85 days until I'm traipsing up and down the highlands of NW Montana for elk. 5th time is the charm! Two years ago my wife killed a 340" bull... with her bow... so... no pressure!

I do a set of deadlifts, followed by goblet squats and then shoot my bow... repeat. The situation does NOT improve with elevated heart/respiratory rate!

Two things I can control - my fitness and my competence with my Cari-bow.

Anybody else preparing for a fall hunt that's physical? I've hunted all over the world. For me - the Montana hunt is the hardest. I'm 47... I need to close the deal on a bull pretty soon. I just don't see me being able to hump those hills for too many more years.

for some reason my photos always post sideways... : (

Stay with it, you know it will help a great deal.

P 90 x for me, along with jogging up the hills.

At 54, all other jogging seems to jam my joints.

Went through this at 54 years old, but I lived in San Diego so had plenty of hills to practice on. I also went to the gym 3 nights a week. That was 20 years ago, now I am a flatlander and use the treadmill to simulate climbing hills/mountains. Still work my muscles but at 74(almost) I have cut back some on the heavy weights. One thing I do is use my bow to strengthen my muscles. I do sets of drawing the bow, holding, then slowly letting down. Lucky so far, my 55# bows an’it killing me yet

Was hoping to hear from those more "wise" than me! Does my heart good to hear that others get after it as well.

colorado in sept. getting my ass up the hill regularly and finally got to jujitsu last night after a year of injuries. im tired lol. i need to up my game alot though

Hmmm. Do what you can to get in shape. Can never be in too good a shape. I'll be hitting Utah this year. I'm 73 and don't prepare like I used to. Then again, I don't hit it as hard as I used to either. I mostly just do a lot of walking, up and down hills, and with a pack as it gets closer to the season. Try to drop 10 or so pounds before heading West as well. Shoot my bow a lot, too.

I've hunted in NW Montana. There's some country over the border in Idaho that's just as tough. Units 10 and 11. I believe the elk population is now very low there for a number of reasons. Very pretty, but also very steep, rugged country. Before I hunted Idaho, I said there wouldn't be a place that I wouldn't go after a bull. Idaho corrected my attitude. It has more than a few places that are so steep and deep that I honestly don't think I could have gotten a bull out if I had killed one down low. And that was when I was 20 years younger.

Regardless, it's fun being out there, and I'll keep doing it until I can't.

Orion you right on Idaho. I got a friend that live in Idaho and he cut timber for a living in Idaho, but he will not hunt the Bitter root area.

Going in september, being the guy who stacks on a hay wagon keeps me in shape plus im young. Shooting my bow everyday helps to

Going to sw MT in September. Been shooting almost daily for a month, running, light lifting, push ups, sit ups, body squats, planks. Cruising timber in blue ridge mtns keeps me in fairly good shape but need to be in better shape for 2+ weeks at 6500 to 9000 feet. I'm 65 and hunting partner is 26- should be interesting to see who fades the fastest. Pretty sure it will be moi. Cant wait for September to arrive.

Hike local trails with full weight of gear(Test pack and boots, minimize weight gear for time in woods.). Going in 5 miles? Do twice that if you can twice before you go. Practice out to 40 yards. Doing all the little things before and during to avoid attitude sickness(can ruin hunt). If flatlander, practice this with plastic bag over head. (That is a joke just in case you believe what I say >>>--------------> Good luck! But no matter what ENJOY!

What are the specs on the Cari-bow? 2 piece?

Smoke - it's 65# at 30" I'm so in love with that bow. Will be shooting 3 blade VPA's.

I feel pretty smug when my wife/friends are lugging their heavy hard case compound bows through the airport and I've just got a small case.

The best thing you can be is aerobically fit, and otherwise healthy.

Just moved from Virginia to Utah eight months agao. Swimming 1.5 miles 4 days a week and hill climbing with my mountain bike. I really do need to get some weight training in.

Mark

The better shape your muscles are in the more efficiently they work, using less oxygen. Keep at it guy, and if you can it helps alot to get to camp a couple days early to get used to the altitude and lower pressures.

It's already a week of hunting... unfortunately I won't be able to get there early fully acclimate beforehand. That said - we always go for a jog the evening we get to Missoula and again before we start the shuttle to Heron... just to get the heart racing. I don't know if it actually helps... but maybe just gets the mind used to the body gasping with very little exertion!

NM in September. Dropped 20 lbs and hit the weights and climbing stair machine (HR130 bpm for 30 minutes)at the gym every other day with a swim on alternate days. Actually...kind of proud of myself for starting early on the preps. Age 66.

