Backcountry Fitness

[JPhelps]

What does everyone do to stay in shape?

I lift weights year round with some cardio thrown in and starting in May I will ramp up the cardio in the Gym as well as get out and ride my bike, hike with my pack on and scout.

[buglebuster]

i really dont do much, a little shed hunting in the spring and a little scouting throughout the summer. Ive never had a problem getting in deep and packing elk out of sh!t holes, and i hunt hard!

[AKBowman]

There was a thread earlier on this subject that kind of turned into a pissing match between the Crossfit guys and everyone else.

I lift at least 4 days a week, stretch, stair master and this year I am going to pack 50-100lb backpacks full of salt into my deer hunting area about 8 times.

I backpack in the summer as well. Haven't done it as much as I would have liked last year but that will change this year, My goal is to backpack in at least 4 weekends in July and August.

[7mag.]

I haven't been in shape to go the last couple of years, so I started getting ready at the end of January. I am up to 52 pounds in my pack and alternate between 3.25 miles relatively flat walk, as fast as I can keep the pace the whole time, and 1.5 miles up a pretty good grade, and back down. I have a ways to go, but I'll get there. I do this at least twice a week right now.

[KFhunter]

I'm going to put 100 pounds of rocks in my pack and hit the dunes, I'll sprint up the dunes which is a good 150 foot verticle of soft sand
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
just kidding 

[shanevg]

CrossFit baby!   

It wasn't much of a pissing match until someone tried saying CrossFit wasn't a very well rounded way to get fit.     

Yeah - that's why the military guys are using it for their fitness plans.   

[WAcoyotehunter]

Chasing hounds all winter, then lots of hiking and packing in the summer.  Coaching HS wrestling from Nov-June helps too!

[hike2hunt]

All Done in the AM then shoot about 100 or more arrows everynight after the kids are in bed.

Mon - Weights / Bike
Tue - Row Machine / Cross Fit without weights/ Eliptial / Cross Fit without weights  x4 by time
Wed - Bike / Off (if need it)
Thu - Hike biweekly / Cross Fit with Weights
Fri - OFF
Sat - Hike Family
Sun - Hike/Off

Semper Fi

[MtnMuley]

Hitting the hills with a weighted pack is the only way in my opinion to be in top shape for high country hunting.     Eating right and as much weights/ cardio as you can fit in are also important to get you ready.  "Vek" has posted before on his weight room work outs, and they're about as good as you can do in that aspect.

[JPhelps]

 I agree

I have talked with Jerry "vek" a little about conditioning for the backcountry.  We are on the same page.  Lift Heavy weights in the compound lifts (Squats, Deadlift, Bench).  Very important to get your feet and calves in shape.

[Houndhunter]

how many fitness threads are there now

[Benny]

I have heard that repeating the phrase:

"DIY, Hardcore OTC, Backcountry OYOA, Beast Mode"

ten times in a row will get yourself into the best shape of your life.

[blackveltbowhunter]

   Thats great!! 

[Ridgerunner]

I have heard that repeating the phrase:

"DIY, Hardcore OTC, Backcountry OYOA, Beast Mode"

ten times in a row will get yourself into the best shape of your life.

I've heard that it is even more effective when packing in for a hunt that you haven't trained for. 

[deerslyr]

  

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

Lift 4 days a week- back & biceps, chest & triceps, legs, and cadio. Then scouting times comes & it's less time in weight room & more in the woods. 

[wrongway]

I lift 16oz 4 times a day while reading all the poasted topics

[asl20bball]

Lift. Run. Shoot.

Lots of running for cardio and it keeps your feet from getting sore when hunting. Also, I've found that if you stretch every night for 5-10 mins it really helps recovery time when your muscles do get sore. 

Evergreen Trail Runs has some good running events around the greater Seattle area. I plan on doing at least a couple of these organized runs myself.

[BLUEBULLS]

I hunt to stay in shape. 

[AKBowman]

CrossFit baby!   

It wasn't much of a pissing match until someone tried saying CrossFit wasn't a very well rounded way to get fit.     

Yeah - that's why the military guys are using it for their fitness plans.   

Oh geez here we go again...if it works for you that's awesome, definitely a butt kicking workout!

[BullMagnet76]

I lift 16oz 4 times a day while reading all the poasted topics

Gotta love the 16 oz curls!!!!

[TheHunt]

I do not think there is crossfit place in Puyallup that takes fat *censored*s like me.   

[washelkhunter]

I run down renegade ATV'ers and paint their tires pink.   

[hunting4sanity]

I haven't made it to in shape yet, but for starters I quit seeing my Dr. 

