I am 58 years old and am returning for my fifth elk hunt this October: 1st rifle season in Colorado GMU 75. We hunt at about 10,500' to 11,500'. I live in Texas, north of Dallas, and hence at low altitude.

The advice you have received is good. Do as much as you can . . . but don't do MORE than you can. You can injure yourself by overtraining or pushing yourself too hard. Young people can get away with this; old people less so. If you are training hard, make sure you eat right (plenty of good protein, drink fluids) and that you get enough sleep -- probably more sleep than you usually get when you aren't losing weight and training hard. Take some rest days every so often. I usually work out 6, 7, or 8 days in a row and then take 2 days off from training.

You need some strength for the elk hunting, but it really isn't maximum strength (e.g., maximum deadlift weight, maximum press weight, etc.) that matters but rather endurance. You didn't say how you were hunting (DIY, outfitted with horses to carry you close to your hunting spot, or what). If you hunt like me, you will have to walk a lot, while carrying your rifle, while wearing heavy hiking boots, while carrying a day pack. You'll get up early (say 4:30 AM) and not go to sleep until after dark (say 9 PM). While no particular effort you do may be as intense as an exercise you do at home, you will keep doing all the work for a long time each day and for 5 or more days. The first rifle season may be five days, but you are working before the season to set-up camp and after season taking out your camp and maybe packing out your elk. Also, the altitude tends to wear you out quicker (I'm not talking about getting out of breath . . . just walking and breathing normally takes more out of you at 11,000' than walking at sea level). So endurance.

I don't ever get in good enough cardiovascular condition to not find myself breathing hard and having to stop to catch my breath on some activities, like climbing an endless hill, at altitude. I just accept that and stop to catch my breath. It hasn't thus far interfered with my hunting and bagging elk.