Elk Season Conditioning.... How's Yours?

[WapitiTalk1]

Wow, where has the time went? It's almost upon us. If season were to start tomorrow, how would you rate your current state of elk woods/mountain conditioning for the type of hunting you do?

Level 1. I stay in shape year round, that's what I do. I can throw my ruck on tomorrow and be after them.
Level 2. Pretty darn decent but not quite to the level I feel is needed.
Level 3. Just started with mine. I'm hurting if season started tomorrow.
Level 4. Conditioning? I'll start soon, really
Level 5. Call 911 if I don't return to the truck in 30 minutes.

[Swede]

I am at the 2 level. I think a little time scouting will help. At least I will know if I am at a two or just wishing.

[cnelk]

Level 2 - But not far from Level 1.

Going scouting this Friday so that will give me a good barometer too.
After all, Im another year older, trying to catch Swede

[ctdad]

Level 2 but close to 1. I go scouting in a couple weeks so that will be the litmus test.

Been working out a lot more last few weeks. I'll be mtn fit by sept no problem

[mtnmutt]

Level 3

In early July, I will be at level 2 after a backpacking scouting trip. Work caused a delay for my first scouting trip which was planned for June.

[JGH]

Close enough to Level 1 that I have other concerns to work on ...

Fitness ... work out darn-near daily.

Shooting ... needs work, but progressing. Broadhead tuning about 80% done ... just fine-tuning now.

Horses ... wonderful shape ... they'll be doing the Bighorn 100 (100 miles in 1 day with 36,000' elevation change) in July.

Scouting ... will work more on that this weekend. Headed to a relatively new spot to weight the ups and downs there as a "Plan B".

Calling ... practice on the way to work every day ... getting better, but still need work. This is my weak spot.

Gear ... don't need a thing but maintenance is important. Could do more rifle work/reloading, and shooting.

[mds]

I'm a solid 3. In fact I'm about to go on my first weighted ruck run in months...

[otcWill]

1. always ready

[BrentLaBere]

I like how JGH broke it down.
With simply the fitness level I would put myself at a 2 really close to 1. That could change, however, when I make the first scouting trip out west at the end of July to my new hunting area. I will be taking a week rest before the 26th, like mtnmutt had suggested in a past thread. I am expecting to be at level one by then and hopefully taking it up another gear for the last month and repeat that week break before September 7th.

[Huntography]

Level 4

Time to get in shape.

Rudy

[elkmtngear]

I'm a "2+" (or a "1-").

I have a year round workout routine, I just need to add the pack to my workouts starting in a couple weeks.

[dotman]

Level 3 and selling our house right now isn't helping.

[elkaholic]

Between a level 1 and 2. Shooting as much as I can and studying maps. I like to stay in mtn shape year round. Scouting trips can't come soon enough.

[pointysticks]

mine is incredible!! i stayed with the fittest hiker, and sometimes even smoked him to the top. cresting 11,000 feet, i started off breathing heavy, but once i settled in, my pulmonary, respiratory, and body muscle synced up..and i was a hiking machine. i was laughing and talking the entire time over the summit. i felt GREAT!

sadly, i dont know if i will maintain it. i live at 67 feet elevation and my recent 9 day acclimation (to high elevation) will soon fade. i have a bow hunt at 11k again in august. august 21 is opener..i will be ready yet again, and come sept..whatever i am hunting is gonna be chased.

[bnsafe]

im a 2 plus. I could go right now and do fine, but want to push myself more and def hike with wt on for a couple mos. I do an hour of cardio three times a week and lift three times a week.

[dapper]

Level 1

Exercise over an hour a day, haven't missed a day since Christmas eve day. I'm as ready as an old fart can be.

[JJ Overkill]

2+ I still get winded when I run up 6 flights stairs at work with my tools. going to put some boots on the ground, do some scouting and build up my cardio.

just wondering, how often do you really move fast when out elk hunting? im usually slow and cautious when stocking the woods. I can see a few scenarios where I would move rather fast.

