Conditioning for the Hunt

A lot of folks are enjoying summer vacations and weekends at the lake, but kids and parents have begun counting the days until school begins. While they're still planning last minute adventures, they're also concerned about getting ready for the upcoming academic year. Sports teams, cheerleaders and marching bands are getting warmed up, building upon their skills and stamina in preparation of what will soon be expected of them. Hunters and anglers should take this idea of preparation into their own consideration. I once knew a young man who had a very active job. Each year he looked forward to his trip west to hunt big game, something he'd started doing with his father. He'd noticed that over the years, his father had slowed more than a step or two and expressed that concern to him. His dad; a wise man, explained he wasn't losing a step – he was just taking his time and enjoying the hunt. His father loved hunting the west and northern Michigan. He owned bird dogs and carried the same rifle he'd bought in his twenties to hunt mule deer and pronghorns. He'd built a lot of fond memories around those days and was thrilled to have raised his son to appreciate those very things. Far too soon, the older man's hunting friends began bowing out of the annual trips and were being slowly replaced by his son's buddies. That was fine with this aging hunter, because being with them reminded him of so many earlier hunts. That old man had worn out a lot of boots hoofing around Montana and tripping over hidden tree trunks over the years, and he'd learned to respect the land and his own growing limitations. A one-time star on the high school gridiron, he understood that you can't expect to perform your best without preparation. That ended up being one of the most important lessons of his life. He carried it into his job, his marriage and his hunting trips – he always developed a plan so that he could be as successful as possible. Hunting can become strenuous work. Hiking up hills, backpacking or horseback riding into remote areas, fighting through a boot sucking swamp to a special covert, walking miles across fields in search of Dakota pheasants, or dragging that buck out of the back-forty can tax the physical abilities of nearly anyone. He knew all of this from experience, and since his mid-twenties he had made it his own routine to prepare his body for those excursions. Long ago, the old man had decided that walking was the most logical way to stay ready for the hunt. His plan was to walk at least two miles every day. He would sometimes carry a loaded backpack, carry an eight-pound steel rod he'd found at a scrap yard, pull a kid's wagon loaded with more weight than any kid would load, and most of the time he'd have his dog beside him. There were still trips to the range and dog training, but the walk had become something of a religious experience and a personal dedication. He hoped to get his son into this routine, but the young man was too busy with his own kids, golfing, fishing and work – often saying he could run rings around his old man – and he could. As he got older, especially if he was pushing over his two-mile minimum, he found he needed to take an occasional breather. He shrugged this off as getting a little older. Checking with his doctor for confirmation, his own prognosis proved correct. Now he found himself on a Montana hillside taking just such a break, and only a few hundred yards from their perfect vantage point of a herd of good pronghorns. The boy, obviously frustrated to the slow down, took off on a fast walk up the hill with his own hunting buddy, leaving his dad to catch his breath alone. They were barely out of site when the young man's two-way radio crackled. There were chest pains, and shortage of breath – and no time to waste. The old man dumped his pack and double-timed down the hill nearly two miles to the point where they'd left an ATV for their final stalk. He roared back up the incline and found his son laying on the ground, hold his left arm. Together, the old man and the friend helped load him up and head to their waiting truck. When they got there, an emergency air-ambulance loaded him up for the long ride to the nearest hospital. That was nearly 40-years ago and the old man is gone now. Today, there is another gently aging man who can be seen walking every morning, sometimes carrying some kind of metal rod. His dog is usually leashed at his side and walking with him is a younger man that looks a lot like him. "Before anything else, preparation is the key to success." – Alexander Graham Bell Along the Way In the days since that associate of mine was readying himself for the fall seasons, computers have made planning your hunting trip and your