eastern Hunter going west

Do you hunt the eastern United States and have a goal of hunting the western mountains? If that is the case then I’m sure you spend a majority of your time hunting in a tree stand or some type of blind. With that being said, the east does offer some great mountainous regions that can put you in a position to challenge your physical prowess. While it may not be the west, hunters can use these areas as an environment to help them prepare for a western hunt.

Hunting mountainous terrain does demand an above average level of physical fitness. Yes, you can decide to wing it and not train and just show up and push it to your extreme; however, you will be exposed. If your goal is to hunt hard for days in a row, then training to a high standard will allow you to put yourself in places you normally would not be able to go.

When choosing to adventure west and hunt areas that are higher in elevation with rugged terrain, you must increase your overall level of General Physical Preparedness (GPP). This simply means if you typically operate in areas that are relatively flat then you must raise your ceiling so you can handle the everyday grind of a mountain hunt. Many hunters could push through a one day mountain hunt but the art of training smart is increasing your capacity over time so you can recover and hunt hard day in and day out. So how do you do it?

Start early, start light, and progress slowly. Many mountain hunts require a hunter to be able to carry heavy loads up and down steep terrain while stepping over numerous obstacles. If your training or daily life does not demand these current needs then they will need to take a priority in your training. When doing so, you will most likely need to take something out of your current program to add this modality. You can incorporate this into your program by beginning to walk mountainous areas or completing step up lunges. Once the hunter establishes a solid base level then they can begin to add a load in the form of a weighted pack or vest. From this point, the hunter can advance by increasing their time under load and/or the amount of weight carried. The hunter can also supplement this work in the weight room in order to strengthen current weaknesses.

Overall, the goal is to increase the hunters strength from top to bottom. The focus will be on the posterior chain ranging from the upper back, erectors, low back, glutes, and hamstrings. The hunter can utilize both compound movements and isolation movements to improve these areas. To improve strength, the hunter could perform various types of squats while also incorporating the reverse hyper. These movements are tried and true and have been delivering benefits to athletes for years.

As previously mentioned these types of hunts can require you to climb over timber blow downs which will demand hip strength and mobility. One of my favorite tools is utilizing a sled to perform various types of drags and pulls. When using the sled you can alter the weight, distance, direction, foot positions, and the total amount of time you pull or drag the sled. If you have access to a belt squat, that’s a bonus. A belt squat allows the hunter to train their hips and glutes without having to load the spine. Some exercises the hunter could implement are belt

marches that vary in weight and time. Adding these exercises into your program will enhance your hip strength and mobility.

Another area of focus is the core. Training the core can be a buzz phrase but it is an aspect of training that does need to be addressed when your hunt requires you to carry a heavy load on your back. Training your core does not mean doing countless sit-ups and trying to pop out your six pack. The purpose of training your core in this realm is strictly performance based. A few examples of movements that benefit the core are hanging leg raises, farmer walks, suitcase carries, Pallof Presses, and planks (including weighted and side planks). Some of these movements use the whole body which in turn improve training economy. Do not attempt to add all these movements at once; instead, pick one or two of them and place them into your program.

The last aspect to discuss is mobility needs. Throughout the hunters program it is important they are keeping themselves mobile as this will need to carry over to their time spent in the backcountry. Dedicate time to ensuring you can move like an athlete. Add mobility movements into your warm-ups, cool downs, or set aside 10 minutes in your day to complete mobility work. The type of movements performed will vary from athlete to athlete. Learn what you need and begin to integrate it into your training. When it comes to mobility, consistency is key.

Predominantly hunting in the east and having the opportunity to hunt in the west is a great privilege and can be extremely rewarding. Training smart over the course of time will harden your body and mind so you can increase your odds of punching your tag. A key phrase to remember is start early, start light, progress slowly and train with a purpose.