Fitness is important, but so is acc. . . . accclim. . . being acclimatized– maybe just as much. Pushing a pencil in an office and working out in a gym does not prepare your body for hunting conditions. If you haven’t been outside in a while or you are traveling to a much different climate to hunt, it can take quite a toll on your body.

Altitude can be a real bear. I flew to Denver– just once. I didn’t notice the change until I had to park way out in the back of the hotel parking lot and schlep my bags to the front desk– thought I was gonna die! I was sucking air like a carp, and had a headache for 48 hours before I got used to it. Right then and there, I realized that a Rocky Mountain elk hunt was not going to be in my future. In reality, I’d never given it a whole lot of thought. When I dream, it’s usually moose up North. There’s a whole other set of issues when altitude is involved, and I’m not the one to ask. That’s okay. Kentucky has elk and I can take them at less than 1000 feet above sea level. That’s fine.

Usually by the time deer season starts, I’m fairly well used to the cold. I find that, closing in on 50, it still doesn’t take much to get me used to the conditions that KY presents in November. By the time opening weekend arrives, my body is ready. However, if I’m stuck inside for the few weeks before season due to illness or weather, sitting out in sub-freezing weather for hours on end exacts a great price.

I am not saying that dropping over from a heart attack while dragging a deer through the woods is not a possibility. However, putting yourself in the hospital with pneumonia from just sitting on a treestand all weekend is also a possibility. I don’t care how fit you are. I personally am more worried about what happens before and after the 3-hour drag. Let’s face it– if you’re heading towards a heart attack, you probably have had a couple of danger signs already, and probably should not have been in the woods to begin with. On the other hand, if you sit down on a stump afterward and don’t take proper care, even a fit man can get into trouble.

Get ready for it. If it’s going to be cold, get out in the cold some before season. If nothing else, take your evening cocktail on the back porch and drive to work with the windows down. Get your lungs ready for the cold air. If you’re going to be going south for early season hunting, turn off the air conditioning at home.

Dress properly. I cringe every time I bump into a hunter shivvering in a damp sweatshirt. I go out in a bare minimum, but carry a heavy set of bibs and parka to put on when I reach the stand. I put these back in the duffle when I leave the stand, and retrieve the deer. When I get back to the stand, I put my warm clothes back on while I’m waiting for my pickup. At all times, I have at least a sweater and a hat.

Don’t let yourself get run down. Eat. The worst I ever did myself was turkey hunting about 5 years ago. I let myself get just slightly damp, and went 6 hours with nothing but a cup of coffee– long story. The bottom line is that I ended up with bronchitis and wrecked my season. Keep stoking the fire. Don’t let yourself get run down from not eating.

Give yourself proper rest. Driving 10 hours, getting 2 hours sleep and then hitting the stand in 25 degree temps is a ticket for disaster. On the back end, don’t go from stand to truck to the Interstate, and 10 hours later flop into bed. I used to do stuff like that when I was in my twenties when I was young and foolish, and then spend the next week recuperating. Nowadays, I don’t dare pull a stunt like that. Take off a day early, and leave yourself a day to get home. Scout, help around camp, run a few errands, take a walk in the woods and enjoy yourself. Dad told me when I was five, “Son, if it hurts, you’re probably doing it wrong.” He was right.

In the Spring, I have no worries about going up and down ridges chasing turkeys. In the Fall, I will take half a day dragging a deer out of a ravine. If I take my time and don’t get stupid, I’ll still be able to do it when I’m 90. On the other hand, if I push my body much past what it is used to, I know I am guaranteed trouble.

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