How do you prepare for elk?

[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


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[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