Pre Safari Physical Training P.T.

Backyardsniper

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I thought I would throw this out there just for fun. One of the other forums I frequent has a section for "Physical Fitness for Mountain Hunting" where guys discuss thier various methods of getting in shape for an upcoming hunt. Thought it would be interesting to see what some of you guys do. I live in a pretty rural area in KY so I have a lot of freedom to do some things that would be more difficult to pull off in a more metropolitan area.
I do the normal gym stuff but for hunting trip prep my usual go to us the tried and true Ruck March. I strap up my pack with somewhere between 30 and 50lb and take off around the neighborhood. Sometimes I will carry my rifle but usually just the pack and do somewhere between 5 and 10 miles, mostly in the 5 to 7 mile range but occasionally longer.
Sprints at the rifle range is always a favorite, our range is 400yds long and has a gravel road down the middle so sometimes when I'm the only one there it gives me the opportunity to get creative with my shooting under stress drills.
What is some of your go to pre hunt P.T. routines?
 
I am trying to get into shape. I got 25 lbs to lose by July. Been doing some chest exercises and curls on the bow flex dumbbells. Also running. I am 300 lbs. down from 312. I carry it well though I think
I used to workout a lot but sports and past has come back to hamper me some. I have neck and shoulder issues.
I plan to keep on the weights and increase my running this weekend actually. Goal will be 2 miles a day. Then will move to 3 miles.
During turkey season I averaged 6-10 miles of walking a day so that will help as well.
 
For Africa? Building up a tolerance to alcohol and too much really delicious food. Practicing lounging around a cheery fire in the early a.m. and in the evening. Handload 50 rds for ea gun (splitting a box between softs and solids for DG bores.) Alernate arms on the (reloading) press as not to tire either. Also work on wrists (filling out forms, signing proposals, acceptance letters.) If you have a day job, practice the phony serious-at-work look, while you constantly e-mail, whats-app, or text your guide about the trip and interface with Cheapoair.com and Flora & Fauna Customs Brokerage (there are better ones near ATL and I recommend Waldun's Tannery in SC-they can handle everything for you!) Stay hydrated (during those 18 hr flights,) take your shoes off, but do continue the build-up by graciously accepting their free libations and gustatory delights. Watch the free movies all night long and listen to music you've never hears (you will be watching the bush TV and listening to birds every single day thereafter!) Practice socializing with pretty women (flight attendants-it's a long, several miles high trip for all!) A lot of Africa is relatively flat, but at greater than mile-high elevations, and it can be quite hot at times (SC and S. is already Africa hot in summer-no worries! It's dryer there in our (N. Hemisphere) summer; African winter. A few places can be as strenuous as NA mtn hunting (i.e. the Mtns of Tanzania, Ethiopia, and one chain-smoking PH PT'ed us through the Kopjes of the Namib-I lost 10 lbs! but we still kept up. There are some mtns in Zim and SA also, but the exception to the norm.) For the real hot, desert locales, I will hike the mountains here in the heat of day (i'd say heat and elevation are what most coastalites are going to have to deal with). On DG hunts, you can get lucky, but most involve a significant amount of walking (Walking a lot in prep will pay dividends. Bench pressing, bow-flexing and popping 'roids with Arnold will not.) It is entirely possible to pop some 'roids on an 18 hr flight, while seated, but that's a whole 'nother story. What did EH do to prepare himself? He spent a season skiing Sun Valley ID, rang up ole PH Percival and instructed him to have a month-long supply of Gimlet and Martini ingreds on-hand (and beers for when he had to type after the hunt) and copious quantities of upland bird hunting to prep for the walks! LOL Just about anyone can handle an African safari! The PHs have a plan for every human tooth length, form and ability. I even know of a wheelchair-bound kid that went on a whirlwind safari (w/ the ins. proceeds of the person that struck him with a car, prior!) Turkey, any country ending in 'stan, Mongolia, AK/CN mtn hunt-get in-shape!!! No worries. Enjoy. No GNC recomendations I can think of. African coffee (oddly French-pressed?) may just be the finest in the world, and that's what gets the hunter ready for each day afoot while on Safari. *Put real coffee in the contract! Do not accept Instant. Now, I've really done it...*As mentioned above-GOOD Footwear (including Good socks!!!) I did run into a problem once with too well worn, favorite boots with too hard a sole for the Namibian (No, it was the Zim Save watershed!) sands. Walking 10s of miles for a good daggaboy. Fixed that next trip, and thereon out with nearly fresh Kenetreks (and good hiking socks) each and every trip. IF you're tired and worn, that's why God made the Landcruisers and 'rovers (advantage being your co-pilot is the cooler full of food & drink.) Hydrate at all times (esp before bed, as you're sunburnt, full of food and already dehydrated from the day's walkings.)
 
