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What sort of stuff do most of you do to prepare for a safari? Walk? Hike with a pack? Stair climber? Weight training? How far in advance of hunt do you start conditioning? Thanks for input. | ||
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Good question! I think this has been gone through a little before...or maybe alot. I'm not in very good physical condition but I was able to carry my 38 pound baby girl on my shoulders for a 5 mile (mostly level) hike in the Guadalupes a couple of weeks ago. I really don't know what I'll need to expect of myself physically for buffalo hunting. Good hunting, Andy ----------------------------- Thomas Jefferson: “To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.” | |||
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Andy, Best damn thing most of us could do (me for sure) is to get rid of a bunch of the stuff in the middle! YOu know...where the belt goes! I try to walk 3.5 miles outside 5 or 6 days a week ( I have done that now for 6 yrs.) and I have some small hand weights that I do curls, etc with in order to keep some muscle tone in my upper arms. I do them every morning and a lot of time at night and esp. with my weak arm. I find that if I don't try and do a bunch of stuff that takes a bunch of time that I will do it near everyday but if you rob 2 or more hours out of your day doing various excercises then someday it will not be convenient to do them and then...you get out of the habit. KISS (Keep it simple stupid) and you will continue to do them almost daily. I feel kinda guilty and bad on the days I fail to walk etc. I leave the house feeling like crap and come back feeling great. You can borrow money but you can not borrow time. Go hunting with your family. | |||
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I drink beer and lounge around. Most hunting in Africa is about the easiest going. Certainly easier than sheep hunting or most elk hunting. The world is full of fat guys with trophy rooms full of African animals. Be in shape but don't obsess about it. You certainly don't need to carry a pack, and if you can't carry your rifle, someone can do that for you as well. | |||
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Sorry this is off subject a little bit, but the other day I heard a guy lamenting all of the hubub about obesity in American. His quote was: "Come on! Fat guys are the chirping canaries in the mineshaft of freedom!" Hope this at least gets a giggle out of someone as it got a roar of laughter out of me. --->Happiness is nothing but health and a poor memory<---Albert Schweitzer --->All I ever wanted was to be somebody; I guess I should have been more specific<---Lily Tomlin | |||
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Hugh I learned a long time ago that I dont have to be careful for ending up in too much "shape"  .My work keeps me indoors 7 days a week,so I have to make up.Getting and staying in shape for me is pure discipline,not enjoyment.I view it as the entry price for being able to do what I like to do.That being said- I think I found the equipment that works for me: started out with a treadmill,still use it but prefer a Precor elliptical - less impact on the knees etc,but the feet dont get enough workout.Then I use a weight machine for strength.Both are important. Stamina, that is heart/lung is certainly what usually limits us.I find exercise extremely boring,so try to maximise the time spent on it.That means I am pooped when done.In other words I use max settings I can get away with over the time spent.That setting varies with age,previous activity etc.YOu simply cant do too much.It is true - from my very limited African experience,that it doesnt compare to sheep or elk hunting,but thats no excuse to slouch.You simply dont get into decent shape in 6 weeks.So I try to keep it up. | |||
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Reminds me one time my father asked if I thought obesity was caused by genetics. I said, "No, but what do you think?" He replied, "Ever seen a picture of a fat man in a Nazi concentration camp?" When my daughter was 14 we took her took her to Paris as a present for getting on the A honor roll in her freshman year. As we stepped off the plane in Amsterdam, I asked her if she saw any fat people. "No Dad, why?" "Because that is the same gene pool that settled America." I stay in shape all the time, but if there is any hunting you can do being fat and out of shape, it has to be Africa (or deer hunting from a stand). | |||
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I've always been "too short for my weight" and it's been a chore staying within standards and maintaining flight status. I'm 50 now, but still manage to run about 3 miles 5X/week. When I went to africa, john Sharp walked my ass off and it was tough going up and down those rock kopjes scouting for game. I've never done any sheep hunting and probably never will, but african hunting is a hell of a lot more taxing than hunting deer! jorge USN (ret) DRSS Verney-Carron 450NE Cogswell & Harrison 375 Fl NE Sabatti Big Five 375 FL Magnum NE DSC Life Member NRA Life Member | |||
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Chukar hunting along the cliffs, hills and mountains of Idaho without a Tennesee Walker horse and with two hard-core German Shorthair pointers. After a couple of hours of that you will start sucking wind like a lung shot goose. lawndart  | |||
