2026 What did you do today to prepare for hunting season

[Lefty]

I like this thread last year and it sometimes motivated me to do more each day.

I was also a BoyScout leader for 27 years,,, so the motto "Be Prepared" has been a life time montra for me.

[Lefty]

My health continues to get better and better. Daily Ive been stretching and using dumbells as part of my stretching
Saturday I hiked into an area ( bumped the resident bull elk) I was huffing and puffing ,,, But felt fine after a nap in the sun.
Today I shot a couple rounds of arrows . Shot 5 arrows at 20 yards at 2 target dots,,, Not doing that again,, nearly shot some arrows.
So out with the spray paint : 9 new target dots on the target.

Im just not preparing for elk season,, I have bear and turkey starting next week
And I plan to set a real trapline or two next year so I need to get going on Marten boxes

[Tigger]

Well I have my applications in. Other than that, not much. Unless you count coming here and perusing the elk forum. I think that counts.

As we get older, paying attention to our bodies becomes more and more important. Years ago, you just grabbed your stuff and went. Need to run? Take off. Now if you do that, you will pay the next day. A physical therapist buddy once told me, "When you first start working out after a time without working out, make it ridiculously easy. That is great advice.

Working out is not fun. I am not one that likes to work out for the sake of working out. So, I have found some activities that are fun while providing a workout. Shed hunting is great. I have rediscovered riding bicycle. Rucking adds a new twist. Find a partner. Push each other. But get off your lazy butt and do something.

My elk hunting buddy and I often talk about how elk hunting has helped our health. It provides the motivation.

[WapitiTalk1]

Walked 18 holes yesterday, some decent up/downs on this course. Took the pups for a walk on the property today. It’s that time of year that I find “something” physical, whether it’s the treadmill or even pushing the mower every day. Oh! Got a new hunting hat today; I’m trying to update my antiquated hunting cap collection

[Swede]

I got out early for my daily three-mile walk. This evening I will be doing some exercises to strengthen my arms and shoulders. That seem to help relieve my arthritis, so I can draw my bow back a little easier. Every other day I draw my bow back ten times in short order so I will be able to do it just once when some bull elk come near my stand. I am in no big hurry to go back to hunting with a gun.

[Lefty]

I got out early for my daily three-mile walk. This evening I will be doing some exercises to strengthen my arms and shoulders. That seem to help relieve my arthritis, so I can draw my bow back a little easier. Every other day I draw my bow back ten times in short order so I will be able to do it just once when some bull elk come near my stand. I am in no big hurry to go back to hunting with a gun.

Swede
I do not have artritis Check with a good PT might be able to loosen you up and reduce your pain.

[7mmfan]

I ruck almost daily. I'm lucky enough to have a large hill right by my house. 1/2 mile long, 300' of elevation gain. I leave my house at 5 am and do the hill 3 times and then circle back to the house with a final tally of 4 miles and just under 1000' elevation gain. I've been doing it with a light 20# pack since December. Occasionally on the weekends I put my 2 year-old in the kid carrier and do it.

I supplement these with weight training a few days a week.

Buddy of mine signed up for the Exo-Mountain gear contest and one of the challenges he has to complete is 24 miles in 24 hours. We're planning a 27 mile loop in the Pasayten wilderness in June. Going to be a great time.

[Swede]

Swede
I do not have artritis Check with a good PT might be able to loosen you up and reduce your pain.

Thanks Lefty. I have been going on that advice as best I can. Sometimes I find myself getting tired and my form is less than perfect then.

[six]

Most of my miles are walking with my wife after work. It's a great stress reliever for both of us. My dog goes evertime and the leash is like crack to her. I alternate between a 20 pound pack and walking sticks that weigh 4 pounds a piece. I'm looking to get some heavier walking sticks. The stix really improve the cardio.

[Lefty]

went shopping


Spent some planning time for future hunts, 2-3, 4 years

[RanchoSueno]

Bought a half dozen of new arrows, new broadheads and cleaned my pack. Otherwise just working horses and selling goats hoping I can do the addition to the front of the house AND an elk hunt while also chipping away at other side quests

[WapitiTalk1]

Shot a good handful of arrows. Had to adjust the sight a bit with the slightly heavier arrows and the new string on the bow. All in all, a good day

[Elkhunttoo]

Yard work

Then went for an 11 mile jog…running a marathon in 3 weeks

[Indian Summer]

Not today but a week ago I applied for my first ever Colorado hunting license. I hope to burn my 14 points and draw a pretty good mule deer tag. If I do I have high hopes of hanging the tag in a big old buck. I always wanted to take a mature mulie. The hunt is in mid d December with very high success rates. I’m pretty excited about this one.