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I am trying to get into shape. I got 25 lbs to lose by July. Been doing some chest exercises and curls on the bow flex dumbbells. Also running. I am 300 lbs. down from 312. I carry it well though I think
I used to workout a lot but sports and past has come back to hamper me some. I have neck and shoulder issues.
I plan to keep on the weights and increase my running this weekend actually. Goal will be 2 miles a day. Then will move to 3 miles.
During turkey season I averaged 6-10 miles of walking a day so that will help as well.
I'm with you. I'm more of an offensive lineman build. 6' and 295lb give or take depending. I have a caribou hunt coming up in August so I'm really trying to strip down some weight then the trip to Zimbabwe will be about 8 months after that. I want to trim down as much as possible to be able to enjoy it. I'm hoping to get down in the 230-250lb range.
 
My normal routine is like a workout so I'm not doing much extra, just some long hikes when I get the time to actually devote a couple hours to it. Will probably hike and shoot quite a bit the last three months before the trip which is in July. I'm told the ground is flat where I'll be in Limpopo.
 
Good question, I haven’t hunted Africa yet but am planning too, but the conditioning part is god to know, especially as one ages and previous injuries come to the front, I remember years ago going Elk hunting in Colorado and thinking I was in great shape, (I work outdoors at a physical job, cut wood, etc,) then the altitude hit me and kicked my butt the first couple of days, the next hunt I was in much better shape,
 
I'm with you. I'm more of an offensive lineman build. 6' and 295lb give or take depending. I have a caribou hunt coming up in August so I'm really trying to strip down some weight then the trip to Zimbabwe will be about 8 months after that. I want to trim down as much as possible to be able to enjoy it. I'm hoping to get down in the 230-250lb range.
I hear ya. 6’ 2”. Used to be wr/cornerback and SS/pitcher in high school. Now I am Just a fat guy. My 11 year old beat me in a 15-20 yard dash over the summer. Tore my hamstring during the lose. Lol. Need to drop some lbs.
 
Some SA hunts are conducted next to paved roadways with cars passing by! If you get tired, just flag down a car, truck, tractor, bus or donkey cart. Even Verizon Global will work in many locales there! Sugg. hitchhiking method: "Could you pls take me to the beach or a winery. The rifle is clear and I'm tired of hunting!" "Amarula's on me!!" I personally like the outbacks of RSA's NW, Limpopo, and NE, but many wives would say differently without the other detours. It's akin to AZ or NM, only in the latter land ownership is clearer and more iron-clad in title and law. Those intruders would fall under Castle Doctrine freedoms extended here! Has the rioting/looting ended in city areas? SMH. No doubt inspired by the Dem voters in Dem-run dirty cities here. Luckily, we live far from it. Sadly, our taxes perpetuate it.
 
A lot depends on what and where you are hunting. Honestly, you typically spot from a vehicle and hike from there with a lot of plains game. But it varies a lot depending on species and the terrain hunted.

