I usually have to go through thick brush to retrieve the animal.

Jokes aside, that's what it's all about, knowing the speed that doesn't spook em.

I surf THF and FB and make excel sheets for dream hunts that may not happen till I'm retired. Keep my knives sharp. Go to the range every blue moon; always confirm zero before setting out to hunt at ranches though. Practice archery like a month before each hunt then go ocd with broad head grouping

My wife won't allow that for some reason.

I have found a girlfriend/wife to be the last thing you want to do to better your hunting

I have used a cart in very thick brush in South Texas for the last 18 yrs now if I can't get my Ranger to the deer. Might have to cut some brush along a route but have used it. If you can walk it the cart is usually the same width as your body is as it is going thru it. Just get the cart that has the wheel covers to cover the spokes. I have used a cart in West Texas and taken it to Kansas for Mule Deer.

I have been dunking my feet in ice water and practicing my cursing.

Seriously I break out the rifles and start putting holes in paper. 200 yard range on my place so it's not like serious effort.

I find the company of woman during a cold fall or winter night far better than the alternative

Office is in a weight room. Won't be able to hunt until the last weekend of October and we've got few televised games before then. So right now the 'training' is mostly biceps and traps.

Anxious to get back in the great state for a few days and put some carbon and steel in the air.

Fitness level...in texas you don't need to be fit to hunt. In Colorado on the other hand...

I would say if you are a novice hunter to focus on spending as much time as you can in the woods. Of course, being able to make a good rifle shot is important, but you should be spending at-least as much, if not more time just being in the woods, looking for game trails, and observing. After a while it will be like instinct to you.

And as far as dragging an animal, if its a long ways, the best thing to do is quarter the animal up right at the spot, put the quarters in heavy duty garbage bags and pack it out on your back.

Having a girlfriend was the only way I got any kind of cardio excercise last year.

I practice making excuses for missing while watching myself in the mirror. I'm almost believable. Another month of work and I'm good to go.

Men were born with the natural ability to hunt and drink beer. You don't need any training for either of these.

Now that it is September I will definitely start my prep for hunting season.

I will go to the range 2-3 times in September and another 3-4 times in October is what I usually do also I shoot similar amounts. Wish I could shoot more just too darn expensive. Typically I will shoot the 30-06 15 to 20 times and the AR 556 50 to 100 times on each session. 100 and 200 yards. I will also shoot a few rounds of 45 with my conceal carry gun at least once a month.

Now that summer is over and I am not on the water 6 days a week it is back in the gym. 1 hour or more of weights and 1/2 hour of cardio a couple of times a week work allowing. That is for both my golf game and my trekking through the Sam Houston Natl forest looking for pigs preparing for the day I get to go on a "real hunt".

Most of my productive dry firing is with my 45 at night watching TV. Since its within arms reach every night you might as well make good use of the time. Plus I have a double/single action so practicing that hard double action pull is very necessary. I will practice my dryfiring with the long guns while at the range before each shot typically but not at home.

I like to go to the food trailers courts and do a lot of walking?

Hey GeneC - good post and applaud you for your prep. There are many places here that will require dragging an animal over a long distance - even if you have a sled or wheeled cart. At my age now I always hunt with a friend who I can contact if I need help with a harvest. Our place is around 3000 acres with elevations that you cannot get even a 4 wheeler to within a half mile or so. Sounds like you are on the right track, good luck sir.

I do 12 oz curls and eat a lot of ice cream. If I really get crazy I do some ninja kicks on 40 lb bags of apple flavored corn. I hope to advance to 50 lb bags some day.

Dove season has mean in shape. I'm up to 12 cans, 3 samiches, 8lbs of ice, 2 16oz bottles of water on the way in. I have to admit coming back it's a lot lighter.

In the past, I hunted myself into shape as I am fortunate to live where I can hunt 250 days a year. At age 63 and loving chasing lions in rugged country, I have begun to work out so that I can survive. I am fortunate to live on a hill that is about 80 feet above town. My driveway is a little over 100 yards long and if I walk about 100 yards of the drive, the elevation changes about 70 feet. If you see an old man walking up and down a steep drive in Menard, don't think anything about it.
Adios,
Gary

You will learn more from not shooting deer than shooting. You learn behaviors and important information by watching animals. learn the weather, learn the wind, learn scent control and silence, learn patience and attention to detail. Watch animals, watch them detect you, figure out how to now make that happen. Watch a shooter and how he reacts. Most importantly, understand that this game is never mastered. There is always more to learn and challenges to be made. leaving the gun at home and bow hunting all year is a great and very fun challenge

Wisdom Right there! Y'all take note.

Lately I've been trying to sleep while sitting in a chair!

GeneC, I am doing the elliptical for 4 miles Mon-Fri and some moderate weight training. I also do 25 pushups and 25 situps daily. I think this is just the beginning. I need to lose some weight. - New Hunter

OMG man I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. Bunch of comedians around here

To be an effective hunter you have to work the wind, sit for long periods still and quite as this is what game to a hunter in the area. Sounds simple right, you would be surprised how many people simply cannot be patient, still and quite for long periods and understand that the wind is blowing your scent all over the area you are hunting.

In my experience shooting is a smaller piece of hunting than many new hunters may realize. But yes you do have to be able to shoot accurately from less than ideal positions, angles, low light, bad weather etc.

You may want to consider looking at the available public land or maybe bow hunting. There are lots of really great areas in this state that the average person is not prepared to make it into and requires more stamina and physical ability than some hunters have. Many are restricted to bow only, but they can be rewarding to those with the ability to do it. Good Luck!

Its cool you are that pumped, wish I could get that much motivation.


On the other hand running through the woods with a sharpened stick like the last Mohican might be fun also.