Whatever it is worth
 

I noticed South Korea was looking at its military training for newbies and made a change. It increased the basic training from five to eight weeks and increased training in a week, from five days to six. That nearly doubled the time to train the newly inducted civilians.

I instantly thought of hunting. In our case, we have many different types of hunters. Many getting older and not in the physical shape of a twenty year old paratrooper. Yet all get on a web site and consider themselves a hunter or sportsman, regardless of their physical training methods.

In the off season, I always considered walking and hiking part of the hunting process. It was not only good for my health; it was good for my hunting. When I decided to cart a tree stand into the hunting woods, I made sure I increased the walking. Near forty, I didn't jump happily in the air, saying how happy I was going to be, carrying a tree stand. And if I didn't keep in shape, leaving one tree stand behind could mean, running into tree stand rustlers.

You don't just make the jump from "civilian" in one easy move. And you don't automatically get your hunters badge, and are fit to hike into the outdoors. My thoughts. Whatever it's worth.

I realized just how out of shape I was this year dragging a deer only a 1/4mile just to where I could get it to the truck.....I really should start field dressing for when I have to actually drag one rather than drive to, or take the 4wheeler to it lol.

You guys out west have my respect, though I do believe a load on the back would be much easier than dragging through waist high weeds and across a knee deep creek with steep banks.

My goal for this years off season is to get better in shape and spent lots more time in the woods. I hunt on public land which means alot more work getting that deer back to the truck. I had a deer cart but it was still tough. I had to pull that deer a mile out of the woods and by time I got back to the truck I thought I was going to die!

It really does not matter what kind of shape you are in when you get older. Even in good shape it kicks your butt to drag one out. Three years ago I shot a big bodied deer and started to drag it out. We used to be able to drive back there so I know it was about 2 1/2 - 3 miles. The drag out of the woods was not to bad, but the railroad tracks were real bad. For the first time I set my pack and gun down and drug the deer about 100 yards and then went back to my pack and gun and repeated the process. I was not in worse shape than the year before, but that year was the turning point for age. I'm pushing 60 now and bought a cart after that experience, but it is only good to use on dirt roads or railroad tracks. I have to admit, I think twice about where I am at when I shoot a deer now, especially if the weather is warm.