Hunting Fitness

How important is hunting fitness to you? In my view it's extremely important to be in shape to make the most of your hunting season.

Sometimes I feel like an idiot... I am sure some of you can relate too! You know the feeling... the one down in the pit of your stomach... right after you step on the bathroom scale! That sinking feeling, "Oh, how did that happen?" After all that hard work to get rid of the extra weight, it came back, like a boomerang and with a vengance.

I spend a lot of time hiking during hunting season (as well as off season), and nothing will slow me down or wear me out quicker than a bunch of extra weight. If you spend or plan to spend a lot of time in the mountains, you need to be fit and it is easier to get fit if you build up your cardiovascular levels.

It's easy to get started: walk, walk some stairs, take up jogging. The important part is to get started.

What I Do to Increase My Hunting Fitness!

I spend a lot of time researching, and quite a bit of money buying the lightest packs, the lightest gear and clothes. Why? Because I do not like carrying around the extra pounds! It is important to lighten the load as much as practical. I do not need the extra fat and inches, nor are they any help to me. It would be pointless to spend the time and money required to acquire the appropriate gear and not deal with the extra pounds that can be shed from my body too!

I train year round, I run 5 kilometers (3 miles) each day for 5 days a week, as well I go to the gym and work out for about an hour two days a week. For running I use Asics Gel-Kayano running shoes. Each year purchasing the newest model (2014 introduced the Gel-Kayano 20).

Ideally, when in a hunting situation, I plan to increase my load on my way back to camp. I make every effort to be fit and to lighten my pack before I go... you should too!

Update: I have just begun a lifestyle change and have taken on the challenge of the Paleo Food Lifestyle. In the first 6 weeks I dropped 14 1/2 pounds. One of the first things I did was to create a recipe for healthy Paleo power bars.
Stay tuned for more...

Vancouver Hiking Trails

In my quest to stay fit not just for hunting season but for health in general I spend some energy hiking trails. Around Vancouver BC there are many within a couple hours drive. One hike we were on recently was the Diez Vistas. Feel free to read about it if it interests you. I have some nice pictures there too!

• Diez Vistas.
• The Grouse Grind
• Three Brothers Mountain

Hiking fitness is important too!

What You Should Do!

What about those extra pounds and inches around your middle... and elsewhere? Do they not matter too? Develop your own hunting fitness program, get in shape and lose weight at the same time. I know I will be losing my extra pounds long before moose hunting season.

Getting in shape for hunting season should be a year round quest. Just like an Olympic athlete trains year round, so should we. As hunters and hikers it is a duty to ourselves to stay in shape year round. Cardiovascular exercises are the best type you can do for hunting fitness. It is tough though to get into a program routine when we have an excess amount of fat around our bellies. The fat will always slow you down. Excess fat not only increases your risk to many health problems, but for many will prevent them from doing anything proactive to reduce it. If you are overweight (oh, aren't we all though) get on a weight loss and or the fat loss for idiots program. Your body will thank you.

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