Hunting Season Workout

[Vince]

Hit the gym after work.
Took a week off due to working doubles, family commitments, and other such excuses. Back at it. I've also added some stomach work to the leg routine. I have to work really hard to not become a gym rat again. I was one once and don't desire to return to that again.

 

[Elkman]

You guys are doing great.!!!!!!!
I am adding pounds weekly. Driving roads in a pickup, does not add to ones fitness level. Last week I walked about 16 miles because we were working in a remote area. This week was all pickup time as we were working off of roads. We stay out on the line until 20:00 hrs, then then come in and eat prior to bed, not a great way to stay fit. Probably will only go out one more time (14 days) then start back into the PT heavy.

 

[tddeangelo]

I got in a 5.5 mile run tonight, but all flat ground. My injured Achilles got pretty sore for a bit after, so I think I found the limit for the time being.

Tomorrow is an "off day", but I had circumstances on Tues that prevented me from working out, so I may do a light workout tomorrow. Saturday I have a 33 mile bike ride for a charity event. I'm really looking forward to it!

 

[Vince]

Still hitting the gym after work but now doing light weight and lots of reps.

I figure that'll build endurance. Lord knows endurance is needed when hiking the rocky hills in search of the "Grey Ghost".

 

[Guy Miner]

Yesterday morning, my bicycle buddies and I headed out of town. Returned hours later, with 100 miles behind us! That was quite a ride. Had a few big hills along the way, one that must grind upwards for seven or eight miles. Most of the elevation gain is in the first two, and the last mile, but pretty much the whole stretch is up, up, and up. Ugh. Then there is a wonderful descent! Yee Haw!

We all made it, despite a couple of flat tires along the way. Three of the guys are very enthusiastic, well conditioned and fast riders. Then there's me and the other fellow. We tried our best to keep up with the wild bunch. Good ride!

Going again for about 25 this morning, with a slower group.

Guy

 

[Elkman]

I gained 10 lbs this summer during my fire work. I am home for the season and headed out for my first PT in three weeks, this morning. I will have to push hard to loose the weight and gain the endurance back that I have lost. First elk season, is Wyoming on the 15th of October.

 

[Vince]

I gained 10 lbs this summer during my fire work. I am home for the season and headed out for my first PT in three weeks, this morning. I will have to push hard to loose the weight and gain the endurance back that I have lost. First elk season, is Wyoming on the 15th of October.

Good Luck!

You have been an inspiration to me and I have faith that you will give it your all.

 

[Elkman]

Thanks vince, I am trying, haven't missed a day since I have been home.

 

[Vince]

Thanks vince, I am trying, haven't missed a day since I have been home.

How you coming along with getting back in to hunting shape?

Hunting season is almost here and I'm thinking I should be in better shape than I am. Oh well, I'll just continue to plod along and do my best. Still hitting the gym after shift and will continue to do so until I start my coues hunt.

 

[Guy Miner]

This week:

Monday, rode a fast paced 30 miles. Road bike.
Tuesday, hunted hard up in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Good hike & climb.
Wednesday, rode a mellow 12 miles on the mountain bike.
Thursday, rode hard for 67 miles, road bike. Broke a spoke, or two. I don't know how the wheel held up, but it did and I finished the ride with the broken spokes. Road bike is hard down until a new wheel is received.
Friday... Hasn't happened yet! I'm thinking another ride, on the mountain bike this time. Would love to get back into the hills for mule deer though...

It's been a good week of working out!

 

[Vince]

Last night and tonight I hit the gym after shift for a quick workout.

Just going to keep plugging away as best I can. The knees crack with every step I take but the pain isn't as bad as it was last year.

 

[Elkman]

I have still been doing the hill and weights. Sunday I used my pack with the concrete block but my hiking partner wanted to turn around at 2/3 so we did. Yesterday rain, so an hour on the treadmill, then a good weight workout. Cloudy and damp this morning, but am headed out in a few. I have lost a couple, of the extra pounds I put on during the summer. At least my wife is not poking me in the belly any more. My H-1000 comes today and I hope to shoot a few rounds out at 422 today weather permitting.

 

[Elkman]

Guy
Your tenacity is amazing, you are doing great !!!

 

[Guy Miner]

My tenacity? What about you? Ya ol' _____! :grin:

I've enjoyed this thread. It's been fun seeing that everyone is continuing to work out and get/stay in decent shape.

There's setbacks time to time, a fellow just has to pick up and get going again. Right now my road bike is down, broke some spokes in the rear wheel. Have a new rear wheel on order.