[Slim jim]

2 trying to be a 1. I lift weights three days a week. Walk three miles a day at work during my lunch. Hike once a week for 6-10 miles with 60+ lb pack above 8000'. Ride my road bike for 30+ miles once a week and a 45min spin rpm class once a week. Oh ya and shoot my bow 5 days a week

Next is diet, I eat decent year round but I cheat about three to five meals a week. Hardly ever fried foods or desserts but pizza, burgers and other cheesy salty foods is my weakness. The diet will start getting strict after 4th of July. I'll try losing about 5 lbs so that it will be that much less weight up the mountain

[dotman]

Wow, where has the time went? It's almost upon us. If season were to start tomorrow, how would you rate your current state of elk woods/mountain conditioning for the type of hunting you do?

Level 1. I stay in shape year round, that's what I do. I can throw my ruck on tomorrow and be after them.
Level 2. Pretty darn decent but not quite to the level I feel is needed.
Level 3. Just started with mine. I'm hurting if season started tomorrow.
Level 4. Conditioning? I'll start soon, really
Level 5. Call 911 if I don't return to the truck in 30 minutes.

So RJ we all answered . Where is your answer

[WapitiTalk1]

I'd say a 2 (-). Been rucking and biking. Getting close Pictured is my patented light elk stomping/calling technique. Works every time. I may have a bit more conditioning to do

Sumo.jpg (65.01 KiB) Viewed 10513 times

[Z Barebow]

I'd say a 2 (-). Been rucking and biking. Getting close Pictured is my patented light elk stomping/calling technique. Works every time. I may have a bit more conditioning to do

Sumo.jpg

Phantom- It looks like you are getting ready to mark your territory!

[WapitiTalk1]

Phantom- It looks like you are getting ready to mark your territory!

Shhhhh.. that's supposed to be a secret elk attractant strategy. Of course, drinking a pint of bull whiz the night before the hunt is the catalyst for this method. Now I've really spilled the beans.. Everybody's gonna try it.

[Lefty]

I must be a ten or an 11. My pedometer says Im up to 1871 steps today.
Its been 15 days since my hip replacement surgery. Last night my bum leg made it into the pickup without assistance ( still hurt but I made it) . I sent the walker and crutches back to storage.And I can put on my underwear, pants and moccisins on by myself if given enough time
My goal is a mile on my own on Monday

[wideangle]

Level 2. I can always be stronger or have more endurance.
I have been doing a basic strength regimen this winter/spring.
Squats, deadlifts etc.
I swim and cycle regularly.

[lang]

2+, and like mentioned above always good to go, but still wanting that next level. I think most of us just run out of time between family and jobs. I just started the running thing after adopting a 10 yr old shorthair (more like a two year old of any other breed), but have always played hard in the offseason to keep in decent shape.

[POk3s]

I live at a 2 and lift a few times a week. Conditioning is my worse enemy. I can't even shed hunt for exercise as it just bores me since I never find anything! Being 6'1" and 22 years old has it's advantages. Sooner or later I'm not going to be able to say that anymore but for now I still get called the mountain goat even without much Cardio. I usually make myself start running in August so that my lungs don't need any "mountain time"

[Z Barebow]

1-2. I run year around so my cardio is good. Started hiking with the weighted pack several weeks ago. I am working out/doing something at least 6 days a week. (Even if it is mowing my lawn with my pack.

PKO3. Elk hunting is what got me into running. In my youth, I relied upon my youth. The older I became, it was harder and harder to erase a few years of sins in a couple of months. So I picked up running, so I could be in shape year around.

[Vanish]

I'm a 2-

Well, I've done some backpacking already this summer so I know my legs are doing ok, but yesterday I ran a couple of miles. The lungs are definitely out of shape. I need some new shoes for both though :/

[bowhunterty]

I'm a 2. Maybe by hunting season I will be close to a 1. With some backing trips and more time in the gym will help me along.

[bowpackerrob]

Level 2 for sure, need to fine tune my shooting to be complete before the season