Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

What kind of, if any fitness programs do y'all do to get in or stay in shape for turkey hunting. I'm 51 years old and have never really trained just let my hobbies keep me in some sort of shape. That's not working anymore and I need to make it a priority so I can continue to go up and down these hills as possible. I'm possibly going out west next spring to Idaho and Washington so my fitness really needs addressed for that. Any ideas?

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

I'll toss my two cents in and tell you to work on your cardio by cycling ( Stationary bike or on the road) walking or swimming. Anything activity that that raises your heart rate. If you go to a gym work on your legs.
Leg Raises will help to strengthen your lower body and improve your balance and flexibility.
Calf Raises,
Squats help to strengthen the muscles in your lower body. Also will help with hip and knee flexibility.
Lunges
All those you can do at home.
I'm sure others have some type of routine they like or enjoy but that's a start.

A good rowing machine can do a lot for cardio.  I prefer walking and some weight lifting.  Nothing very heavy, plenty of reps and keep the muscle tone. 
I need to do legs or squats but I hate them and avoid that.  ????

Don't laugh.  But add a yoga class into your weekly routine. Then get your core strong,  work on cardio.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Golf  :)

An active sex life is great for cardio, mental state of being, & helps to sleep well...

Just saying..

Sent from my SM-A516U using Tapatalk

Quote from: boatpaddle on June 02, 2023, 04:18:26 PM
An active sex life is great for cardio, mental state of being, & helps to sleep well...

Just saying..

Sent from my SM-A516U using Tapatalk

I'm gonna show this to my wife and see if she'll get on board. You know for my health and all lol.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

I "train" year round, strength training and cardio every day when I am home.  So many good resources on youtube now if you are not into training it is easy to find some good info.  Of course there is always some clown too, like the liver king.

If you are not currently doing anything keep it simple, an hour a day of some kind of activity can make a large difference.

Athleanx is a good resource, he is not just some meat head, he has a masters in physical therapy and at one time was a physical therapist and strength coach for the NY. Mets.

We have gym at work so during my lunch I will use the stair machine a couple times a week. It will really give you a workout. I do it because I hunt a lot of mountains.

I work carpentry and I farm!  Not a whole lot of time or energy left for a workout routine!!  But I do find time for 2 packs of lucky strikes a day. The morning coughing fits usually help with kick starting my heart for the day! 

When it's not turkey season, my daily routine is up at 4am. I am lucky to have a very nice gym at our office so I am working out at by 4:30 am. I lift for an hour. Focus on different mscle groups each day, and finish with 2 miles on the treadmill.I try to keep it that under 14 minutes.  At my desk by 6:am. In the evenings, I am working on home projects, but in the winter, when things are slower, I box for about 20 minutes. The other half of this equation is diet. Eat plenty of protein and stay away from carbs and processed sugar as a general rule. My wife is a bit of a fitness nut as well, and as she likes to tell her volleyball girls, " you can't out exercise a crappy diet." Still, life isn't meant to be miserable, so we enjoy an occasional pizza or cheat meal. We are in our early 40s, and honestly, I wish I would have started doing this earlier. I still hunt as hard as I did in my 20's. And we are both in better shape than most 20 year Olds these days.

I alternate between Jazzercise and Sweatin To The Oldies

Big thing is diet. Portion control, limit carbs, stay away from sweets......

I think a lot of it is going to depend on your age and your current fitness level. At a minimum, staying mobile and walking as much as you can will absolutely benefit you. Sedentary activity will not. Walk walk walk. If your already in fairly good shape, adding in weight lifting and running is beneficial as well. Someone suggested rowing. That's an excellent suggestion. A great way to get the cardio burn, elevated heart rate, and challenge your lungs without being hard on your joints.

I'm 43 with a broken body. Years of dirt bike riding and racing and subsequent crashes took their toll. Here I am with two herniated discs and a doctor telling me back surgery is in my future. Yet despite this I run 2-3 days a week around an 8 minute pace, lift weights, row, etc. lots of hikes as well. That's what works for me. A body in motion is met to stay in motion.

 I was fortunate this year and did get to spend a lot of time in the woods. I usually hunt all morning till 12-1oclock.

I like to stay close to where I hunt so cook my own food mostly. I ate out three times this turkey season.

I usually have a rib eye or a filet. Not to partial to the filets, only have them for when I have a dinner guest. Which I do frequently.

So, I have went from the 20 ounce Ribeyes, mushrooms, ramps, asparagus or potatoes in season to just a 34 ounces tomahawk yesterday. No sides. Maybe I will be dead before next season gets here.

