How do you prepare for elk?

[huntingbaldguy]

Curious how others prepare for elk hunting country, and the pack out.  Last year was my first hunting year, and my friend killed a 4 point rosey in SW WA.  It tested both of our resolve, and while neither of us broke, we need to condition better for this year.  Do you guys weight lift, hike with a heavy pack, etc?  Need some ideas.  I will be scouting quite a bit for deer which means a hike, and probably scout a bit for elk as well.  I just don't think that will be enough preparation.  We have 2-3 elk to get this year as we added a guy to our party.  We are determined to fill at least 2 of the 3 tags, so i can't be destroyed after the 1st pack out like last year.

[Bean Counter]

Consider a game cart if your terrain will allow for it. Much less exhausting then a pack frame. 

[RadSav]

Go down to the Home Depot parking lot and buy yourself a few Mexicans!

Other than that hike a lot with jugs of water on your back.  And get the best dang pack and best footwear you can afford!

If you are under the age of 21...buy a belt and pull your dang pants up  

[huntingbaldguy]

32.  Pants are up.  I'm in decent shape, but i had a hindquarter, the bag of backstraps and tenderloins and a rifle i packed out from a 600 lber or so (i'm guessing).  So not even a monster rosey, 3 year old or so i was told.

As for a cart, the terrain last year would not have allowed one i don't think.  It's switchbacks of soft ground and extremely steep just to get in to where we shot it.  Probably a mile in from the road. 

I'll probably hike and do core exercises like squats.  Keep the responses coming though.

[RadSav]

  on the britches

Stay very well hydrated.  Most don't drink enough fluids or eat enough calories throughout the day making it difficult to recover quickly.  Nuts, dried fruits and a snickers is not enough when working that hard.  Throw in a Jet Boil, some noodles, some Kippers, foil packs of tuna or salmon, maybe something like PowerGel and creatine powder.  As disgusting as it is at 3:30 AM...EAT BREAKFAST!!

Drinking to excess in the evenings will cause all kinds of problems with hydration, recovery and energy the next day.  So limit your intake of alcohol maybe even diuretics like coffee and soda too.  You can celebrate after all the tags are filled or you get home.

[metlhead]

Getting prepared for elk season to me is something I take very seriously. It must become part of your habit. Many miles of hiking to prepare the legs. A good place to do this is any river with summer steelies. Upper body strength? Same rivers in the drift boat! Need to build core strength for moving equipment, build another shop o r put in a garden. Cardio- lots of time swimming with the kids at the same steelie loaded river! See where I'm going with this. Some folks prepare for elk season as one would for the olympics. Good for them, and too bad for the elk. If you don't have that competitive drive and begin a regimen that requires one, failure or little return. Our summers are so short that I spend as much time goofing off as possible. Get off our butts, get outside, and become human doing. Seems to work just fine for me.

[RadSav]

Some of these Hoyt Fitness videos are pretty good.  http://www.hoyt.com/videos/index.php?c=26bb61561e734275b861554f63c12365   I've tried a few and realized I'm too old and decrepit and shouldn't even attempt   But I was able to adapt many to my broken physical limitations.  Took about a month to get used to the pain, but I felt better during hunting season.

The Daughter of my NWT guide is working with these guys.  When I was in camp it looked like most of the sheep guides were using it on their off days.  I've never used it, but Bailey is in some pretty dang good shape!
http://www.sportsmanstrainingsystem.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=featured&Itemid=101

Of course I spent a ton of time in the woods and on the water while in Oregon guiding.  But when I knew I was going to be working extra hard, like hunting Catalina, I spent a good amount of time riding bicycles plus splitting and stacking firewood.

