Two things you can likely count on, 1) hiking a lot, and 2) carrying a backpack, hopefully full of elk quarters. That being said, you need to focus on several things.

1) As mentioned above, you need to increase your exercise capacity/stamina. You aren't running a race so start early and slow and work your way up. Going further and longer each day. I am in my mid to late 30s and prefer a mix b/w an exercise bike and waking on a treadmill at an incline.

2) Strengthen your core (shoulders, back, abs, & thighs). There are many exercises that you can do at home w/o weights to do so. Or if you have acces to weights that is great to. Some examples are "planks", lunges, squats/wall sits, calf raises, etc.

Backpacker magazine or backpacker.com has some great exercises and workouts that will get you in shape for sure. If you have trouble finding them pm me and I can email them to you.

3) last but not least is stretching. Even while on the hunt, stretch before you hike as well as after. It will save you from injuries. Good to start now before and after exercising. I will confess, I don't always practice what I preach

It just depends on what and how you are hunting. If your spiking out of the truck it's different then packing 5 miles back in the wilderness on foot.

I'm a big core guy. I cant run anymore do to my knees but I'll do 16 stories three times a week with 50 plus in my pack.

Lots of good advice already given.

If you have some bleachers near by, they are a huge help. Up to the top, cross over, down to the bottom, cross over, up to the top, repeat. Run the 1/4 mile arc of the track to the other side, do it again. Do that twice, add your pack later, progressively adding weight to the pack.

Another beat down of a workout that will cover a bunch of areas is "The Murph". SEAL Lt. Mike Murphy (R.I.P.) invented it, and you don't need any props or weoghts aside from a chinup bar.

Run a mile


100 chinups
200 pushups
300 body squats
Run a mile

Break up exercises in 5, 10, 15 respectively. Starting out you can cut all that in half called "The Smurph".

Stretch before and after, 1 1/2+ gallons of water each day.

^^^
But if you need "elder care", as I did- this is the guy you want with you.

Just reading that makes me tired and makes my hip hurt.

Where in the heck do you find stairs to exercise on? There's 3 stories at my mom's assisted living, but they're gonna look at me funny walking in there with a pack on my back. Not to mention confusing the hell out of Mom.

I know where the Spurs run stairs, but they're not gonna let me in their facility.

Thank you to everyone who responded. Now I need a beer and help selling my hunt !!! 😰

Looks like I've got a lot of work to do !!

Where in the heck do you find stairs to exercise on? There's 3 stories at my mom's assisted living, but they're gonna look at me funny walking in there with a pack on my back. Not to mention confusing the hell out of Mom.

I know where the Spurs run stairs, but they're not gonna let me in their facility.

Don't let some of the responses scare you. Some of those regimens would kill most folks. I am serious about my preparation and do what I can. But you don't have to be a triathlete to hunt elk. Do your best, be diligent about getting stronger each day, and go have fun.

Truth be told, will and heart is the most important thing.

This is true.. I know a cpl 70yo guys who had a hard time breathing up above 12K' kill elk. The key was to have a cpl guys in their 20s to do all the hard stuff.