Me and Dr. Pepper go way back, so it was a tough sacrifice for me.  I really thought cutting that many cans a day out would make the pounds just fall off - some but not much, so I've given in and started exercising.

[head hunter]

run 16 miles a week. lift weights and shoot riffle, and the bow.

[SemperFidelis97]

I lift four days a week, and I usually run atleast 3 days a week same I switch to a much more cardio centered workout about a month before season.  I have never had many issues covering tough terrain.  The wife wants to start running all these Warrior Dashes, and Tough Mudder deals this summer we shall see how much that helps.

[jstone]

I have different weighted sand bags that i got from the job. I strap them to a pack board. It works very well. I start at 50 pounds then by hunting season i am up to 100lbs. I go around 3 miles up and down. Walk as fast as i can. People give me strange looks all the time. Its funny. I also lift weights 3 to 4 times a week and do H.E.A.T at the YMCA. Great workout. Lost 20 pounds in 2.5 months. I am at the weight i want know, just start lifting Heavy.

[supagoose]

i find that no matter how much i train it doesnt get me ready for the hunt. the only thing that helps is seeing a bull elk or buck or bigfoot on the other side of the mountains.

[kglacken]

I train for good health, but mainly for hunting and baseball.
I lift 4-5 days a week and do abs on off days. I run 3 days a week and bike on other days when I feel extremely motivated.
When I lift I lift extremely heavy for about 6 reps. 3 sets of the exercise and i will do 3 to 4 exercises per muscle group
When I run I mix it up. jogging long distance does not work my body enough (in my opinion and experience). I do interval training and different agility drills to help with that. I take glutamine pills to aid in recovery. Fast absorbing protein helps build muscle quicker. And most importantly I shoot a lot.
You can do all the training in the world to GET CLOSE to an animal, but if you cant shoot, you wont be successful.  In the words of Cam Hanes... Train Hard. Hunt Easy!

[WapitiFreak]

I just follow my 3 yo son around and do what ever he does for a half hour or so and then pass out from exhaustion.

[hirshey]

I'm fortunate in the aspect of backcountry fitness; my work provides me all the practice I need for the hunting season. During the winter/spring months, though, I try to maintain by lifting weights at least 3 times a week along with intermixed runs, swims, and bike rides. When it starts becoming a chore rather than fun, I take a break and hit the hills for some photography/shed/coyote hunting.. if there's one thing I have learned about maintaining a healthy attitude towards personal fitness.. it's that you have to enjoy your workouts, or you're bound to burn out. Finding something that YOU can stick to is the most important aspect..

I have to admit sometimes its nice to have someone tell you what to do and keep you motivated... either a personal fitness instructor, workout partner, or a workout DVD can help push you a little further than you would on your own. P90X and Insanity workouts are pretty fun on a poor weather day.

[Kain]

I hunt uphill from the truck.   

Just playin.  I have lost 37 lbs since last Sept.  Diet and weight training  and cardio/conditioning four days a week.  I dont do much back country hunting though.  I hunt with my dad and it is getting harder for him to do the hills and holes we used to. 

[Fishnfowler]

I fish all summer when I'm not working in the yard.  Then I deer hunt to get in shape for chukar season.  After that I ski all winter.  About the time that wraps up, turkey season opens up and then, whaddayaknow, it is fishing season again. 

[zackmioli]

been going to the gym 5-6 days a week for the past 9 months. dropped about 25lbs of fat while adding about 10lbs of muscle. ill start increasing the amount of cardio i do in the next month or so to get prepared for hunting. along with being able to get out and get some hikes/scouting trips in. low carb/high protein diet to lose the fat and increase muscle. i use the stair climber at the gym at least once a week for 30 minutes minimum. normally do around 2.5 miles in 30 minutes.

[mazama]

I put on a nice fat roll in winter so i don't have to pack so much food,now that iam over 60 i have taken time to sit and look,being slower i see more animals now.

[slayasher]

CrossFit baby!   

It wasn't much of a pissing match until someone tried saying CrossFit wasn't a very well rounded way to get fit.     

Yeah - that's why the military guys are using it for their fitness plans.   

Oh geez here we go again...if it works for you that's awesome, definitely a butt kicking workout!

CrossFit is a GPP program. General Physical Preparedness. Ready for anything. It works for everyone from the elite SEALs to the house wife. Scaling the workouts to fit your condition is the secret. Keep the INTENSITY. Running around with a pack on is a great idea... In fact throw a pack on with a little weight anytime you want and do a CF workout. I like to train like I'm playing a sport. Its dubbed "the sport of fitness." Join a CrossFit gym for three months and learn the movements. It will change your life, or how you view training.