press hamstring curl knee extension. Chest press lat pulldowns. Rows. Chest flies. Shoulder press .
2 sets. With a weight you can do at least 6 and heavy enough 10 is diifficult

 

[Rick Richard]

I am 63 and hope to continue the mountain hunting as long as I can. My routine is spinning 2 or 3 times combined with weight training the other couple of days a week. A couple of months before the hunt, I will begin hiking any uphill terrain I can find so I can work on balance.

Good luck!

 

[wackinandstackin243]

I really haven't done anything in a gym that was quite like hunting and packing. The only thing that made a major difference is circuit training. For those that don't know that is going right from one strength exercise to the next without rest. It will give a more intense workout than doing strength and cardio separate in a lot less time. There are plenty of circuit programs and examples on youtube such as six pack shortcuts.

 

[Bravo 4]

Legs and lungs get you to the elk, your heart gets it packed out.

I like this sentence, so true it is! My profession requires me to stay in good(ish) shape. Along with cross training, weight lifting, biking and running we do regular 12 mile ruck marches. Adding weight makes everything totally different and if you don't train for it things get miserable quick! In saying that, I don't train with 100+ pound rucks as this will murder your body.
Also, supposedly the better shape you are in the better your body can handle changes...like altitude! That's what I keep hearing at least. If that's the truth I would hate to experience the 8,000 ft + change I do where I elk hunt not being in decent shape. It about kills me as is, at least for the first several days.

 

[Montucky Roamer]

I generally agree with all here. You can't be in too good of shape for the mountains. But it seems like whenever I get in better shape , I just end up pushing that much harder so I'm just as wiped out all in alllightbulb. Many ways and levels of fitness...I'll just post what has worked for me.
First, I fight my weight and that is all decided in the kitchen. At 250 now and plan to hit 225 this fall. Hope to you just cannot outwork a bad diet. I do a thing called CrossFit, I have fun so I can stick with it. Always got bored if I only ran or biked or did bodyweight stuff at home alone.
I also hike the hills on weekends, shed hunt, bear hunt, fish etc. But I have been adding a couple hikes per week with 20-60 pounds on the local hills also. And I love the Olympic and power lift also...That's actually my strength so I try not to focus on that but attack my weaknesses. Weight control and cardio...Have legs for days.
Anyway, we all start somewhere and we kinda need to find what we each like, can afford and most of all stick with. CrossFit and such just fits me...Been able to stick with it for about 5 years now. Fyi, the CrossFit on ESPN and our daily workouts are worlds apart and everything is scalable. Mainly move lots and eat awesome for starters..

 

[wackinandstackin243]

I agree that working out can make you feel tired all the time. The hardest part for me isn't the workout, it;s the eating. I once heard Michael Phelps ate 12,000 calories a day. When I am working out regularly 3 meals doesn't cut it. A sandwich or a protien bar in between meals helps avoid fatigue. Intense workouts and reduced intake of food = no energy.

 

[Timber338]

Dear all,
It seems the hunting season is still a little bit far from the corner. Although I've been hunting with my family for past 4 or 5 year. Next year, I'll like to try it myself. I'm thinking about doing some training before jumping into the woods. I want to gain stronger legs and able to walk longer. So, here comes the million dollar question, what kind of exercise/routine do you guys recommend.

Cheers

Your body type is going to determine what types of exercises to focus on. Attack your weaknesses.

If you are a big strong dude then focus on cardio because the strength comes natural.

If you are lean and light and running/cardio comes easy then focus on getting stronger.

If you fall somewhere in the middle then you'll need to develop both cardio and strength.

Always a happy medium, but in the end of the day, a good aerobic engine will be the #1 strength you'll want to have.