Eating tater chips are good for the hands, wrist, and elbows.  :TooFunny:

Typical turkey season grub from my tailgate little Chad grill. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230603/aa112321f948529edf62027c21e7135d.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230603/fcf98f2260f54f8be20d72a33ceb7004.jpg)

Sent from my S62 Pro using Tapatalk

I walk 6 days a week.  Usually 1 - 3 mile pre measured routes.  I found walking the same routes became boring so I have many treks planned out.  Really makes a difference.
Btw - we may have seen why you never use plastic utensils to eat steak. :TooFunny:

Those actually had made it through 3 seasons. They are not your average plastic utensils. Bought two sets, still have one complete, obviously the other, is missing a fork. It got worse!

I ride my gravel bike alot. So much that my legs hurt so bad last night I took tylenol to go to sleep. Then I took Tylenol again today so I could ride again. However they feel pretty good currently, and tomorrow will be a rest day.

I will be doing a lot of walking, trying to get to certain waterfalls and such for my photography. With that comes carrying a backpack with lenses and tripods in it as well as other gear. One place I intend to go I will be paying a friends son to hull the stuff into, just to much for my back and knee at this point. All this may be changed as I am trying to get surgery on the three middle toes of my left foot, this season was simply excruciating and not as fun as it could have been, walking on the sides of your toes is no fun at all.

When it comes to exercise, its simple: you get out of it what you put into it. You don't have to turn into David Goggins, but making the lifestyle choice to include reasonably intensive strength training and cardio, along with a proper diet, on a near daily basis will do things for your body and mind you wouldn't believe were possible. Forget about doing it for turkey or elk in Idaho, that'll just be a nice side benefit.

Up until 40, I just did cardio to "keep from getting fat". And yeah, it worked. But then I decided to add strength training. I found an experienced trainer and hired him for 6-7 sessions where he built weight routines for me and enlightened me on a proper diet. That was 8 years ago and, BY FAR, the best money I've ever spent on myself.

The gym is the closest thing there is to a Fountain of Youth. Believe it!

Quote from: WV Flopper on June 02, 2023, 09:53:46 PM
Typical turkey season grub from my tailgate little Chad grill. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230603/aa112321f948529edf62027c21e7135d.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230603/fcf98f2260f54f8be20d72a33ceb7004.jpg)

Sent from my S62 Pro using Tapatalk

That looks about perfect. I would probably pass on the potatoes most days. Not because I don't like them though. You travel well.

Almost 58 and always in shape. Yes, round is a shape.  :funnyturkey:

  Seriously, I always feel I'm never in good enough shape. A little beat up now, shoulders, back, knees all part of getting old and still pushing forward. One time I was close to 280. Trimmed up to a shay under 210. I'm floating around 220 right now.
  I still play basketball 2 times a week in an over 50 league (competitively). I have a stationary bike I like to pedal on now on off days. Nothing crazy 1/2 hour a day roughly 7mi. Gets a sweat in. With some walking as well. I do stay active with my hobbies.
  My big down fall is my diet! And during hunting season it's horrible. I'm ready to get after it again and get serious. Maintaining and consistency is tough. As they say.... Everything in moderation.

B~Well Johnny

My off-season routine is going back and forth from the recliner to the refrigerator several times a day.   ;D  :angel9:

Quote from: GobbleNut on June 03, 2023, 01:53:25 PM
My off-season routine is going back and forth from the recliner to the refrigerator several times a day.   ;D  :angel9:

.  My brother! :icon_thumright:

I tend to work the elbow. ????

 This impromptu poll shows most of us need to do more..  :TooFunny:
Staying in good shape (especially as the years creep up) gives an overall better quality of life, hunting included.

Explains the shape of some of the boys I ran into this spring...haha

My wife says I get a lot of exercise RUNNING my mouth, JUMPING to conclusions and PUSHING my luck.   ;D

Quote from: Tail Feathers on June 03, 2023, 06:02:05 PM
My wife says I get a lot of exercise RUNNING my mouth, JUMPING to conclusions and PUSHING my luck.   ;D

Yes, she is technically correct, that's a lot of work :TooFunny:

Quote from: Brad_Colvin on June 02, 2023, 03:01:41 PM
What kind of, if any fitness programs do y'all do to get in or stay in shape for turkey hunting.

Strength training of some sort is vital. I like heavy kettlebells for that.

Cardio is important of course, I like beating on a big tire with a steel mace (ONNIT) especially the heavier maces (25# and above) or dragging a weighted sled (Rogue S-25 Fat Boy Sled) through the woods/fields.

