Getting in shape for Elk season

[Al Kidner]

I hunted Elk last season in CO and camped at 10 000 ft and hunted upto 12 000ft. I'd say I was fit enough but still felt the pinch hitting some of those mountains, but that is only natural I guess.

I like to work out almost everyday. Be it in the gym, walking the dogs or doing CV workouts (maily running and on the rowing machine).

I do a lot of pull ups (both over grasp and under grasp).. push ups, and ab/core workouts, along with weights.

I rest when I feel I need it, thats called 'listening to your body' and helps me a lot. We gain when we are resting and recovering, not when training. I see too many people starting out way to hard and getting burnt out. Do it in months, not week build ups.

I know I'd rather pay my gym membership then have cable TV !


ak.

[bearsfeet]

I do a lot of glassing so the I like to train by sitting at my desk job a staring out the window for long periods of time pretending to be watching a nice hred bull moving towards his morning bed.
All joking aside I get out and hike as much as I can.I try to find some places close by that are simalar to areas I will be going or harder. I start to get more into getting in shape with summer and scouting.

[Greg Gilliland]

Finally feeling alive again. I thought for sure the first of the week I was going to die from the flu/cold I had. Today is the first day I am feeling alive. I might even try and get to the gym tomorrow. If not for sure on Monday.

Greg

[K.S.TRAPPER]

Glad your feeling better Greg!    

I just picked up a really good treadmill and some more free weights and it sure is nice to run inside at home with all the snow and really cold temps we have been getting. Looking forward to getting on the mountain bike for a change up when the weather clears.

Now, If I can just get the wife off the treadmill so I can use it  

Tracy

[HOWITZER]

When I was "training" for a moose hunt, I brought my frame pack to work full of 90lbs worth of sand and wore it as much as possible around the office!  Though the boss got jealous that I was going on this particular hunt and got mad at me. But o well the hunt was worth a few months of uncomfortable conversations with him!  

As for the training, it went well by the end of the six months or so I wore the pack I was in good enough shape to pack out a caribou 37miles in total walking distance.

[Greg Gilliland]

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[jonathan creason]

I've never elk hunted, so take this for what it's worth.  I am, however, a competitive strongman.  During a contest our lungs and legs are tested for long periods of time.

One of the best tools I've ever found for getting my lungs and legs in shape is called the Prowler.  It's a sled that's designed to be weighted and can be pushed, pulled, or dragged.  They're pricey (about $350), but if you know anybody that welds they can be made for much less (that's the route I went).

They've even used them on The Biggest Loser the past couple of seasons.

I've got a link to the site that carries them if anybody is interested, but needless to say it's not an archery site so I wasn't sure if it was cool to put it here.

[Bowmania]

Think about the angle you knee bends when walking up a hill (Mt.).  The only exercise that comes close to that same angle is biking.  The problem with biking is that most of the time your only pushing 5, 10, 25, 45 lbs.  When your walking up the mt your pushing half your body weight.

Try a bleacher workout, but not the woosie way Gerry Rice did in that commercial.  Workout one leg at a time.  Run up the bleachers with your right leg stepping on all the seats and your left leg stepping on all the floors.  Next lap work the left leg on the seats.

I do this at a small high school field with 28 seats. When I do this workout on a 70 degree day I'm wet after 6 laps - 3 left, 3 right.

Have had guides say to me, "your in good shape for a flatlander."  More than once and I usually had 10 or 15 years on 'em.  This will work, but I think it's too hard for most to do.

Bowmania

[David McLendon]

Weights and cardio in the gym four days a week , hiking with a 35# pack 8-12 miles three days a week. Elevation at home is only slightly above 1000 ft so it is still tough.

[acolobowhunter]

Go out in the back yard and build a camp fire, get a 12 pack of beer and cigars.  Start practicing on your hunting lies.

         

[Tater]

Gene,
   When do we start working out??