[WapitiTalk1]

Not today but a week ago I applied for my first ever Colorado hunting license. I hope to burn my 14 points and draw a pretty good mule deer tag. If I do I have high hopes of hanging the tag in a big old buck. I always wanted to take a mature mulie. The hunt is in mid d December with very high success rates. I’m pretty excited about this one.

Nice. Good luck mister.

[Lefty]

Recieved a damaged jacket from under warranty ,,, hung it in the closet,
Put protection conditioner on my new boots,
Put few items from my camper into the archery hunt storage box
Reorganizing the camper for what ever comes next before elk season.

Dropped off a couple containers for bear baits,,

[WapitiTalk1]

Lefty, I must have missed it.. what new boots did you decide on? I did my annual selection of special hunt applications In the Evergreen state. Moose, quality elk, bull elk, quality deer, etc.

[Lefty]

Lefty, I must have missed it.. what new boots did you decide on? I.

Kenetrek 400 gm Mountains Extremes
My goal is to wear them out in 5 years

[WapitiTalk1]

Lefty, I must have missed it.. what new boots did you decide on? I.

Kenetrek 400 gm Mountains Extremes
My goal is to wear them out in 5 years

Damn nice choice, they’re rock solid boots.

[WapitiTalk1]

Sanded and stained my wrap around deck the last few days. Lots of crawling around on knee pads and sanding/staining . Feeling a bit of it tonight, lol. Also shot a handful of arrows… starting to shoot pretty well again.

[Tigger]

Shot the first 6 arrows of the season and then my hands were cold. So I quit.

[Lefty]

Ive been sickly isn't do much of anything the past 3 days.
Need to get ahead of yard and pasture work now.
Shoot a few arrows Fridaym,, it just wasnt in me. Saturday I lock tite tarket tips on to 11 arrows

Nearly cleaned up all my orchard clippings today
I would like to put everything completely ready to drive off with the camper,,,
Really a n9ice day, may go and check the zero on my 7mm, and reduce the number of .22 shells too , And Daisy need dogfood, the truck needs an oil change

[RanchoSueno]

Working on the house porch addition. Trying to get some renovations done by the time tags start getting drawn sent home one baby goat over the weekend, two more go home next week and then I have a few client horses I am working to save up some fuel money

[RanchoSueno]

Shot my bow last night in the fading evening light. It blows my mind how much easier it gets each season getting back in the groove. Had a half dozen arrows built back in February. Now just waiting on valkyrie to ship my broadheads, outserts and practice tips.

[Old school]

Ate a big banana split from Braums - preparation for the celebration after a successful hunt. Lol

[Tigger]

Great idea Old School. I think I need more practice in that department.

[Swede]

I went on another three mile hike this morning. It keeps my legs in shape, but it doesn't do as much to increase my heart rate as going to the grocery store shortly after and then to the gas station. Regular gas is $4.879. That even brings up my BP which I don't really care for. $80 in groceries includes no meat and is still an easy carry out. Ouch!

[>>>---WW---->]

Ran 5 miles yesterday and did upper body weights today. I'll work on lower body tomorrow.

(NOW IF YOU'LL BUY THAT I'll THROW THE GOLDEN GAIT IN FREE)

[Tigger]

regular gas is 3.69 here.

I really like Old School's idea of practicing the celebration. We, as WapitiTalk forum members, really need to set a shining example of how to celebrate and the only way to do that is through practice. Ice cream, a beer for some, ice cream, a cocktail for some, ice cream, relaxing, ice cream and probably a heaping helping of ice cream is a good place to start.

[RanchoSueno]

$4.29 a gallon here.. atrocious. Fortunately, my client ponies are swapping from travel training to on-property so I don't need to commute

[RanchoSueno]

Nothing gets you excited for the new season to come like the taxidermist calling to let you know your mount is ready for pickup

[Tigger]

Is that a miniature mold of you in red a moment before you released the arrow on top of the door frame?

Yes, yes, it does. I got my antler mount back recently and it made me want to go sit in my stand.

[Swede]

Nice buck Rancho. I like the rustic window casings you have. I think they make a house look more like a home than an office or hospital.

[RanchoSueno]

Nice buck Rancho. I like the rustic window casings you have. I think they make a house look more like a home than an office or hospital.

Thank you!! I tried to build the whole interior with a modern cabin vibe. Been quite the process but it's really came together. Hahahaha I hadn't even noticed it Tigger, good eye

[Lefty]

Is that a miniature mold of you in red a moment before you released the arrow on top of the door frame?
.