Just find something that works for YOU, and then stick with it!

I turkey hunt and bow hunt in Appalachia where nothing comes easy. I workout year round not just to stay in shape for hunting, but it also helps with focus and performance at my job. At 41: get up at 445-500 listen to lots of old school Metallica and do various exercises with kettle bells mostly focusing on my back and core then finish off with a run on the treadmill.

After work: crank up the pantera and do free weights and work on other major muscle groups like my chest and legs. Then I'll crank the treadmill up between a 10-12% incline and do 30 minutes of incline cardio. I drink 3 liters of water a day minimum, take in plenty of protein, and limit sugar and no alcohol during the week. On the weekends or when I'm off/not hunting I'll raise hell like I'm 21 again and start all over on Monday morning. 

I know it may sound extreme to some folks, but in the past few years I've seen so many of my buddies not be able to pursue the things they love because they let themselves go. In fact I lost one of my best friends in the world to a heart attack this spring just before turkey season at 60. I know nothing is guaranteed, but I want to be able to do what I love to do for as long as I can and that means exercising

Lately I have only worked on "Fitness Taco in my Mouth"!!! 
I definitely need to do better!

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

Quote from: boatpaddle on June 02, 2023, 04:18:26 PM
An active sex life is great for cardio, mental state of being, & helps to sleep well...

Just saying..

Yeah...  But your going to get carpal tunnel... :toothy12:

Quote from: Marc on June 06, 2023, 12:45:11 AM

Quote from: boatpaddle on June 02, 2023, 04:18:26 PM
An active sex life is great for cardio, mental state of being, & helps to sleep well...

Just saying..

Yeah...  But your going to get carpal tunnel... :toothy12:

BOOM!  Shots fired!! :TooFunny:

Eating better and human portions, lost 33 pounds and the goal is 30 more. Walking 4 miles after work and rehabbing my dam shoulder. Light weighs training to get back what was lost. So thinner and cardio. I am old and broken, focusing on getting healthier for retirement. Z

Quote from: zelmo1 on June 14, 2023, 05:54:09 AM
Eating better and human portions, lost 33 pounds and the goal is 30 more. Walking 4 miles after work and rehabbing my dam shoulder. Light weighs training to get back what was lost. So thinner and cardio. I am old and broken, focusing on getting healthier for retirement. Z

Congrats Z! Well done.....

Back in 17, my first year hunting in western North Carolina I realized I needed to make changes. I went from 230 to 165 so I've got my eating under control. My biggest problem is everything hurts. I want to continue hunting the way I like to hunt and enjoy doing it.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

Quote from: zelmo1 on June 14, 2023, 05:54:09 AM
Eating better and human portions, lost 33 pounds and the goal is 30 more. Walking 4 miles after work and rehabbing my dam shoulder. Light weighs training to get back what was lost. So thinner and cardio. I am old and broken, focusing on getting healthier for retirement. Z

Good for you! Keep at it!

I'll say this. I work construction in the oil and gas refineries and we work 7/12s till the job gets done. If it's 3-6 weeks straight it's just what you've got to do. I stay on my feet all day in steel toes so I'm pretty active year round. I still hit squats lunges and push ups every day when I get off work. I feel I get enough steps throughout the day. An average day is 7-9 miles at work. The biggest thing that has definitely changed my mobility and stamina is I try my best to stay away from any types of sugar! I don't eat much bread and I'm heavy on the veggies. I'm almost 40 and a lot of the younger guys really can't hang and that's a lot of because the way they eat and all of the sugar they intake. Fruits and veggies are your friends. People have forgotten that. Just my 2 cents

After college transitioning to a desk job I fell out of shape and gained weight pretty fast.  After realizing that it directly affected my hunting one season I committed to getting in shape. 13 years later I have 400 sq foot gym in my basement and for the last 5 years my wife has been very dedicated as well and the gym sees daily use from one of us. this year we made a commitment to bettering our nutrition and that's been a big positive change.

I will say for all the trial running, weight lifting and all the other stuff I do. For hunting incline walking with a weighted vest is probably the best carry over to hunting.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

I have two shorthairs and a shorthair/blue tick mix that would force me into anger management if I didn't get them out for a run at minimum every other day. So I walk in their wake 4-6x per week out on the DCNR/PGC ground. Helps to mix in some uneven/mountainous terrain as well. In my opinion, there's no piece of exercise equipment that can get you in better shape to hunt mountains than by walking them in boots and jeans