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Never been to Africa, but the hills here in Utah seem to get steeper every year. I fight the battle by running 4 to 5 miles at least five days a week. I also watch what I eat and have completely cut sodas out of my diet. I've also cut way back on fast foods and sweets. I'm able to run on my lunch hour at work, which works out great because between homework, honey-do's, etc., it's hard to find time at home. Walking is as good of exercise as anything, especailly if you're unable to jog/run because of injuries, etc., plus it's just plain good to relieve some stress. The best part about walking/jogging/running is it's relatively inexpensive. Might set you back a few $$$ for some good shoes and some shorts/sweats, but they'll last a long time, unless of course you start dropping some lbs.. When walking/jogging get easier, add some distance or work in some hills to make it a challenge. Stick with it for a while and I'll bet you'll be hooked. | |||
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Fitness is a relative thing. If you are fit to run it does not mean you are fit to cycle or to swim. To me fitness is the conditioning of your body to prolonged participating in a specific activity. Why is hunting taxing on your body? You will most probably cary a water bottle, spare ammo and a knife on a belt on your hips. Although it weight will not be more than 3 pounds it can be very taxing on your hips. You will walk with a rifle either in the ready position or slinged over the shoulder. If your shoulder skin is not used to this extra weight your skin will be get a rash and it is very uncomfortable. You might be able to walk many miles at a fast speed, but when hunting you go very much slower, you got to lift your feet higher to miss obstackles that will be noisy and ussually you got to keep your weight on your hind leg until your front foot is placed on the ground before you shift your weight to the front foot. This is a total different way of walking which can be tire you out very quickly. Often you will have to bend over a lot to miss branches of trees and schrubs, also taxing if you are not used to it. You will have to squad on your haunches for long periods to watch the game. As you get older your joint get stiffer as well. Squatting down for 2 minites can make it difficult to get up again. Practice the above and your hunting trip will be a lot less taxing on your body. BTW make sure your hunting shoes are also fit, well walked in and comfortable shoes makes a very big difference. Hope this will be of some help. Life is how you spend the time between hunting trips. Through Responsible Sustainable hunting we serve Conservation. Outfitter permit no. Limpopo ZA/LP/73984 PH permit no. Limpopo ZA/LP/81197 Jaco Human SA Hunting Experience jacohu@mweb.co.za www.sahuntexp.com | |||
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When I had my "taster hunt" in 2000, the most difficult part I found was crawling long distances over soft sandy soil... Jorge, If you think deer hunting is physically easy, you need to spend a few days chasing the Hinds on the hill in Scotland, especially if you have to drag one or two out...The older I get, the less sure I am that qualifies as "enjoyment"!  Regards, Pete | |||
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That's the best post I've read here in the three years I've been reading this forum. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ | |||
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It's also about the only good news I've had this year. | |||
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As my 1st trip neared last summer, I slacked off of my usual martial arts (aikido) as I didn't want to risk a strained back etc just before I left, did more yoga, but especially started stadium stairs wearing the boots I took.Rice University nearby has regular and steep sections, so I'd do about 45 minutes a few times a week mixing up the stairs. Bob | |||
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my fitness regimen has been the same for yrs...i mow lawns in the summer.........last yr i mowed 12-14 lawns every 6 - 7 days.......with a 20" cut push mower....... i got me a pedometer last yr out of curiosity... i mowed 4 lawns and checked it an i had walked 10.4 miles pushing a lawn mower that day... i do this about every day of the week in the summer......... | |||
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Turned 60 last year and the light dawned on why it's becoming harder to stay in some kind of shape, especially with an indoor job. Minimum three months before a hunt I go for the eliptical (boring) exerciser (used a stairclimber before and they are good, too). At least 20 minutes five times a week. Note, you must work up to 20 minutes beginning with, say six minutes and going to 20 over a week). Then the back and belly floor exercises (scissors, leg lifts, abdominal crunches) that establish tone and enhance flexibility working up to three sets of ten of five different exercises. Lastly, take 8 lb barbells (close to rifle weight) and work up (curl, reverse curl, above the head, raise out to side from waist and bring together from out at side position) to three sets of ten of the five different movements. Carry the rifle with ease (never use a sling when in the bush). Still feel a 10 km walk at the beginning of the hunt, but not bad and not worse the second day as when I'm really out of trim... Regards | |||
