There’s a lot of talk about always being physically ready — especially to hunt. But is that a genuine concept, or is it just a marketing ploy? Could you sincerely hop in the truck tomorrow to go on a big hunt and not get your ass handed to you in a tightly wrapped package of pain? I have a detailed answer for you — and one I think you’ll like. On the way to delivering it to you, you’ll discover some important truths about how the body works and how it adapts to training. We’ll also cover some training definitions and facts that will prevent you from being baffled by bullshit, while also giving you a deeper understanding of physical training for hunting. We’ll start the party by giving you the low-down on two often misunderstood training terms.

Here’s the funny thing about the short-term mindset — it makes a hunter think they have more time than they do. Then they procrastinate. Then they start too late to be fully prepared, even for the current hunting season. Then they start making bad decisions. Then they get their ass whooped. It looks a little something like this.

There’s a different and better way to think about and execute hunting fitness training — The Packmule Philosophy. It’s a way of thinking and training that prepares hunters to go wherever they want to go and allows them to stay for as long as it takes. And it builds the longevity that allows them to do that for the rest of their lives.

A map is useless for plotting a course to your desired location if you don’t know where you’re currently standing. You can’t make it to Point B without knowing your current Point A. You’ll meander, lost in the woods, wasting energy, without having any idea if you’re headed in the right direction. The same is true when hunters don’t assess their fitness before training.

Despite all of this, I think everyone can agree that training involves effort.  Zoom out and look at what humans are physically capable of and it's really amazing what sustained effort in any direction leads to.  Ballet dancers, endurance athletes, baseball players, F1 drivers - just a few of the many testaments to sustained effort over time.  While most of us aren’t trying to be the next Ohtani or Verstappen, we can take one lesson with us - consistent effort drives outcomes.  

Mountain hunting is a lot of things. It’s an adventure and for many hunters it’s a rite of passage. It’s a challenge of skill, a test of will, and, oftentimes, an experience that at least borders the spiritual. It is also an endeavor that requires a huge amount of muscular endurance. It’s tough to build your uphill muscular endurance to the right levels without knowing where you currently stand and what kind of training will move the needle for you. So, let’s learn you up on how to test your uphill muscle endurance for mountain hunting.