I'm pretty active as is, summer all over the trails including plenty of hikes up the mountains around Anchorage, which we call Hillside. In the winter I did plenty of elliptical, stationary bike and stairmasters right up until Covid kept me out of my usual gym in 2020. That last part got me last January when we walked our butts off the first day hunting buffalo. I did fine, but I did wake up the next day sore and grateful to do some sitting in a blind for half the day. Day three I was walking plenty again and no sore legs after that. The past couple months my elliptical and flatland walking has been my principle calorie burner until last weekend when I went up a small local butte. That incline winded me and the next day my legs were burning which reminded me you use different muscles for that kind of terrain. So, if you're flatland hunting like my first hunts in Namibia or the area I buff hunted you're in great shape. If you're heading for some rolling hills or valleys like the East Cape is notorious for I'd suggest finding some hills or getting on a stairstepper a bit.
 
So I’m encouraging you all to keep after it! At 49 I had a heart attack walking into church for Easter service (2019). I’ve lost 70 lbs since then. Running occasionally and working out while reducing caloric intake by approximately 1/2. Keto Low carb with a day or two of fasting 18-20 hours at a time. God has been good to me! I’ve been to Africa twice since then and the weight loss and exercise definitely improved my ability to sit for hours waiting on (and harvesting) Mr Spots this past November. Headed out to New Mexico chasing an elk in October! The exercise pays dividends no matter how slow the pace in Africa!!!
 
Run 2.5-3 miles four times a week and load a pack up with 40-60lbs and hike twice a week. Works for me and gets me in the shape i want.
Power walk 30-35 miles per week every week. 3 months before Safari I go to a mountain 30 minutes away twice per week and power walk up the mountain with my backpack with a 30 pound weight in it. The mountain has a very steep climb which kicks my butt. This gets me where I want to be
 
Regular running, 5-6 days a week. No alcohol. Reasonable diet so I can stay in shape. It makes a huge difference.

We all need some type of regular exercise, year round. It makes all the outdoor hobbies easier and more fun. The last 100 calories every day are what send us up or down in weight. More exercise means you can eat more, hence all the running.
 
You guys are not going to Afghanistan. For Africa all you need to do is be able to walk up and down hills with a firearm for a total of maybe 12 miles a day max. Not to mention it is with frequent breaks.

If you can walk up and down some hills in your area 4-5 miles non-stop you will be in great shape for Africa. Of course, it is a good idea to get rid of some "penalty weight" as well.
 
“You guys are not going to Afghanistan “. Ha! Ha! Ha! Now that’s hilarious! Good thing I wasn’t drinking my coffee.
 
You guys are not going to Afghanistan. For Africa all you need to do is be able to walk up and down hills with a firearm for a total of maybe 12 miles a day max. Not to mention it is with frequent breaks.

If you can walk up and down some hills in your area 4-5 miles non-stop you will be in great shape for Africa. Of course, it is a good idea to get rid of some "penalty weight" as well.
Definitely not. I think training for a zombie apocalypse is really the focus.
 
Cardio and kettlebells.
 
I figured I add to this a bit. Prior to this last August hunt I basically walked every day. Since then I started rowing and liked it so much that I have a rowing machine at everywhere I spend a significant time in.

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I row 5K to 10K or even more a day depending on the workout cycle, eventually I wish to do a marathon row. I also walk about 4 miles on the days I walk at 16 min pace.

Therefore I am in pretty good cardio shape as I spend a significant time in interval training in Zone 3 and 4. Not to mention rowing works about 85% of the body.

So, imagine my shock last week when I had to climb a lot of steps in Cappadocia and my legs were hurting. Ditto for my girlfriend who is much younger and even better shape than I am.

We had neglected incline training. We used to hike up the hills around but last several months have been walking on flat ground around a local lake as they did not have rattlesnakes and we were taking the dog with us.

I guess we will be hiking up the hills now, especially since it is getting colder don't have to worry about rattlesnakes for the dog.

Moral of the story, don't neglect incline training in addition to cardio and weights.
 
I am 68, carry about 4kg too much weight most of the time. Two exercises do it all: walk 5 to 8km a day starting about a month before your hunt. Secondly work 4kg bumbells to strengthen your biceps. If you want to do more by all means go for it, but laying out too much and then falling short destroys the fun too.
 

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