Physical Fitness and Hunting....
 

Now that the off season is here or coming for most of us, this is something that has been on my mind a bit.

I just got back into hunting this season after taking about 4 years off. During that time, I was simply lazy and I let some other things slip. I've never been in 'great' shape but despite being overweight, I'm probably more athletic than average. Since August, I've been lifting weights regularly and running irregularly (around bouts of knee tendonitis) and I'm in much better shape than I was.

The question is, how important is your physical fitness to you when it comes to hunting? This is certainly a diverse community full of kids, old timers, and everyone in between. Some people climb into a shoot house and wait for deer to show up, others get into a tree deep in the woods and sit motionless for hours.

For myself, its become more important as I've really considered how I hunt and how I could be more effective...and really, what I enjoy. I remember most adventuring through the brush and finding a good spot to hunker down and wait. I like being able to follow trails all over the ranch and select the best places to pattern the game and set an ambush. I would like to be more able to climb a tree without fear of falling on my fat arse and be able to lug a deer out of the woods without needing an oxygen tank.

Since August, I've lost a significant amount of weight and gotten alot stronger. As it stands, I lift weights M/W/F and mix in running/cardio whenever. My wife and I are running a 5K in May so I need to be in shape for that.

Just curious as to what others thought about this topic.

its not a issue for me. I am active and play sports year around and I am 27. The longest walk to a tree i have from my truck is probably 1/2 a mile.

Being in shape definitely helps, where I hunt it is a wide variety of landscape from hills to strippings to swamp and open fields. I usually sit in my tree stand during archery and in my blind for the rifle season. I still like to get up an move during the midday though. The hills kick my butt when I'm bundled up and if there is snow on the ground it's twice as bad. I have made my New Year's resolution to lose at least 25 lbs this year. I'd like to lose 50 but let's be realistic for a one year period. I'm not a young buck anymore.

My physical fitness is very important to me as I hunt in a mountainous region of VA. I am usually climbing the mountain or walking up it so if I am a Fatty McFatt by hunting season, I'll be feeling it. The truck can only take me so far.

Walking the mountain usually is a workout in itself, but during the off season I do my best to walk, jog, run on a treadmill and keep as physically active as I can.

Being in shape for hunting season is very important to me because there is usually lots of hiking at high altitudes. But the past few years I have struggled staying in shape because as soon as I get in shape, I have needed a joint surgery of some sort.

For me getting off 50 lbs that I had accumulated since getting married 4 yrs ago sure maked getting up a tree in a climber so much easier!!! 50 lbs over weight climbing a tree I'd be so hot by the time I got in the tree, then would freeze from sweating and sitting still.

Just about anybody that regularly works out will tell you its far easier to stay in shape than it is to get in shape. I work out all year and nearly everyday so for me its not a big deal. But open prairie deer and antelope hunting can entail alot of long walks/stalks. Then theres elk hunting....nuf said.

Good post, Horacio!

For my personal situation, the most physically demanding thing I do is bowhunting Colorado. No road access, and we walk up to 10 miles in a day ranging from 11000 feet elevation, down to about 8500, and back again.

I have been in great shape some years, and not so great others, and I sure notice the difference when I am at a healther weight, and running more treadmill regularly.

Success can be limited by physical performance; sometimes when you hear that bull bugle, you just gotta get there as quick as you can. And sometimes, that can be pure hell!:devil:

I'm trying to be good, and hitting the treadmill every day, especially after picking up about 5 pounds over the holidays! :popcorn:

Best of Luck
Jeff

Even though the average hunter ed student is probably a teenager, we do talk about being in shape.

I can't provide the quotes because I don't have it in front of me, but there was a study in PA a number of years ago on physical fitness and hunting. They wired up 25 guys, average age 55. Most had elevated heart rates just walking through the woods. Many had rates that skyrocketed when they simply saw a deer, never mind shooting, gutting and dragging.

Getting into a tree stand definitely takes stamina, depending of course on the type of stand and all.

None of this even accounts for the (fortunately rare) instances of being lost, stranded and/or wounded in the woods, where physical makeup can also come into play. Maybe an extra layer of fat would come in handy there!

Usually not a issue for me. I play football, lift wieghts and run all year round. Even if I was out of shape, the longest walk I have is probably 1 1/2 miles so I think I'd be fine