Start working on your core strength. Do planks, crunches, sit ups etc... The stronger your core is the stronger your back will be. Work on your shoulders and chest as well. Do as many push ups and pull ups as you can each day because you pack elk out on your back. Elk qtrs. will probably weigh between 60-90 lbs each depending on if it is a cow or a big bull. if you bone it that weight will decrease. Be honest and see just how far you can carry 90 lbs in a packframe right this minute. I've packed elk meat over 7 miles on my back to the trailhead. Think about that for a minute and be honest with yourself before you squeeze the trigger.

As soon as you can get away from the bike, start jogging. If you don't have hills around, use stairs. A football stadium is good for this. Work on both distance jogging (I try to do between 3 and 5 miles a day) and sprints. You may find you need to cover 100 yards really fast to get a shot and be able to shoot immediately. When you can, add weight to a pack or wear ankle and wrist weights. I also like to jog with the daypack I carry and my 7mm slung since that is how I'll be hunting. You should also jog in the boots you intend to wear hunting when you're in the shape to do so since boots will fit differently that sneakers. The time to find out if your boots will cause blisters is now and not on the hunt.

One other thing to consider is ducking, twisting etc... with a pack on. Elk can be found in some thick nasty cover and many times you can't walk upright but are moving around cover. You would be amazed how differently your muscles work depending on how you move.

Lastly, if you smoke, STOP NOW! Eat a good balanced diet and stay away from a lot of crap. Whatever you weigh right now, figure you're probably carrying at least 15-20 lbs more than you should if you like the average American. Trust me, when it comes to humping the hills for elk, every ounce will make a difference.