Also shredded the rear tire of my mountain bike, had to put on a new one.

And my upper back & neck are hurting. Not sure why. They're just not happy with me. Hopefully that will pass soon.

I've incorporated some dumbell cleans into my lifting. From the gym floor all the way up overhead. Oh my goodness, hadn't done those in a while. That has my legs sore!

Guy

 

[Vince]

I've been trying to stay consistent with getting to the gym after my shift.
I know I'm stronger than last year but now I'm wanting to be even stronger. After this year's deer season, the only critter I'm focusing on this year, I'll start working my entire body instead of just the legs. I'm stronger but not where I want to be yet.
You gentlemen in this forum have been my inspiration and for that I thank you.

Vince

 

[mcseal2]

I can see lots of you guys have me beat. My method is real simple, and seems pretty effective. I got to thinking of the land around our ranch and picked the steepest, rockiest path I could, then got permission to walk it. It comes out to 3.8 miles round trip. I load the Eberlestock J34 with about 30lbs and head out to walk it. As others have said, life gets in the way but I make it a point to make it a minimum of 3 days per week and usually make it 4-5 times. If a week won't allow for enough evening walks I run a couple miles in the mornings instead. I start right after my birthday in July each year and continue until I get back from my annual out of state hunt. Then hunting and scouting around home take the place of my work-out for a while. One thing I've found is that I can put on muscle much easier than I can drop fat. The first year of my workout I kept increasing my pack weight up to 70lbs. I ended up gaining weight I didn't need. I have modified it to work up to 30lbs and then increase my speed. That seems to be a better balance for me.

Not really a work-out but another trick I've learned is to try to stay at the highest elevation possible on the trip out. Time spent adjusting to the altitude seems to be needed one way or another for me. If we make the trip out 2 days we can sleep at 5000ft the first night and at 4200ft the second night. We try to get in early enough for a short evening hunt or scout on the second day, burn some of the inactivity out of our muscles from the trip. That seems to have us set up as good as possible for the first serious day of hunting.

I don't do any real weight training other than ranch work. My legs stay fairly fit from the hours I put in horseback on the ranch. I do squats and lunges every night without weight to work some of the other leg muscles the riding doesn't seem to get. It sure isn't a perfect system, but it is cheap and available for me.

 

[Vince]

mcseal2,

I started with squats, sans weights, and walking but have since gone to weights combined with walking. My running days are over given the condition of my knees. I know from first hand experience what kind of shape ranch work can get you in to and I'd say you're probably in pretty good shape as it is.

For me the gym is cheap and easy as the weight room is at work. It's easy to get in there after shift before coming home. I started at home walking with a pack on the treadmill. I've added the gym and will start doing to hikes before hunting season, on my days off, to finish strong for deer hunting season. Then I'll keep at it as I have a moose hunt in 2015 and want to be in shape for that.

Good luck this hunting season.

Vince

 

[mcseal2]

Sounds like your plan is working too. There are plenty of muscles I don't use regularly on the ranch that will start screaming when I get to crawling over and under down timber in a burn. Weight training is a great idea and better all around workout. I don't have access to a gym nearby or I'd use it. One thing I find on the ranch is that there is always plenty of opportunity to walk instead of take the ATV, climb the pen fence instead of use the gate. Little things like using the stairs instead of elevators on a town job. Dad is pushing 60 now and having knee and heart issues. Such things build on each other, the more his knees hurt the less active he is and the more weight he puts on. He is having to make some changes now. I work hard but eat to good also, I'm making adjustments now too hopefully preventing problems down the road.

I have been increasing my reps on squats and lunges as I go, but haven't started with weight yet there. I think my pack weight is creeping up on me too as I start adding up everything. The J34 weighs 7lbs, rifle 9lbs, spotter 1lb, tripod 3lbs, etc. The guy I'm going hunting with brought his pack out he said was 30lbs and mine is substantially heavier. He has been running 2.5-3.5 miles a day without weight and is going to switch to walking hills with the pack weighted down.

 

[Vince]

OK, hit the gym three times so far this week and looking to hit it again tonight after shift.
Really hitting the weights hard now for explosive power. Almost maxed out on the leg machines. That should do me good for this season.

 

[Elkman]

mcseal2 quotes: I don't have access to a gym nearby or I'd use it.

I have a used bowflex, 210 that I bought used on Craig's List for $135. Its not the best, but its set up in my play room, with my loading gear and treadmill. Very easy to use and much better than no workout at all.