Absolutely.

Going on my 12th Elk hunt this year. The way I get in shape is limit my calories to 1500 a day, 30 minutes of eliptical wearing a 25lb backpack. Some days I walk 3 miles instead of eliptical.

I walk to the fridge and then back to my recliner. Hopefully I can complete the routine without getting a cramp.

There is no replacement for altitude training. Cardio workouts plus actual hikes with your gear will help. Add about 25% weight to your lowland hikes other than what you will carry in the mountains. Get at least 5 miles hike in a day if you can. If you can, spend a few days prior to your hunt acclimating to altitude. And remember to hydrate very well.

Cardio sucks, you're not going to be running up and down the mountains, so what good is running? Find a local high school stadium, take your weighted pack, and do the bleachers. It's free, and you don't have to join a cult, I mean crossfit.

You need good cardio to even walk up the mountain. Especially carrying a 75lb elk quarter. Running improves cardio. There will be times when you are walking fast up and down the mountain too, cardio is key in my opinion.

I havent ran in over 10 years. But I do pack work out with 50-100lbs three days a week. You don't need running to be able to hunt in the mountains. It will help but it's not the best way to condition your legs and lungs for elevation.

Just reading this thread is making me tired.

I'm so tired I need a nap. When I used to do the Richardson-Plano Corporate Challenge, I would do the bike race challenge and I would ride my bike up and down all the hills in my neighborhood on the east side of White Rock, 10 miles everyday, twice a day. Dropped 40lbs in 3 months and had lots of energy. Also diet, cut out the junk food.

"Maybe a little cardio" for an elk hunt in the mountains....this guy has it nailed.

Imo people tend to way over exaggerate the prep and training you need to do for a elk hunt

If your 40 lbs over weight and get out of breath eating a sandwich, yes, any kind of physical hunt is gonna be a beating on you.

If your a healthy person you will adjust after a day or two and be


If you kill something, that's a different matter. I would get a number to a guy with horses and pay him the $250-$300 they charge to pack it out for you

I've just been cutting a lot of wood and mowing a ton of grass (non-propelled push mower) several times a week. My dad's place is very hilly and it is one heck of a workout.

In all honesty that's probably all the workout you will need.

Isn't cross fit what women do?

Best cardio in the world is swimming, if you can get in a pool then swim until you can't take another stroke. Don't forget to weight train, everyone is different. Find what fits your body and keep at it.. That's the key, staying with it.

I agree, but walk into any grocery store or restaurant and tell me what percentage of people in there are "healthy people." For that matter, as "uncreepy" as possible, drive by a school playground and see how many of the kids out there are "healthy."

It's getting better for sure with the amount and availability of new knowledge out there, but the amount of overweight kids I see everyday is concerning.

Try a class, see for yourself

"I'm a real athlete, not trying to be the best at exercising."

I will say this, no matter how much running and conditioning you do before-hand, the elevation will STILL kick you in the balls when you get there. Expect at-least 1-2 days to get acclimated to the elevation.

Legs and lungs.

Serpentine the bleachers as fast as you can. Once it gets easy, add weight in a backpack. Texas boys still can't breathe at 9000' and above. I went in good shape, and it still taxed me.

I am running with no weight to get some weight off. While running I do push up, sit ups, dips, etc...

I need to get my pack ready and start doing some pack hikes

The other thing I do that helps my core is heated yoga...it may look easy but it's very difficult

Rule number 1 of Zombieland.

Seriously, I am in tune with Bobo's walking stairs with a heavy pack. Get to the point where you can run those same stairs and you will be fine.

I'm kind of laughing at this thread and wondering about 2 things. What the hell are you guy's caring with you and is this an athletic meet your preparing for or a hunt. Here's a few thing's I learned that make elk hunting more enjoyable. Horses are your friend, if you don't have them then find somebody in that area that can provide them, your hunting in 4 legged country!

Slow down! I've seen folks hit the mountains in great shape thinking it's a foot race and get gassed in the first 500 ft of elevation change. Only carry what you absolutely need with the top priority being making a fire if needed, enough food for a day and water. Since water is nearly always available in the mountains I keep that to a minimum, it's heavy and drags you down.

My old Pop probably logged more elk hunting time than anybody I know and his gear bag probably weighed less than 5 lbs with allot of that weight being that WWII bag he had it in. His rifle weighed 9 lbs with a scope and he carried a box of ammo. He carried a knife, small axe, mirror, compass, matches, 1 inch blocks of paraffin wrapped in wax paper and about 20ft of parachute cord, small flashlight with extra batteries. He also carried a small 8 power monocular in his shirt pocket and a 3 bladed knife in his pant's pocket. He fed 5 kid's very well and kept the meat locker full at all times.