Just get even a little fit. The tired fellows can heard, in trying to follow the PH, they tend to go straight, over bushes and obstacles. The hell with going around them, it adds distance. It is something to see, a fellow wanting to shoot something badly, but he is blowing away, and with each intake and exhale, the rifle goes through a 40 deg arc. In SA there is an over the counter medication called "CrampEase." It replaces magnesium, potassium and sodium phosphates. It is a big help for sport training and muscular cramping in the elderly. It helps a lot.

375,

not in THOSE SHOES! Get that girl some Courteneys.

Rich

Buffalo hunting in Africa will give you less of a workout than walking 18 holes of golf.

Generally, my experience has been that you cut a track at a waterhole or across a road, or see the animal. You then follow the track until you lose him, or find him. Then you are either successful or you're not, and start the process again if you're not.

I find plains game hunting no more strenuous than mule deer hunting, probably less so.

I don't think I've ever walked more than two miles for a cape buffalo. I guess if you wounded one and had to follow him it could get long and drawn out. Hit them well and it's a 100 yard walk to where they lay.

You're right Rich, she'll just have to save those for the tent ...



Chuck

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
375,

not in THOSE SHOES! Get that girl some Courteneys.

Rich

What shoes?

When you should not wear grey so nobody mistakes you for a tuskless elephant and shoots you.

When an elephant tracker tracks you.

If you if you had to order a three x trigger guard

If an elephant cow gives you a "Come hither" look

If your gun needs a reverse cheek piece

If your LOP needs to be shortened so much it looks like a pistol grip.

If you pose for elephant trophy shot and have to stand behind it.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
375,

not in THOSE SHOES! Get that girl some Courteneys.

Rich

She wouldn't need boots if she came on safari with me, I would volunteer to carry her where she wished to go.

JPK

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:
You're too fat when you can't see your own shoes.

Or when you piss based on sound rather than sight.

Or when your waist size exceeds your jacket size.

Or when you stop wearing lace ups and shift over to loafers based on inability to tie your shoes rather than style.

Can I stop now!?

Its funny how after walking 15km and shooting a 54" kudubull looks better on the wall than a 59" one shot from a truck.
Its a pity that very few hunters admits it

Well for someone who has always "hoofed it" in the Rockies after elk, deer, bear, usually without horses and always without ATV's I'm kind of looking forward to more luxurious hunting in my older years. But I agree, I don't mind walking 15 km or so as long as I don't have to pack the animal out.



Chuck

You are too fat if you can place first or second for the "Dicky-Do Award".....that is, your belly sticks out further than your dicky do.

A very good gauge IMO.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC

Jerry,

Fedor is number ONE

Hamdeni

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry Huffaker:
Too fat in my opinion is when your physical weight impeads your ability to acheive your objective, whether it be walking, running, climbing, whatever.
Just looking at Fedor you would think he is fat, but he has unbelievable cardio and stamina. If you go by BMI he would be considered obese but I don't think I'd call him fat to his face.

When you wiggle your ears and the bull elephant lowers its trunk.

Sounds like I need to go on a diet. Darn.

I consider myself over weight at 90kgs.
Perhaps five months in Zim and Mozambique will sort that out?

You only walked 2km tracking a Buffalo? How about a hundred and ten K in six days?

My Grandmother once told me "fat" was when you had to go the oversquare* stack shopping for bluejeans that fall for school.

Rich

* Oversquare mens pants. When the waist number is bigger than the inseam one. I am there, 36W, 34L at 6'2 and 226. Walking will cure it.

quote:

Originally posted by Bahati:
This is way into the record books. The living proof ...



My, my ... look at that poor sucker next to him!

Holy Hell ! Who is that? Michael Moore?
I feel sorry for the people behind him who ain't gonna get a coctail cause there is no way that drink carts gonna make by that road block. Oh ! And the poor bastards in the front that do get a drink can't make it to the back to piss! That guy's got everybody screwed.

Great topic and some great posts.

JPK, I agree that bloody minded determination is more important than physical fitness but fitness helps.

I once aborted on a Tahr hunt (one night stay & 2 days walk up & down) simply because I was not fit - desk job, beer etc. I also have a cartilage damage in one knee that had surgery.
Then 10 years later (last Nov) I did a Tahr hunt for 4 days - walked up a rapid stream for 3 hours with a 20 kg pack (the most difficult walking in mountains that I have done in over 30 years of hunting and Himalayan trekking!) I was working out in the Gym for 3 to 4 months before the trip. I found that lower body (back, thigh, calf) resistance training was important. I was lucky to see a young woman do step ups on a half-ball thingi...I was surprised how difficult it was to keep my balance with just step ups. 5 minutes a day increasing to 15 minutes a day of jogging on this half-ball & it made the big difference. I found that it was not just the main muscles that are important but the MOST important are the muscles that you normally use least, the ones that manage the joints. The ankle & knee joints are the weakest. This half ball jogging was a miracle on the joints and got them really fit in 3 weeks. I was surprised that I could manage the rocks and steep terrain much better as my balance on each leg was so much better.
Yes I still woke up sore each morning but I was even fitter by day 3. Yes I did shoot 4 female Tahr too - my first...

