1 October 2008
Getting Fit to Hunt
Posted by Darrell under: Blog Posts of Note .
I’m leaving to hunt Elk in New Mexico soon! I absolutely cannot wait. As you all know, there is a lot of work that goes into preparing for a hunting trip. Cabellas and Bass Pro are both profiting from my preparations.
I’m going to be hunting at an elevation that is about 6,000 feet higher than where I live. I will likely be carrying a heavy pack on steep terrain at high elevation. When the time comes to take a shot, I’ll need to be able to control my breathing. This means my lungs will need to be ready. I’ve been doing my best to prepare. I’ve been working out pretty hard each week for the past few months and I think I’m close to ready. I realize that the overall success (and my level of enjoyment) of my hunt might come down to how fit I am!
I’ve been working out with a personal trainer - Ernie. He has been working on my overall fitness level instead of concentrating on making me look like a muscle head from the gym. His training focuses on building endurance while building strength. I would not be able to complete most of our sessions if it wasn’t for the breathing techniques he has been teaching me. It is amazing how much of your overall power comes from your ability to breathe.
Ernie started his own blog a few weeks back and has some lofty goals. One of his goals is to become a proficient hunter. He also wants to help people, in general, to become more fit. He has been fascinated with the specific fitness needs of hunters and is planning on blogging about tips and ideas to help them become more fit.
His first hunting related blog post included a workout that will be especially helpful for archery hunters by strengthening your core. I urge you to check out his post at his blog EyeOfTheTigerFitness.com and welcome him to the world of hunting! He has promised many future articles specific to hunter’s fitness needs.
Here is a recent article that appeared in one of our local magazines about Ernie.
4 Comments so far...
Kristine Shreve Says:
2 October 2008 at 7:32 am.
I think this is a great thing. I knew a hunter who had a heart attack and died on a hunt. He simply wasn’t fit enough to be doing what he was doing.
I’ll keep an eye on Ernie’s blog. It will be interesting to see what he writes.
Tom Sorenson Says:
2 October 2008 at 1:29 pm.
Good for Ernie on becoming a hunter! And good luck to you, my friend. The bulls were there for us this year here on the home front, but we didn’t close the deal - would like to see someone take one down and ship all the meat to the following address….:) If you’ve never eaten elk, you are in for a treat - providing that you get one. Again, good luck - and take lots of pictures for the sake of your blogging friends!
mike ansel Says:
2 October 2008 at 8:03 pm.
Probably the most overlooked aspect of making sure one has a “safe” hunt. You can’t sit behind your office chair all year, and then go out and do “battle” with mother nature. At some point in time you will loose! Shot straight Darrell and enjoy the heck out of your upcoming adventure.
mike ansel Says:
2 October 2008 at 8:04 pm.
Probably the most overlooked aspect of making sure one has a “safe” hunt. You can’t sit behind your office chair all year, and then go out and do “battle” with mother nature. At some point in time you will loose! Shoot straight Darrell and enjoy the heck out of your upcoming adventure.
Subscribe to Full RSS 
