Originally Posted by
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Bad assumption. Horses only take you so far. You may very well find yourself having to make a quick 1/2 mile to a full mile jaunt to get into a shooting position. You won't be shooting from the back of a moving horse. Remember, this jaunt may very well be at 10,000+ feet while carrying at least a rifle and probably a daypack. Can you make that jaunt right now and still be able to shoot accurately the minute you get to where you are going? Be honest about this because elk can live in some really rugged country.
My suggestion is to go to something like a football stadium and jog up and down the steps with at least a 30 lb pack on your back and something close to the weight of your rifle in your hands. Don't forget to wear the same boots you intend on hunting in. Work on that until you can do it without becoming too winded. Then you can really start working out. Get to where you can do at least 30-40 sets of stadium steps (not single flights like in a regular building). You don't say where you are from but hunting the Rockies is going to be a lot different from what you are used to.
yes i can do that. i do it now during long range matches. most of the time we need to run between targets to make up time. ive also competed in 3 tough mudders so i feel im in good enough shape to do the hunt already. ive never been at that elevation so thats my only concern , but i feel it can be overcome that as well. when i said i climb 6 flights of stairs its a continues stair system and im actually running those stairs, not hiking, with 2 45lb plates on my back. run up and down 3-4 full sets.
this is on top of my regular workout
that said im not taking anything for granted because i dont live out there and cant train in that particular environment