Fitness in the field

[GGC96]

Hi all,

I’m looking to improve my overall fitness this includes for my stalking, especially for longer days on the ground. I manage fine on flatter woodland terrain, but when the elevation starts climbing, I definitely feel it more than I’d like - especially when dragging.

For those of you who regularly stalk in the hills, are avid gym goers or personal trainers -

• What kind of training or exercises have you found most effective?
• Do you focus more on cardio, strength, or a mix of both?
• Any practical tips for building up endurance?
• And if you’ve made noticeable improvements, how long did it take before you felt the difference in the field?

I’m not aiming to be an ultra athlete — just fitter, more comfortable, and able to enjoy a full day without feeling like I’ve been run over the next morning.

Would really appreciate any advice, routines, or personal experiences from those who’ve been there and improved their fitness.


Thanks in advance!

 

[Tim.243]

Hi all,

I’m looking to improve my overall fitness this includes for my stalking, especially for longer days on the ground. I manage fine on flatter woodland terrain, but when the elevation starts climbing, I definitely feel it more than I’d like - especially when dragging.

For those of you who regularly stalk in the hills, are avid gym goers or personal trainers -

• What kind of training or exercises have you found most effective?
• Do you focus more on cardio, strength, or a mix of both?
• Any practical tips for building up endurance?
• And if you’ve made noticeable improvements, how long did it take before you felt the difference in the field?

I’m not aiming to be an ultra athlete — just fitter, more comfortable, and able to enjoy a full day without feeling like I’ve been run over the next morning.

Would really appreciate any advice, routines, or personal experiences from those who’ve been there and improved their fitness.


Thanks in advance!

Change the way you drag your deer (reduce the friction) these 2 being pulled around 300 yds 125kg.

 

[glasshalffull]

Go beating twice a week!

(Terms and conditions apply, doesn't work if you do picker upper !)

 

[jall55]

May i suggest look at HIIT
Some of the programmes Joe Wicks does are great

 

[Pedro]

Getting that little bit fitter is no bad thing, not only for stalking. Without going mad and joining a gym in the new year, just regulate what you eat better and lose a few pounds (we all think we weigh less than we do) and movement. I invested in an exercise bike and use that a few times a week. I’m an old rocker so 15 minutes or so is where I started, then slowly built it up. If you’ve got a dog, then walk the hind legs off it too.

As for strength, that’s probably not as important but it’ll obviously help with dead weight deer! The thing with exercise is you’ve got to do something you enjoy, or you won’t stick with it. And have goals.

 

[Bo Diddley]

Shoot 'em closer to the track.

 

[pendle]

Chair exercises at home . Aqua circuit training easy but needs a swimming pool subscription

 

[GGC96]

For context I'm 29 years old and already go to the gym frequently - I'm mainly a after a targeted exercises/routines that will help me with this. As much as I've thought of dragging a bunch of weights around at the gym, I don't think the other users would approve.

This however is (along with everyone else's contribution, but especially this) extremely good advice

Shoot 'em closer to the track.

 

[TonyC]

Using a well known injection system Ive lost 22 kgs in 10 months and the impact on my stalking endurance has been incredible, blood pressure treatments binned by doctor, knee aches gone, can now cope with any hill and can carry roe out
quite easily - I have impressed myself with the improvements - not bad for 78!

 

[GGC96]

Using a well known injection system Ive lost 22 kgs in 10 months and the impact on my stalking endurance has been incredible, blood pressure treatments binned by doctor, knee aches gone, can now cope with any hill and can carry roe out
quite easily - I have impressed myself with the improvements - not bad for 78!

I have given these a consideration - Whilst I am a fairly active chap, one of the main reasons I like to shoot deer is because they taste great I have been told that these injections stop hunger, might just need to buy a bigger freezer if im eating less

 

[foxinmad]

Using a well known injection system Ive lost 22 kgs in 10 months and the impact on my stalking endurance has been incredible, blood pressure treatments binned by doctor, knee aches gone, can now cope with any hill and can carry roe out
quite easily - I have impressed myself with the improvements - not bad for 78!

Brilliant, well done.

 

[geoshot]

I had a rude awakening about my fitness level, or more precisely the lack of it, over the past weekend
I travelled with the missus and a couple of pals to North Wales for a bit of white water kayaking
I was made to realise that I had enough in the tank for one day of moderate to hard paddling on the Saturday but I wasn't fit for much on the Sunday

I had a heart attack in February 2024 and started exercise as soon as I could thereafter
But
I clearly need more strength & endurance work than what I have been doing, I need to push myself a bit harder
I wouldn't want to try to drag a big Red out of a North Devon valley - certainly not by myself anyway
Back to some bigger weights and upping protein intake for me

 

[GGC96]

Back to some bigger weights and upping protein intake for me

Luckily venison is such a great source of protein and low in fat

 

[Mike1979]

Shoot 'em closer to the track.

100% agree with you there mate. Always think about the extraction before you pull the trigger. Fine with Muntjac, CWD or Roe but not good to have the larger species a long recovery away...especially when you decide to shoot 4 (and they were only fallow for me). I have the upmost respect for the guys who deal with lots of big reds

 

[Tim.243]

Just drag them....

 

[NullMac]

Exercise bike. Saves the knees etc. Good base plan on the Wattbike app. Gives cardio fitness while strengthening the legs

Basic weights squat deadlift bit of pushing and pulling. I need that to get the carcass into my fridge more than anything else

But it’s mainly the legs

Also I now use an ice fishing drag for the deer. £10 for 2 so they are consumables but also petty robust. May as well make it as easy as I can.

 

[Bo Diddley]

100% agree with you there mate. Always think about the extraction before you pull the trigger. Fine with Muntjac, CWD or Roe but not good to have the larger species a long recovery away...especially when you decide to shoot 4 (and they were only fallow for me). I have the upmost respect for the guys who deal with lots of big reds

We've all done stupid things, like shooting too many, or in ridiculous situations, or when you're really having a blonde moment, both at the same time. I know my limitations now .
Heck, I even turned down the chance of what would have been the finest Red stag for me ever, because of the extraction. Like a lady said to me while beating last year, "pulling the trigger is the easy bit, getting them out is the hard bit."
PS, I still think about that stag I passed up on, there were in fact three, any one of which would have been just great, I looked at them, wondering which one would be first choice

 

[SSN100]

Off weighted dynamic lunges. Will strengthen the key dragging muscles and your core. Don’t do too many the first time.

 

[opticron1]

Not wishing to sound simplistic!
Find a hill, walk up it at your normal pace.
Repeat at a slightly quicker pace......then start taking a bit of extra weight in your back pack - sometimes house bricks work but anything will help build your stamina up.
Keep repeating it - maybe on different hills as doing the same one time after time can get a bit tedious....
As for dragging - best answer is to 1) find a pal to "help" with any extraction or
2) see if there's a rugby training area and try dragging a tyre around behind you - using a decent harness if possible.
Good luck - from someone who wishes he was still 29!

 

[shotguntom]

Strengthen your legs (squats, deadlifts, etc) and build up your cardio endurance (running, hiking, etc)