Ive seen her before but not on the top of the door jam

[Elkhunttoo]

Ran a Marathon yesterday…still on my fitness journey but it was a good step…I will be putting in for rifle hunts over the next few weeks

[WapitiTalk1]

Ran a Marathon yesterday…still on my fitness journey but it was a good step…I will be putting in for rifle hunts over the next few weeks

You’re the man! Where are you putting in for tags?

[Elkhunttoo]

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Just putting in for a rifle bull hunt in the area I archery hunt. One of the guys in our group is non resident and doesn’t have a tag so this is about his last chance at getting a tag. If I don’t draw I will archery hunt the same area….its a win win for me either way

[WapitiTalk1]

Congrats on the 26 mister and good luck on the tag!

[Thegreatwapiti]

I spent the last 72 hours building me a new "living quarters " for hunting season. Im about 75% complete but have a few months to finish the details.

[Swede]

I have heard of and fooled around with bare shaft tuning and broadhead tuning where the shooter checks the holes in a paper target after shooting 3 feet, 6 feet and 9 feet away. These checks include cutting the arrow shaft multiple times to get the spine just right. This process takes all day and even days. The problem is things change with the shooter including your stance and the clothes you wear, the temperature, wind, and heaven forbid we change something on our bow or arrow.
Today I checked my bow out for the first time since last season. The drop away rest is set for arrow level. The windage is set 13/16 inch left of the riser (center shot). I have a new string loop. After ten minutes of "tuning" I am good to go.

[Lefty]

Im doing barbell stretches' everyday,
I consider trapping part of hunting too, Been putting together some conibear marten trapping boxes.
And maybe My biggest thrill,, My cord grass germinated,,.. Im planning on harvesting it as a goose blind grass from now to eternity

[Lefty]

Trying to clean out the bear bait freezers

[Elkhunttoo]

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Just a little over 100 days left and I’m starting to get the itch. Some time in early June I’m hoping to go up and see what I have on my trail cameras

[RanchoSueno]

Added another packer to my string ! Waited 11 months to the day for him to make his arrival and boy, did his mama do a number cooking him up. Friesian cross silver dapple grulla. You don't get much fancier

[Lefty]

Ran up . checked some trail cams,,
I think I have a picture of a unicorn bull elk

Ill move a couple cameas and hope to watch him develop[

[Tigger]

Rancho, to a non-horse person, this string of words sounds really impressive...." Friesian cross silver dapple grulla". Reminds me of a football play....On 2, set HUT HUT! How many elk will he pack out in his lifetime?

[RanchoSueno]

Rancho, to a non-horse person, this string of words sounds really impressive...." Friesian cross silver dapple grulla". Reminds me of a football play....On 2, set HUT HUT! How many elk will he pack out in his lifetime?

Hopefully as many as I can stick an arrow in
Friesians are those big fancy black war horses. He inherited the silver gene from his daddy and dun gene from his mama. His color makes up 0.05% of the horse population.. but color doesn't move meat lol I am certain he will be a stocky sucker with rock crushers for hoofs

[Tigger]

Rancho, I think I might memorize those words and the next horse person I see I will say, casually, "I know a lady who has a Friesian cross silver dapple grulla. Nice looking horse". Might make me look smarter than I am.


Uhhh, is it pronounced Freeze-e-an? Groola? It will backfire if I mispronounce it. That is something Swede would probably do.

[RanchoSueno]

Pretty close Tigger! "Groo-yah" for grulla and "Free zhun" for friesian. I brought Stitch home from the pasture the other day to start working on getting him gentled before he puts on too much size. His mama had other plans and dislocated my right elbow in the process so it's going to be a few week before I can draw my bow again. Should be just in time for the 3D archery course to kick back off!

[Lefty]

R, "I know a lady who has a Friesian cross silver dapple grulla. Nice looking horse". Might make me look smarter than I am.:

I think most of us on here could easily sound smarter using equine speak

[Elkhunttoo]

Good looking colt!

Sometimes I miss my horse hunting days.

Went and pulled a few trail cameras that were up all winter. Now I’m going through the videos

[WapitiTalk1]

Shot a bunch of arrows this evening out to 60. Coming along but not where I need to be, confident at 40 with BHs.

[Lefty]

Ive been doing barbell stretches' and workout,

Headed south for a few days to check out some trapping area,,, then going way south to the Western National Trappers Convention

[RanchoSueno]

Still unable to do crap with my right arm. Stupid elbow lol. Struck out on Colorado draw, waiting on Oregon limited to post this friday

[Elkhunttoo]

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Went up and pulled trail cameras with the family this last weekend. Camped out and enjoyed ourselves. Now I’m going through all of the videos. This was one of the bulls hanging around my stand area last year

[Tigger]

Biked this morning before work. Felt good to get back in the saddle.

