Sportsmans News

You can train your mountain muscle in singularity style; all you need is a kettlebell (KB).  Implementing the KB offers major bang for your buck. What is a KB?  It’s a traditional Russian cast iron weight that looks like a cannonball with a handle. It’s a great tool for fitness and has a great deal of application for sportsmen.  The KB goes way back, it first appeared in a Russian dictionary in 1704 (Cherkikh, 1994).  Sometimes less is more, and KB’s prove this to be true.  KB’s come in “poods,” which is a dated Russian measure of weight, which equals 16kg, or roughly 35 lbs. An average male should start with a 35lb KB and ladies a 20lb.  This may sound light but once you start you will soon see how the minimal load can give you maximal results; here’s how. Continue Reading

I’ve been reading about getting in shape on Internet hunting forums for several years now.  The self proclaimed expert advice can be overwhelming and varies from one guy to the next, but one thing is for certain, there isn’t much applicable advise for the whitetail folk.  It seems that the iconic magazine/TV personalities are pushing hunting fitness that primarily pertains to out west (mostly elk), but no one is focused on the whitetail guys.  I believe whitetail folk want to be in shape for health and wellness benefits, but also to make things easier when hanging stands, dragging out deer, and scouting responsibilities.  We can agree that whitetail fitness and out west fitness is not the same thing, but it’s time to step up and finally offer some light on the subject.  Not all whitetail hunters are fat, lazy, and don’t need to be in shape, in fact there are plenty that are limited to primarily whitetails and would agree that being in shape is going to help their season.  So if you’ve read this far, you’re probably wondering why do fist-pumping fitness freaks keep getting ink in my favorite publication.  Look, I know you need takeaway information that will make you more successful at hunting so, my aim is to come up with enough compelling reasons for you to revisit fitness one more time from a whitetail hunters perspective.  Here’s what you need to be in whitetail shape and why. Continue Reading

Hunt like an athlete sounds a hell of lot better than hunt like a lackadaisical slug.  Fit for the mountains, injury resistant, and conditioned to excel at the sport of hunting.  A true predator will take the woods prepared unlike a non-athletic couch potato.  So, to hunt like an athlete I believe you have to train like an athlete. Stop, I didn’t say you had to run ultra-marathons, shoot twice a day everyday, nor did I say you had to be extremist.  I’m saying there’s a new age of athletes taking to the field ready to conquer new ground and tame the mountains.  Athletes train for their sport year round and they are smart about it.  The following is a formula or template for hunting athletes to utilize.  The template is rooted in sports periodization, meaning the training should be organized and planned in advance of hunting season.  It should consider the athlete’s potential, his/her performance needed for the hunt, and calendar of competition.  It has to be simple, suggestive, and above all flexible as its content can be modified to meet the athletes’ rate of progress.  Here is how to organize your training into three primary phases. Continue Reading

A big chunk of professional athletes peak in their mid 30’s and remain competitive even into their 40’s. These aging athletes take care of their bodies when they’re young and adapt their training and lifestyle as they age.  To keep our outdoor dreams alive, we need proven strategies that will aid in the battle against father time.  None of us are getting any younger! Continue Reading

By Dan Staton

MS, PES

I know, you do not have the luxury of spending hours in a gym. You don’t have much for home workout equipment and perhaps you’ve found it difficult to stay the course of an exercise program.  You’re not alone.  So check out the following home grown workout plan, all you need is to carve out 20 minutes.  You can bust this workout in your basement, garage, shop, or your bedroom. And while a weight-free workout may sound easy, the home grown variety will challenge every muscle in your body.  The result will be an overall improvement in your General Physical Preparedness (GPP), which is the cornerstone to being the best outdoorsmen you can be.  GPP equates to being able to hike into any backcountry hole, drag a buck by yourself, hang a half dozen stands, or show up to elk camp a few pounds lighter.  Nature does not discriminate whether you’re young, old, in shape, or out of shape.  You’re better off walking into the woods this fall with a conditioned body.  Best of all, you can start today while the year is fresh. Continue Reading