If I were going elk hunting then I would most certainly get into shape. However, I don't elk hunt and I don't get into shape and I am a pretty smart guy and I have yet to figure how being in better shape would have helped my hunting. I can not think of one single experience where pysical conditioning was a factor in my bagging an animal. It helps when dragging a downed animal but still a non-factor in my opinion. For a great deal of my hunting career I was in excellent shape but not so much anymore. I am more successful now than I have ever been. I just don't see how physical conditioning could play a factor in my style of hunting (white tail tree stand hunting). Could you elaborate on some of the ways that a hunter in excellent pysical condition has an advatage over a hunter that is not? Maybe you can point out some things that I have over looked.