[Swede]

Good news Tigger. I have started shooting my bow and continue to do my daily three-mile walk. I was disappointed to find out that Ranchosueno did not get an Oregon elk tag. I was looking forward to her nailing a bull here in Oregon, but they limit nonresidents to just 5% of the total limited entry tags. Rancho is the first to get denied a tag of all the nonresidents I have known. I guess I will have the whole gaggle of elk in the area I hunt to myself.

[RanchoSueno]

I am hoping I will be guaranteed to draw oregon next year with one point in the bank. The last two draws I am in are most definitely a shot in the dark Michigan elk and HuntWarz that does a random selection video series hunts. Update on the future pack horse; Stitch is growing like a weed! Just got his mama trimmed and turned them both back on pasture to grow and eat free feed lol hoping we don't have any more feral moments. This elbow is still giving me trouble.

[Lefty]

Swede
I do not have artritis Check with a good PT might be able to loosen you up and reduce your pain.

Thanks Lefty. I have been going on that advice as best I can. Sometimes I find myself getting tired and my form is less than perfect then.

Sometimes pain can be diet related https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/ss/slideshow-foods-fight-pain
I do all of theses and currently added a light dumbell works outs to stretching. I dont know what could have happened but last year this month the wakeup pain was gone( or I dont feel it)

[Lefty]

Most of my miles are walking with my wife after work. It's a great stress reliever for both of us. My dog goes evetime and the leash is like crack to her. I alternate between a 20 pound pack and walking sticks that weigh 4 pounds a piece. I'm looking to get some heavier walking sticks. The stix really improve the cardio.

35 years ago NordicTrack had some (maybe) good research how important the upper body workout helped cardio I was living at 258 foot elevation , my father in law had given all of the son in laws our Montana Gravilies elk hunt 7500-9500
The Nordic trak realy helped

[Swede]

Sometimes pain can be diet related https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/s ... fight-pain
I do all of theses and currently added a light dumbell works outs to stretching. I dont know what could have happened but last year this month the wakeup pain was gone( or I dont feel it)

Thanks Lefty: Clever old hunter that I am, I had the issue diagnosed by a specialist doctor. After reviewing the imaging and other ??? he informed me that the problem is arteritis and gout. Appropriate, consisant exercises are definately helping with my strength and pain. I am not quitting hunting until it becomes absolutely necessary. Who knows when that day will arrive.

[Lefty]

Good to hear all things are helping You out Swed

[Lefty]

I went to look for my trail camera where I may have placed my trail camera and package of SD cards

My search was interrupted by the Buddy I'm chasing
Daisy and I slipped out of there. He had three three other bulls with him

[WapitiTalk1]

Boom! What a pleasant interruption

[Lefty]

Thats where he was bedded and bugling from a year ago last September I was 70 yards away while his Entourage strolled around in front me .

Interesting two cameras within 250 yards and not a single picture of him The one camera had been moved out of position 6/, lots of mule deer bucks lots of elk eyeball pictures,skunk (7000 feet) fox coyote a pronghorn in the woods and a 180lb dirty blonde bear which only showed once

[Tigger]

Lefty, Your Buddy is a spike? That is cool!

[RanchoSueno]

that made me chuckle, Tigger!

[Lefty]

:lol: that made me chuckle, Tigger!

Lefty, Your Buddy is a spike? That is cool!

[7mmfan]

I drew some tags! Washington came through with a rifle cow tag and a premium mule deer rut tag! Going to be a busy November.

[WapitiTalk1]

Boom! Congrats Rory. Get sum!

[Lefty]

We didnt draw Antelope in Idaho., Put out some bear bait, checked cameras
Sat in the blind once the wind was good
Hes little but the right color,, Last year he was too small and ratty,,
I'm hoping a last years blond shoes on another bait
This camera is just out the door of my blind,, I believe he was the guilty one ripped up the shade and shade toggles

Im not changinging units

[RanchoSueno]

Welp, struck out on Michigan's coveted elk draw for the 8th year in a row

[Elkhunttoo]

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Been going through some of last years trail camera videos….sorry these are just pictures of the computer so not great quality but getting stoked for this next season

[Tigger]

Been biking in the morning 10-12 miles with my hunting partner. Started shooting a little. 3 months to go roughly.

[Swede]

I'm shooting and exercising. I am thinking about the season ahead trying to decide on what to take to camp.