[Nice Racks]

Wanna get in shape? Get a DVD that you may have seen on TV called T25. It's from the guy who created the Insanity program (Shaun T). Only 25 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Although I didn't get the six pack I was hoping for; I did lose quite a bit of weight, my core is as strong as it's ever been, and my cardio is better than it was when I was in my prime. I'm 50 now. The whole program only takes about 3 months. Get it now, give a 100%, stick to it, and you will be in shape to pack out an elk; if not the best shape of your life. If that doesn't convince you to try it; the woman in the workouts are pretty hot too. 

[JLS]

T25 is good, although a little too "dancy" for my taste.

I do Insanity and P90X3, trail run, mountain bike, hike, spin classes, backpack, weights.  I try to stay away from too many heavy pack training sessions.  Overdoing it with those can lead to some injury issues if you're not careful.

The biggest favor you can do for yourself is stay in shape year around.  It will go a LONG ways towards preventing training injuries.

[Wazukie]

Feed the Mules well 

[steelnducks]

 Hit the weights cleans, squats, dead lift. Calves, thighs, abs, and back mixed with some good hill runs and you will be ready for those tough packs.

[troyspinetar]

I know some like to hate on Cam Hanes, and dont want to go there again...but if you watch any of his training videos on youtube you can definitely get some great ideas. As he likes to say "train hard...hunt easy"
I do what I can when I can...working 12 hour days and kids sports on the weekends is tough for me now to get in all I want, but often I try to sneak up to a mountain for a 6-7 mile hike with the weighted pack.
Good Luck

[Lingcod]

I read a good article Jason Phelps did in a magazine last year on how he gets in shape for Elk season, so he would be a good one to ask. Running and cycling will get you in shape but not necessarily mountain shape. During the spring and summer months when hunting turkey or Bear I always fill a heavy pack about 60lbs and carry it on all my hunts. Also any hikes I go on including short day hikes I carry a heavy pack. Even when I go fishing in Alaska for two weeks this summer I will be packing a heavy pack around. I try to fill my pack with useful items I may need not just random stuff.

It's all about getting your legs and back in shape.

[jason stevens]

Load the riffle fill the pack and get up to the area you'll be hunting make as many trips as possabble all summer.lots of scouting and you'll be ready.

[JLS]

It's all about getting your legs and back in shape.

There's a little more to it than that 

If you are hunting high elevation you should try to incorporate some interval training.  There are several different components to cardiovascular conditioning that hunters should consider.  The first is obviously your base aerobic fitness (i.e long duration moderate intensity), the second is raising the point your body goes into an anaerobic state (lactate threshold training), and then interval training/high intensity interval training that spikes your heart rate with periods of recovery (allows you to go longer/more efficiently in an anaerobic state).

Leg and core strength is very important, but not everything.

[blackveltbowhunter]

     Great advice.

    Alot of good tips so far The majority of elk packs are tuff and no matter how good of shape a guys in, it seems they always "test resolve".

   You are obviously on the right track adding another person to your party, the big questions are.. Did you make sure they are in great shape? and they cant shoot for $hit? if so you have little to worry about get yourself a 6pack of tallboys and some beef jerky. Heck those guys are gonna need some rehab    

   In addition to the aformentioned excercises. A resource I enjoy and have used alot is spartanrace.com. They have daily workouts that incorporate alot of different conditioning. The nice thing is very few of the workouts require any equipment other than your body. 

[MC37493]

you guys should start training bjj (jiu jitsu) great overall workout to get you in shape for just about anything and lots of fun! if your in the north seattle area check out Gracie barra edmonds

[Big6bull]

I Shed hunt and scout year round, I never stop hiking up and down those canyons.

[WapitiTalk1]

I just hike with a pack, that's it    I'm a seasoned elk hunter (i.e., kind of an old fart) and don't have the patience or the inclination to spend time in a gym or follow specific, complex workouts.  Not saying the stuff out now is bad at all, just not my cup of tea.  I start in March/April, put on my most uncomfortable pack I own (which happens to be an old Army Alice pack), and hike at least 4-5 days after work each day.  Why an uncomfortable pack?  It makes me appreciate my best pack during hunting season  .  I start with nominal weight (25-30 lbs) and get my cardio up to snuff.  Then, when I'm starting to feel pretty damn good about myself, I start adding weight, more ups and downs on my hiking course (the downs are as important as the ups.. ask my knees how I know this) to where I have 50+ lbs in my pack and am hiking 3-4 miles each day.  Make no mistake, there is nothing that can condition a guy/gal for the elevation changes if you hunt higher country, but my simple hiking with weight routine is straight forward, easy to follow, and serves its intended purpose.   