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I had a major leg op in November and ,managed to get in shape for my hunt in Febr. I started off with a stationary bicycle and moved on to a crosstraing device (six days a week/25 min/session). I also lost a few pounds. When we started hunting I noticed that I was in better shape than last year! I´ve been a bit lazy since I got back but I need to keep in shape for Namibia in Oct! | |||
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I walk at a brisk pace 6x weekly for 1-hour (for cardio) in my hunting boots and carrying a 15lb piece of pvc pipe filled with lead shot. The walking part is easy, getting used to the 15lb "gun" is tough. Also, I walk with a small back pack (the one I use hunting). Someone almost said it above, but when you're tired and hunting, every ounce makes a difference - you'll feel the pack, ammo weight, etc tugging on related muscles and taking strain on your body. Therefore I train with whatever I'll be carrying on the hunt, so that everything is the same in practice as it is in the field. | |||
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Right now I am working out twice a day. I walk two miles at lunch (1/2 hour) and hit the gym 5 days after work. I will probably do some weights before leaving for work and make a third work out each day. I spend the weekend on farm labor and that breaks me by Sunday night. I try and add do what Jaco said and walk in my woods and hit the tangly stuff to "practice" walking. Now's the time I am cutting wood for next winter so I get a lot of squatting and tricky walking cutting trees. It is flat as a pancake where I live which is why I am doing so much leg work. Much of what I am doing is to stave off some surgery. It is gonna happen, I just hope I can hold it off until I get done traveling this year. ~Ann   | |||
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I guess I am a lot more worried about conditioning for my goat hunt in British Columbia this coming September than I am about my trip to Africa coming up in May. I started getting in shape for the goat hunt last week already. What I do is to hike to the top of the mountain near my hunting cabin in Huntingdon County, PA. It is about a two mile hike, but is fairly steep. I carry a few coffee cans of fertilizer with me and fertilize some oak trees in my hunting area while I am there. Later this summer, I will add a backpack with two or three gallon jugs of water to the trip. I almost never work out with weights, thinking that the most exertion I ever get on a hunting trip comes from walking uphill or downhill, so that is what I do. During winter, my wife and I take the dogs for a two mile walk when the weather permits. This keeps my dunlop disease from getting worse. THE LUCKIEST HUNTER ALIVE! | |||
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I have always gotten the best endurance building results with 2 per day workouts. For some reason, 3 miles in the morning followed by 5 miles in the evening seems to yield greater benefits than 8 miles once per day. | |||
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I am going to have to measure the distance from the couch to the refrigerator and do some math. | |||
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Inside every fat hunter there is a skinny hunter trying to get out.(But you can keep him quiet with homemade cookies and Bluebell Homemade Vanilla ice cream.) | |||
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In my case he is not currently trying hard enough. | |||
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I am currently running six miles a day about four days per week.I pick one day a week and do a nice long one of eight to ten miles.I go at a bout a nine minute per mile pace ( an old man's schuffle) and just try to keep it steady.With this routine I can pretty much eat whatever I want and keep the weight off pretty well.When the time comes I do not want to miss an opportunity cause I could not keep up! I am 48 years old,5'10" and weigh 183 lbs. We seldom get to choose But I've seen them go both ways And I would rather go out in a blaze of glory Than to slowly rot away! | |||
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50 situps, pushups,pullups 3 times a week, followed by 30 minutes of running stairs or hills. Pete | |||
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Guilty as charged. I always try to start an exercise program about three or four months before a safari, stair climber and tread mill being the main method of choice. However, if I would have a windfall of cash today, it would not bother me greatly to take off for Africa in a few days. I could be packed in a few hours, all the gear, clothes, ammo are close at hand. I think many people obsess a little too much about their trip, which is only natural, especially the first time. How much space is taken up here about such things as the kind of bullets, type of flashlight, shirts, hats, even underwear? The better prepared you are, the better success you will probably have, but I am sure you can go and have a great time if you shoot your gun enough to handle it well and are in reasonable physical condition. Just go and have a good time. | |||
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500 grains nailed it! 2-a-days are the best period! Throw in the use of a heart rate monitor that you can buy at any decent sporting goods dealer and you will be in great shape....THE SMART WAY!!! Jeff (former USCF Cat 3 racer, NORBA Expert, Bolivian mountain biking guide, 5.11 climber, Ultra distance runner...Full time employer!!!) | |||
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