Im back at the keys after a busy weekend. Our first grandson was born Nov. 1 on his dads birthday! My wife and I took off for the weekend, celebrating our 35th anniversary Nov. 5.
Anyway, I want to say I appreciate all the comments on the column and suggestions on future articles. Even though were still working on the basics, the world of hunting is so big, weve got a lot of ground to cover.
So far, weve covered the who and now we are covering the what of hunting. We are into the second of four Ps. First was planning. We covered costs, location, weapons and gear.
Next is preparing. Now we come to one of the most critical parts of a hunt: physical condition. Its not something a lot of people like to talk about, and most people forget, but it is probably the most important part in the preparation stage. It is the largest factor in determining the type of hunting you can do. Hiking the hills, climbing a tree, rowing a canoe, packing out an elk, weather tolerance, higher elevations, all contribute to the wear and tear on the body. Overexertion and heart attacks contribute to more hunter deaths each year than all the hunting-related accidents combined.
I guess the first place to start would be to visit your doctor. Discuss with him or her your plans, and set up a training schedule and diet to reach your physical goals well before your hunt. Your aerobics trainers can help you with the training schedule, but they are not physicians and are not equipped to set your health goals and limitations. Were not talking about an occasional walk on the treadmill. Improper diet and training can and will hamper your hunt. Taryn and I began walking months before our Quebec caribou hunt. We were prepared for the cold weather, but not the terrain. The rocks and the soft artic cover really took a toll on our legs.
Those of you who have packed out an animal know what Im talking about. Your pack with a hind quarter may reach more than 100 pounds.
We hiked the Appalachian Trail with 60-pound packs and found two things. Hiking downhill is harder on your legs than uphill. If you dont train properly, the legs develop shin splints, a sharp, stabbing pain that can put an end to your hike.
The second is that the higher you get in elevation, the less air there is to breathe. I know you are saying Everyone knows that! but unless youve experienced it, you cant completely understand how hard it is. I hunted elk in Colorado at 8,000 feet above sea level, and my guide kept stopping to let me catch up. Some hunts go well above the tree line, 11,000 feet, and as high as 14,000 to 15,000 feet for sheep. The higher the elevation, the slower the pace and the more frequent breaks are required. Acute mountain sickness can kill you. Better known as altitude sickness, this is a condition in which the body, starved for oxygen, begins to shut down. Headaches, weakness, loss of appetite, to the point of coughing up blood, becomes life threatening. Train with a backpack up steep hills and down, simulating the terrain youll be on. Each training session, add a little more weight to your pack until you reach the estimated weight that you will need to carry.
In the meantime, we are heading into prime time as the rut (breeding season) arrives. The big boys let their guard down and become more visible. Dont forget to harvest does as well, to keep a balanced doe/buck ratio. For all of you driving the roads, keep a watch as deer all travel a lot more at this time. If you see one, expect more.