[RadSav]

I start with nominal weight (25-30 lbs) and get my cardio up to snuff.  Then, when I'm starting to feel pretty damn good about myself, I start adding weight, more ups and downs on my hiking course (the downs are as important as the ups.. ask my knees how I know this)

You are not kidding about the downs.  When packing meat I much prefer to go steap up than steap down.  Well, unless it's so steep I can sit on my arse and slide.  Went almost two miles in BC one year and never took a step - weeeeee!!

I can not find a hill to climb anywhere near the house down here.  So I do a lot of stair climbing with the pack on.  Parking garage of the hospital is four stories which is the best I can find here.  Plus it's nice to know if I have a stroke or heart attack, which I think I'm going to have after a few hours, help is pretty close

I too like that 20-30# weight.  Then increase a month or so before season.  I don't go too much heavier on daily routines as my knees don't handle it well over the long term.  I also stop the heavy climbing a few weeks before the opener so an injury doesn't ruin my trip.  Had a friend put his training into overdrive the week before a goat hunt and then he had to cancel due to a muscle strain.  That was an expensive learning experience.

But nothing will get you prepared for thin high altitude air other than going high and hiking.

[huntingbaldguy]

Good replies guys, thanks.  I usually do a fair amount of hiking in the spring and summer.  The wife likes to hike into highlands lakes and waterfalls, and i like to fish the lakes, so we make a day or weekend of it.  This year i may have to load my pack down a bit more for practice instead of taking bare minimums.  I have been hitting the gym and doing core exercises.  I smoke cigarettes though, so i should probably work on quitting that if i want to actually reach a decent peak in cardio performance. 

We went down the hill on the pack out.  I don't know if i would prefer up, but it definitely sounds harder.  You are probably right that i didn't eat properly that morning as well, i will definitely take that to heart this year.

[hunterofelk]

The more time you spend with a weighted pack the better.  Just doing squats and core will not help the pulling, twisting and pressure the pack straps do on your shoulders and waist.  Get your body use to the discomfort.  Oh, and 600 mg of Advil.

[Nice Racks]

The more time you spend with a weighted pack the better.  Just doing squats and core will not help the pulling, twisting and pressure the pack straps do on your shoulders and waist.  Get your body use to the discomfort.  Oh, and 600 mg of Advil.

Gotta watch taking those pain pills though. I did some really intense exercise on Friday, and woke up around 2am Saturday morning with pain in my back and legs. I had some Oxycodone left over from some dental work last week and decide to take one. Daylight hit and I was having a bad reaction to the meds. I was hallucinating; seeing all kinds of weird things like talking dragons, sexy frogs, a nasty looking witch and a talking flute. Turns out, my wife had turned on the tv and was watching "H.R. Pufnstuff". After getting my mind clear, I actually enjoyed seeing that old tv show again. Judy the Frog is kinda sexy too.  Anyways, I guess my point is, watch what kind of meds you take. 

[sakoshooter]

Go down to the Home Depot parking lot and buy yourself a few Mexicans!

Other than that hike a lot with jugs of water on your back.  And get the best dang pack and best footwear you can afford!

If you are under the age of 21...buy a belt and pull your dang pants up

Good one Rad. 

[bracer40]

Hit the weights cleans, squats, dead lift. Calves, thighs, abs, and back mixed with some good hill runs and you will be ready for those tough packs.

