What do you do to get into elk hunting shape?

[wmidbrook]

Curious what some others do here to condition for elk hunting...

I've started to hike a lot in the Wasatch area again but have slacked off on the treadmill...would rather hike any day. This pic was after hiking up about 4,000 verticle feet over 3 miles (very steep trail) and it almost kicked my butt. So far for 2007, Bill 1 - Mt. Olympus 0. The trailhead is about 10 minutes from work and half an hour from my house. I found a herd of elk the other day but quite a ways from this spot....I'll try to get some good game pictures up in late July/August with something better than my el cheapo (and very light) PDA cam.

The city is about 4,000 feet below @ around 4,500 above sea level. I'm at about 8,800 ft in the pic. I think the peak in the background goes up to almost 12,000 feet.

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[Amax]

hiking does it for me.

 

[richardoutwest]

Ride a mountain bike, being in the field all year a-round, stadium steps, lots and lots of water, and the DRIVE just to do what we do!

 

[Monsterbull]

I live in a semi-urban area, fairly flat with no convenient opportunities for hiking the hills. So, I put in a minimum of 30 minutes every day of aerobic exercise and work up to an hour minimum a few months before the season. I have a large daypack which contains my truck tire chains and 100oz water bladder -- about 36 lbs -- and three times a week hike up and down my office building's fire stairwell. That's the best thing I can do to mimick a steep hike and get a good "burn". Then, between those days I run. Once summer rolls around, I'll include fully loaded scouting trips into the wilderness to top off my prep.

 

[One Track]

Hi Bill:

Nice photos. Looks like a great place to excercise.

I give my kids three mile rides on the pack frame. I have the old school Cabelas frame with a shelf. That can stand up and enjoy the ride. I live in a hilly part of town, so I definitely get the burn going. I guess it's about time to start that routine. I need to drop 20 before September.

 

[lostagain]

I use a daypack loaded with 40lbs of lead shot and a water bladder. I walk around my nieghborhood up any hills I can find each evening for about an hour.

 

[Oregon Archer]

Tae Kwon Do class 2-3 days a week(been slacking on it though due to baseball season) and I try and run also. I'm a pretty lean guy already so it doesn't take me long to get into hunting shape thankfully lol.

 

[ElkSlayer50]

Uh... put fuel in the truck

 

[WapitiBob]

Quit eating those little Debbie pies.

 

[Chamokaneric]

I've been trying to do something (walk, jog, stairmaster, jog) 3-5 times a week for the 40-60 minutes. At least once or twice a week I've had a 40lb sack of feed on my backpack.

 

[tmoniz]

Walk every evening and go to the range a lot.

 

[Zbearclaw]

I tell my wife next year I am after elk, that works for me.

My 19month old and 4L of water make a great workout in his backpack, 1000ft up and down with him is fun for both of us, and a great workout, total weight somewhere around 40lbs, 31 before the water.

Last time out he saw his first, and my second, Kali king snake, I tried to catch it with him on my back but almost busted my arse, which meant bad things on the steep ridge I was on so I chose to snap some pics with my phone, and talk to Colton about it, he loved it, he actually saw it the same time I did, kid has an eagle eye.

 

[Buck-eye]

Those Cal King's are beautiful snakes. Fl has nada for hills. I just bust my arse doing manual labor around the house until I draw a tag. Then, I let go of ice cream, and hit the 95 degree streets for some weighted walks. There is an article in American Hunter on what to do to get in climbing shape. Good stuff.

 

[quack_head]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ElkSlayer50 @ Jun 2 2007, 02:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Uh... put fuel in the truck

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[dw33]

 

[d'hunter]

running 3-5 about 4 or 5 nights a week.