Shape Up For a Safer and More Enjoyable Hunting Season
Exercising now will help ensure more pleasant hunting experiences

AKRON, OH – Many hunters are counting down the days until Ohio hunting seasons open this fall, but how many are counting push ups or laps around their neighborhoods? It’s not too late to put forth a bit of effort to improve the enjoyment of upcoming hunting adventures according to the Ohio Division of Wildlife. 

“Factors like poor weather and rough terrain, heavy backpacks, low activity levels, and poor diet can all affect your performance when hitting the fields and forests in pursuit of game,” said Dan Kramer, wildlife management supervisor for the Division of Wildlife in northeast Ohio. Properly preparing for more strenuous activity like hunting can include very simple steps, especially in the beginning. “Just take a 20-minute walk a few days a week and make some wise decisions when it comes to meals and snacks. After a couple of weeks, toss a backpack over your shoulders weighed down with several bottles of water to add a little challenge. Including steps or stairs into the routine will help with climbing hills and tree stands. Hunters don’t have to be workout warriors, just sportsmen and women leading healthier lifestyles,” Kramer noted. Good fitness will not simply make a hunt more enjoyable but it’s also a matter of life and death.

As hearts and lungs process oxygen more efficiently, performance in the field will increase and the ability to cover more ground will too. Moreover, climbing steep terrain will be less difficult. An added benefit of improving cardiovascular fitness is that risks for heart attacks are greatly reduced, not only in the field but overall.

As with any other hunting preparation routine such as sighting in a gun, having a bow checked for needed repairs, or scouting for game, fitness should be included.

As with any workout regimen, hunters should consult a physician before beginning a fitness program.