What steelnducks says: plus get regular cardio as part of a consistent training plan. I get mine by leading several spin or cycle classes a week at the gym. Many run, hill repeats are a great workout.
As the snows melt I get up and hike with a pack. While scouting you might look for opportunities to climb or drop into the nastiest, steepest stuff you can find.
The weightlifting is helpful for building the muscles that will be screaming with every 70lb+ loads for game you can't get to with a  quad/game cart.

[GurrCentral]

Crossfit and hike as much as possible.

[SkookumHntr]

I mountain Bike ride up capital forest! Hopeing to get to a lot more this summer! Working 45-50hrs a week plus kids and sports def puts the skids to what I would like to do..

[mossyoak arrow slinger]

There are many things to help you get into shape. Pick the best exercise you enjoy and do it as much as possible.  Throw in some weight lifting like steelnducks suggest and you'll be ready in no time


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[calledinsick]

lunges, and squats no weights needed

[Rider]

Go hike Sauer's Mountain with your pack & bow............

http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/sauer-mountain

[xXLojackXx]

I take a few shots of Cow In Heat. It really wakes you up for the hunt.

[RadSav]

I smoke cigarettes though, so i should probably work on quitting that if i want to actually reach a decent peak in cardio performance.

Easier said than done for sure!  On my NWT trip I took E-Cigs with me.  That seemed to help out a lot.  Plus you don't smell like an ash tray.  Quitting being the best option, though I understand the difficulty there!

[Fullabull]

I start my season by finding a place to do lunges, I go to the local high school, do lunges for 50 yards walk fast around the field to the same point on the 50 yard line and do another 50 yards of lunges. I do this until I can do 100 yards of lunges, walk the end zone and then another 100 yards. I do this until I can do about 600 yards of lunges at 100 at a time. In the evenings I do 100 push ups, situps and stretching.

I also have a 3 mile trek I take where I walk fast up a steep hill and down the other. I then try and jog/run back up the back side which usually kicks my but. Then, once the kids are home from college we go once a week to a trail that is 2 miles up so 4 total. They are young and I tell them to just go and I try and keep up. At 55 this year it's getting tougher to keep up.

Can't wait for my son to get out of school in two years so he can carry quarters

[kbrowne14]

I would say that put a bunch of weight in the backpack and go to the gym and do the stair climber.  All the elk hunting I do is up and down all day long.

[Mtn.Ghost]

Get in the best shape you can in the time you have.
Walking, jogging, biking, hiking, ect.

Know the area you hunt like it's your backyard.
Don't overload yourself with weight and pack it tight so it's not a loose awkward pile of meat on your back.
Fighting a poorly backed load will wear you out as fast as the terrain.

Make more trips not heavier ones, sounds like there will 3 people in your party....share the load, work "smarter" not "harder" run a relay system between the three of you in a rotation to get the meat to the road. That way the meat is always being looked after and everyone is able to rest while still getting the job done in a fairly nonstop manner.

Consider packing down hill to a lower road if at all feasible. In any case take the path of least resistance use your brain to lessen the pain

The relay rotation works great, It may seem to take a little longer but it is pretty much a sustainable nonstop action and if you may be packing multiple animals during your trip you wont be nearly as beaten down from it        

[HoofsandWings]

I do not see anything about seeing the doctor for a physical. Make sure you don't have any blood vessels that need attention. Also, have the doctor check you for hernias. They don't have to be just in your groin and they can be small and not noticeable.

[Fullabull]

forgot to add, If you can find stairs climb them 2 stairs at a time as many times as you can without stopping and only on the balls of your feet, this will also help get you calves good a strong which is as important as your upper leg muscles.

[Bean Counter]

My old mizunos have about 1750 miles on them. 

  ... 

i used to run marathons in college though I never sold shoes. widespread teaching amongst coaches (who are not shoe salesmen) is to replace your kicks every 500 miles or 6 months.

[WSU]

Carry less weight?  Making an extra trip, especially if its only a mile or two, is better than carrying so much you can barely move.