fitness so much easier. A brief search found multiple low-impact programs for hunters to follow that can help get you into condition for your next western hike, carry that bag of decoys into the marsh, drag that deer out of the back-forty, or search for that dog hidden in the woodland shadows as hie holds its point. Upon reviewing them, it surprised me how well the old man's original plan would still fit into these newer health readiness ideas. As I was once told, it's easier to start young because it only gets harder as you get older. As a precaution, always talk to your doctor before starting any strenuous exercise program. While you're at it, don't forget your K-9 hunting partner. Use the same approach that you are using for yourself; gradually increase their exercise and training regimen, allowing them to build endurance and strength over time. Start with shorter walks or jogs and gradually increase the distance as their fitness level improves. This gentle approach minimizes the risk of injuries and helps dogs ease into the physical demands of hunting. It's important to remember that dogs are susceptible to heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke, which can be life-threatening. Keep an eye on weather conditions and adjust your training accordingly. Avoid exercising dogs during the hottest parts of the day and always provide shade and freshwater breaks. You should also consider incorporating basic obedience training during this conditioning sessions. This will help reinforces good behavior and responsiveness to commands in the field. Training aids such as whistles and retrieval dummies to simulate real hunting scenarios are excellent tools to reinforce discipline and desire. A quick internet search will find plenty of information on hunting dog conditioning. Having a plan is your first step. Step Outside: • Today: Family Fun Day, 9:30 a.m. Liberty Conservation Club, 1552 OH St Rt 235, Ada. Sponsored by Hardin Co. Pheasants Forever. Kids Fishing Derby check in at 9:30 a.m. with prizes awarded by age category (17 and under). After the derby, enjoy a cookout and out the BB gun range, archery, and kayaking. No experience? Volunteers will be on hand to help you learn how to shoot and paddle. • July 23: Exploring Deer Hunting. Anyone interested in learning the basics of deer hunting are encouraged to attend a free class on Wednesday July 23, from 6pm-8pm at the Wildlife District Two office, 952 Lima Avenue, Findlay. Topics will include rules and regulations, hunting techniques, and equipment. The class is ideal for anyone looking to start deer hunting and will be the first of a series of 3 classes. The additional classes will take place in the coming months and include hunting implements for deer hunting as well as scouting/stand placement in the field. For questions: Jaron Beck at 419-348-0851 or Jaron.Beck@dnr.ohio.gov • July 26: 3-D Archery Match, mixed animal targets. Field and Stream Bowhunters; 11400 Allen Township 109, Findlay. Registration opens at 10 a.m. and includes a shotgun start. Contact: John Fenimore at 419-957-8764. • Sept. 12-14: Ohio Women's Outdoor Adventure Weekend. This unique weekend is designed to introduce women to a wide variety of outdoor activities in a supportive, beginner-friendly environment. Participants—ages 16 and up—can try boating, fishing, shooting sports, nature programming, and much more. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Accommodations: Deer Creek State Park Lodge and Conference Center, Mount Sterling (Pickaway County). Cost: is $395 per person, based on double occupancy – includes lodging, four activity sessions, five meals, a t-shirt, transportation between venues, and evening activities. 100 spots available, early registration is encouraged. Registration OPEN NOW for first-time participants, and for past participants on Tuesday, July 15 at 10 a.m. For a complete listing of sessions and registration, visit ohiodnr.gov/owoa. • Sept. 19-21: Rendezvous on the Reserve, a unique living history encampment depicting the fur trade-era in the Indiana wilderness spanning the years of 1760-1840. This gathering will be held on the Blackford County Reservation of Myaamia Chief Francois Godfroy (4400 N. 800 E. - Montpelier, Indiana 47359) who chose this site in accordance with the terms of the 1818 Treaty of St. Marys. Enter the authentic encampment in the midst of life as it was more than 200 years ago. Demonstrations on muzzle-loader shooting, archery, and tomahawk & knife throwing. Visit: rendezvousonthereserve.weebly.com. Jim Abrams is a retired wildlife officer supervisor for the state Division of Wildlife in Findlay. He can be reached at P.O. Box 413, Mount Blanchard, OH 45867-0413 or via e-mail at jimsfieldnotes@aol.com.