                         

[Pat B]

In 2006 I was invited to hunt(first and only) the San Juan Mts of S.W.Colorado with a friend. We would be hunting between 9000' and 10000' after about a 4 mile hike in. I'm originally a flatlander but now live in the Mts of Western NC and live at 2600" so that helped a bit but most of my hunting over the years has been either in GA or Coastal SC. Most of my hunting was in warmer conditions with a little cold(for GA and SC) weather so I had to consider new hunting cloths, cold weather sleeping bag, back pack and survival gear. I got excellent info and advice from right here on TradGang.
  To prepare for the strenuous conditions of higher altitudes, etc I began a routine of hiking around my property and in the near by mountains. After I bought a good back pack I loaded it up with about 25# of gear and gradually worked up to 60#, about what I expected to carry on our trip. After a few month at lower altitudes I headed up to the Blue Ridge Parkway here in my county. The Parkway lays at about 5000' and from there I would hike up to Black Balsam Knob at 6200'. That's as high as I could get around here. I made these trips a few times with little difficulty and continued all summer around my home on daily hikes with my loaded pack and bow and arrows in hand, not only on trails but busting through the bushes, down through the creeks and back up the other side. I made my hikes as hard and strenuous as I possibly could safely.
  When I got to Colorado we drove to the trail head at 10000' and hiked down to our camp along Salt Creek at about 9000'. The first few hours of our hike were quite strenuous for me but I soon acclimatized and from then on enjoyed a wonderful 6 days slipping up and down drainages along Salt Sreek. Unfortunately this was the early season(Aug 28 -Sept 8; entire trip)and that year the elk were still above 12000'. We saw one or 2 cows and I did race a screaming bull to the creek(he was on one side, I was on the other)but he decided at the last minute to slip past unseen. Still a successful hunt, and wonderful experience!
  Walk as much as you can. Climb stairs and hills, carry the load you expect to carry on your trip and don't let up until you are ready to leave.  If you have never been in the High West be prepared to be thoroughly amazed. I remember Ray Hammond telling me how amazing the night skies out there were...and he was correct. I could hardly see the dark sky for the stars.

[Greg Gilliland]

Well off to the gym Thursday morning after work. Damn I hate night shift. Then Friday through Tuesday at the gym.

Greg

[wapiti792]

Up to 4 miles running and 30 minutes on the bike...now if only I could simulate the O2 deprevation at 11,000 feet! Keep training guys. Only 6 more months to elk country!

[K.S.TRAPPER]

Just got home from a 12 hour shift jumped on the treadmill and did a 3 mile run.       No excuses!!

Eating my 6 small meals a day and the wieght is still coming off. Another 5k race this weekend with my wife and some friends.

Like Mike said keep up the good work everybody      

Tracy

[Bonecracker]

acolobowhunter
Go out in the back yard and build a camp fire, get a 12 pack of beer and cigars. Start practicing on your hunting lies.

               

Now that's the best advice I have heard in a long time!!LOL!! This year will be my 10th trip out west and I have only drawn my bow once on a 5X5 bull! Would not trade those times for anything!!

[mnbearbaiter]

Im a huge fitness advocate! Its second only to hunting on my list, and being in good shape makes hunting more enjoyable! This will sound a tad off the wall, but im involved in MMA, and used to fight off and on in my younger days but now i only train and help others prepare! Ive never hunted elk before, but this is the year and my training will involve alot of anaroebic stuff(medicine ball circuits, cardio to the hilt, steep ground hiking with a pack on and such), and use a snorkel, with my nose plugged so i only breathe out of my mouth!

[mnbearbaiter]

It is hard to get used to, but i believe it will give a flatlander the feel of hunting in the higher elevations! The idea is it forces your body to conpensate for lack of oxygen and it does work!!! Start with a light jog to help ease into it, and eventually run stairs or treadmill it! Sounds goofy i know, but ill be in shape i can guarantee it!!!

[twitchstick]

One thing I think is important look at is the stress you put on yourself during a hunt. Besides you reglur work (what ever in my be) I think you need to minic the hours,work load,lack of sleep,ect.. you will encounter. It dose not need to be all the time just enough to break up you routine. Walk with your pack up hills up stairs ect. Stay up late one night(12.00 am) sleep on the floor,then get up real early(3.00 am) and do your workout. I know I don't always get the right sleep when I hunt. In a week of elk hunting we put are bodys through h#$% you can be in phsyical shape but not in mental shape. A hunt can get to you down pretty quick when you haven't ate right,sleep bad,haven't seen a elk in days. I like to know what my bodys limits are before I get out there. Pace yourself when you are hunting remember it not a marathon it's O.K. to take a slow day. For those that think just because you are a big guy you can't be in shape,look at me. I may not be in marathon shape but I walk ,bike,stress my body, enough to make it to the top everyday with a smile.

[Bob L.]

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