Anyone wants to train, I'll take you into the hills of NZ!

My friend Barry says "Best practice for climbing hills is to climbs hills. Best practice for going hunting is to go hunting". So we also train by hunting feral goats on weekends in rugged, steep farm country adjoining reserve bush.

I was in the gym Friday. I told my trainer about this thread. He brought about a vest that weighed 25 pounds. I put it on and walked across the room. It was tougher than I thought.

The trainer pointed out that many are carrying around a lot more than that. It must really suck to carry all that weight around.

That goes to my point about folks who sweat making their rifle weigh a pound less then carry around an extra 30 lbs with them when they hunt. As we get older it's just plain tougher to keep in shape, particulary if you still have to work and it doesn't involve anything more strenuous than getting up for coffee...

I'm looking forward to becoming fabulously rich so I can spend more time hunting and running after younger women ...



Chuck

Chobe,

You really seem to have a problem with African hunters, don't you? One thread is about chest thumping; the other is about how fat African hunters are.

Hey, I sound like a broken in saying African hunting isn't that hard. A recent show on Outdoor Channel (or something similar) showed a guy hunting in Africa who couldn't walk without his legs rubbing together. He never even carried his own rifle. So no, African hunting isn't hard.

But you know what? It is FUN.

How fat is too fat? I believe this might be it.
I'm gonna go throw up now.

Now we have gone from "Fat African Hunters" to "Hippos on Land or in the Water"

Oh man...what a rush...i could have done without that..

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I was in the gym Friday. I told my trainer about this thread. He brought about a vest that weighed 25 pounds. I put it on and walked across the room. It was tougher than I thought.

The trainer pointed out that many are carrying around a lot more than that. It must really suck to carry all that weight around.

Ahh, but you have been decieved! You put on 25lbs and tried to walk across the room, the fellow with the gut does that just to hit the can in the morning, and carries the extra weight all day, every day. It is not the same.

But, on the other hand, if you train with a day pack full of bottled water you will feel light as a feather and ready to go anywhere and go all day when you take it off.

Also good to train with a weighted pipe to simulate your rifle, best to have it weight more than your rifle, for the same effect.

JPK

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
Chobe,

You really seem to have a problem with African hunters, don't you? One thread is about chest thumping; the other is about how fat African hunters are.

Hey, I sound like a broken in saying African hunting isn't that hard. A recent show on Outdoor Channel (or something similar) showed a guy hunting in Africa who couldn't walk without his legs rubbing together. He never even carried his own rifle. So no, African hunting isn't hard.

But you know what? It is FUN.

Hasn't been hard for you, eh? Or the fat guy you saw. As in most every type of hunting, it can be more difficult or easier. You have a choice. Terrain, chosen game, time of year... Sometimes the PH takes a look and make a plan for the hunter...

JPK

quote:

Originally posted by JPK:

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
Chobe,

You really seem to have a problem with African hunters, don't you? One thread is about chest thumping; the other is about how fat African hunters are.

Hey, I sound like a broken in saying African hunting isn't that hard. A recent show on Outdoor Channel (or something similar) showed a guy hunting in Africa who couldn't walk without his legs rubbing together. He never even carried his own rifle. So no, African hunting isn't hard.

But you know what? It is FUN.

Hasn't been hard for you, eh? Or the fat guy you saw. As in most every type of hunting, it can be more difficult or easier. You have a choice. Terrain, chosen game, time of year... Sometimes the PH takes a look and make a plan for the hunter...

JPK

JPK:

Let's put it this way: I have yet to meet a sheep hunter or even elk hunter who thought African hunting was hard.

But your comment does remind me how important the PH is in determining how hard you work (or can work). Experience vs endurance. Like the story of two Cape buffalo, one young, one old, standing on a hill looking down at a herd of cows.

"Hey, let's run down the hill and fuck one of those cows," the young bull says.

"Why don't we walk down the hill and fuck 'em all," says the old bull.

Im too fat when I cant do it anymore. Am I in great shape? No way! I am in my mid to late 50s and about 50 lbs overweight. I am still fairly active but nothing like I was when younger. It is much harder on me these days so I move slower and struggle more. Would it be easier and more fun if I was in better shape or younger? Sure. But that is not where I am at this point in life for a multitude of reasons, many of which are of my own making. I have to move slower, exert more energy and at times struggle to do the same thing those younger or in better shape do. That said I still do it. I cant keep up with some of the others but dont need to. I hunt at my pace and duration. When I cant do that it will be time to stop. This isnt some sort of testosterone fuelled competition. It is putting your abilities at whatever level on the line. It would be easier if I was in better shape and or younger, but Im not. As long as I can do it, that is all that matters to me. I am not out to impress anyone else. I hunt for my own enjoyment and at times some of that enjoyment is humbling.