Colorado the first week of season as I have for the last 5 years! Got a bull with the TallTines in 2016 then focused on mule deer 2017 and 2018 they handed it to me! No mule deer tag this year so it’s elk again.

I train 6 days a week all year bodybuilding but I’ll be ramping up my cardio (do it every day for 30 min anyway) I like the stairmaster, bleachers, standard leg exercises, and especially the Jacobs ladder man that machine will put you in mountain shape quick!

I’m also in search of a heavier bow, wish I wouldn’t have sold my 59# TallTines I killed my bull with! This low 50s is great for whitetial and even mule deer but elk have a bigger target area and extend my yardage a bit to 30ish when I can worry less about tragectory

pack hike yesterday. yoga in the evening. pushup sit ups squats pull ups and yoga this am. colorados coming fast and im not where i like to be and getting older doesnt make it easier

Oh Jarhead, Lord will you have a lot of time. I killed a 402 Bull in the Missouri River Breaks at age 68. I know it was a God thing. I'm 6'7"

I know the breaks are not the same as the West. I hunted the west when younger. Had to change to get the job done. LOL

There's nothing easy about the breaks either, but at 47, the NW mts. are very doable. I'm 63 and I'd take them on ..was out there last year, and in two other western states a few weeks ago doing it. No elk on my shoulders, but doing the hikes anyway...wish I was going. No time...

I work mostly on my aerobics. Walk down the road 2 miles then kinda jog up. then I start doing it with a pack and gradually apply weight. then I start taking my bow and shoot an arrow or two after breathing hard . I usally drop 15-20 lbs. I do pack in with my horse and mule . however up and down when hunting.

At 71 and i am breaking in some new boots for a ewe sheep hunt in south Nevada. I have done a lot of map recon of the area and i am looking at a vertical hunt-in heat! It helps that i live at 5000 feet

Heading to the San Juans in September for the fourth consecutive year. This time of year I'm doing about 30 miles a day on the bike, and a 16-oz. curl at night; also a bit of rowing in the new guideboat. Shooting the 62# Bill Stewart and a 60# Howatt Hunter in practice this summer. No elk is safe, LOL. I'm 63 by some people's reckoning, but in my mind I'm still 18 and bulletproof...well, except for a bad knee and a sketchy shoulder and a bald spot.

What a testament to this lifestyle! So many folks continuing to stay/improve their fitness to enhance their lives, chosen sport, and adventure. At 45 I’m no spring chicken but love hearing from those more senior to me who are able to keep after it. Fed on elk steak and veggies from my garden last night and will be leaving for a run shortly. I’ll be hunting Idaho again for elk with a couple youngsters and will not struggle to keep up. Good food + exercise + good attitude = success. Best of luck to all this fall!

Leaving for Fairbanks on the 12th of September. At 65, I don't plan on humping too many big mountains. We hunt a river valley and that time of the year the critters are mostly headed down to lower elevations along the river. The mountains we have to climb would probably be called hills by many of you guys. The tallest elevation near my house is a ladder stand in my back yard for practice.

Been doing a app-driven plank regime for 14 days now. In addition to regular workouts. (30 day total at beginner, then 30 inter-med. 30 advanced, etc.), then on to an abs program, and regular aerobic and weights. It is amazing how much this has improved my balance (due to core strength improvements). Try working on core strength for back packing performance improvement. You will be glad you did when hauling that top heavy backpack out full of heavy meat and a rack on top.

Hi Allen,

I wouldn't sell yourself short... You'll do just fine.

I'm 49 and still hunting hard. Last year I spent over a dozen days above timberline hunting with my friend here in Montana that had a goat tag.

If you haven't, add a cardio day a few times a week into the mix. I run 5 miles one day, then do a circuit with my crew while I'm on shift the next day( I'm a Lieutenant at my fire department) ie burpees, sandbag carries up stairs, pull ups, planks, front squats, box jumps and other stuff as well...we mix it up every shift. We do 20 minutes as many rounds as possible, then when I get off shift in the morning, I put on my pack and hike up one of our local hills. I carry 20-40#...usually a half hour to the top.

Not only does this keep me in the mountains, I can keep up with my crew on the tuff calls...

I hope you have a great hunt here in Montana! Where you hunting at?

Happy hunting, Jason

I do this

Inspirational posts! Makes my heart full to see men decades ahead of me still hunting hard.

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