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:

quote:

Originally posted by JPK:

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
Chobe,

You really seem to have a problem with African hunters, don't you? One thread is about chest thumping; the other is about how fat African hunters are.

Hey, I sound like a broken in saying African hunting isn't that hard. A recent show on Outdoor Channel (or something similar) showed a guy hunting in Africa who couldn't walk without his legs rubbing together. He never even carried his own rifle. So no, African hunting isn't hard.

But you know what? It is FUN.

Hasn't been hard for you, eh? Or the fat guy you saw. As in most every type of hunting, it can be more difficult or easier. You have a choice. Terrain, chosen game, time of year... Sometimes the PH takes a look and make a plan for the hunter...

JPK

JPK:

Let's put it this way: I have yet to meet a sheep hunter or even elk hunter who thought African hunting was hard.

But your comment does remind me how important the PH is in determining how hard you work (or can work). Experience vs endurance. Like the story of two Cape buffalo, one young, one old, standing on a hill looking down at a herd of cows.

"Hey, let's run down the hill and fuck one of those cows," the young bull says.

"Why don't we walk down the hill and fuck 'em all," says the old bull.

I'd say sheep hunters have it the hardest

After reading this thread I'm thinking it may have been a good thing that I couldn't make the DSC party back in January. I am overweight. I weigh 180 and am 5'8", but that isn't the worst of it. I was first diagnosed with bursitis in my knees, hips, and shoulders at 25yrs old. I have limited lung capacity due to scarring cause by almost dying at age 12 of pneumonia. I still walk, but it is painful and I am definitely limited in how fast I walk.

To all the younger guys out there that would criticize, just wait until you get on the other side of 50, the joints are shot, and your testosterone (therefore metabolism) drops by about 75%. At that point it is painful, you have long since given up the big macs, you are eating salads and a couple ounces of meat at meals, and your weight still creeps up. Of course it doesn't help being short.

I have been to Africa once and I am going back in May. I was very upfront with my PH before my first trip so there were no surprises for him.

Charles,

Don't ever worry about showing up at any AR get together, you are most welcome. My wife has rehumathoid arthritis and the pain is there always. She never complains and accepts her condition and takes care of herself.
No one can say they understand unless they have to face serious health problems.
So just ignore the blowhards.

Mike

Mike,

Thanks for your comments.

My sympathies for your wife. I'll take bursitis any day over arthritis.

Hopefully we can make it next year to the AR DSC party.

Charles

I don't think any member of AR should hesitate going to the DSC party. It is a friendly group that loves guns and hunting. I think all will be made welcome.

Thinking about this...the easiest guided hunt that I ever went on was an elk hunt. Sort of turned me off of paying decent bucks to hunt elk, although I am sure one can choose to make the hunt more challenging by hunting in a different location than I did. Certainly a DIY elk hunt is a challanging hunt, I would think.

The second easiest was Masailand, it was like a vacation, wonderful and relaxing but we do more hiking on our family holidays.

Was weird though, there were guys in camp both times who were struggling with various aspects of the trip, so "easy" and "hard" must be somewhat relative.

It also tells me that one can experience easy or hard hunts for the same game depending on where they go, how they hunt, when they hunt, who they hunt with, etc. The neat thing is, there is a choice.

How about a vote to ban Aussie21 for 30 days?
There are a few things that go waaaaaaaaaaaaay beyond the bounds of good taste or even funny-nasty. His blonde girlfriend is one of them.

Rich
has to be his woman, nobody would spend the time necessary to focus the camera and take that picture except some guy who was "doing that" .

Geez between A21 & ISS, STOP I say! Thats like a welding flash burnt onto my retinas. How do I focus on kudu, warthog, springbuck and bushbuck with that thing blotting out the crosshairs.

Hey at least I posted a picture of the Resident Evil sweetheart. That should restore your eyesight ...

Chuck

quote:

Originally posted by Scriptus:
Geez between A21 & ISS, STOP I say! Thats like a welding flash burnt onto my retinas. How do I focus on kudu, warthog, springbuck and bushbuck with that thing blotting out the crosshairs.

Sorry I just couldn't resist

I reckon I will have to go and look at Walters domain, some red haired girls, or the best in jeans. There must be a fix down there.

Last week,our secretary,the house fitness nut,announced that we were all out of shape and she would like to start a fitness program.
She announced that we should go out walking on our lunchtime.
Now,she's 5'3"and weighs 120,I'm5'6" and weigh 200.
Next day we're going for our walk and I hand her a steel bar weighing 8 pounds and I have one myself.
She asks"what's this for?"
I reply "that's your rifle,now lets go"
Went off on a good pace UPHILL and kept going, returning after 5 miles of a good walk.
End result?
She nearly died carrying the"rifle" and thought it was a good workout.
She doesn't want to walk with me ANYMORE!

IRONFIST