Are your hounds in better shape than you

[bob baldwin jr]

On the bear section I had started a discussion on the merits of larger 80lb + Vs smaller 40-50 lb for endurence and speed . We always see topics discussed as to Hound training and conditioning . I guess the subject came to mind , WHAT are you as houndsman do as a daily routine to keep yourself in Prime Condition

Some of you UTAH boys need not respond as ELBOW exercises drinking beer don't count

In my sons case ,he is retired military yet still is up 4:30 every morning and runs 3-4 miles wether it is 80 degrees or -8 degrees rain shine ,snow or what ever . He takes a few different routes Ashphalt roads ,Dirt roads , thru the woods ( depending on snow depth) 7 days a week

I was wondering what you guys do in the Off Hound Season Or does your normal HOUND time keep you in shape year round

As for my self 65+ years old bad knees and bad hips ,I find myself each additional year becoming more dependent on the ATV . The wife seems to think I should be cutting back but our season is Short enough up here already . Sad to say that 2 of my hound buddies both younger than me passed in the last 3 years Not sure what the answer is

[Budd Denny]

I'm a big man but can cruise through the woods pretty good in the winter but summer hunting gets to me. My hounds are a lot better shape than I so this summer I was thinking of roading the dogs off my bike.

[pegleg]

this is a issue i deal with myself. I don't have all the answers for sure. my hounds are a thousand times better able to handle the stresses of hunting. until 2007 I was able to hunt on foot and at least catch up to my dogs on the tree. a engagement in 07 left me disabled. I am able to walk around on fairly level ground with only slightly more effort. it's the real steep inclines that cause real stress regardless of what the prosthetic manufacturers would tell you, only one prosthetic I have every seen can handle the stress with out transmitting it to your limbs to the extent of causing damage. It is also totally useless for any other terrain or purpose and very tiring to use. I can use a bicycle with specialized pedal stirrups or swim for exercise. so being fit isn't out of reach it's the application in the mtns. that is troublesome. I hunt horseback exclusively then rely on luck and time to get to the tree. I started out much more aggressively but after breaking several prosthetic s and taking a few serious tumbles, leaving me to crawl back to my horse I decided maybe a slower more thoughtful approach in rough terrain was in my best interest. a gym quality stair climber works well for conditioning your muscles for mtns. but the truth is no training ever replaces the real thing. so I only rely on those exercises if i begin to notice weakness in either side or my cardio. this probably won't help anyone else but its how I do it

[plottpappaw]

i'm not real sure exactly what shape i'm in. don't have much of a problem goin and keeping up but i walk any where between 2.5 and up to 20 miles a day except on sunday and try to eat right and drink lots of water but just to feed my dogs requires a steep incline and each day carrying water and feed for 5 down the incline much like a mules face. then of course i gotta come back up. oh yea and the all important reason i'm in shape is my 17 month old son who is either running or sleeping.

[nait hadya]

it's hard to duplicate knee deep snow and altitude in the gym. i work out only occasionally but it's an extreme workout, at the highest level possible. that and climbing stairs and ladders ten hours a day. being mentally tough and hounds that will wait at the tree for ya is sure a help though. draggin an out of shape client around like a boat anchor must be quite a chore for you fellows who guide.

[Machias]

Last April I went on a trail ride with my mule. She really struggled on the downhill parts of the trail. I knew I was way heavy and out of shape, but when I went home and stepped on the scale I got a pretty big shock. 330 pounds!! At 6 foot tall that's a couple extra pounds to carry. I had to do something. I went on the Nutrisystem diet and started walking 4 to 6 miles nearly everyday. In 169 days I dropped 100 pounds. I have since lost a total of 105 pounds and have not been able to walk quite as much the past three or four weeks due to some pretty nasty weather and serious lack of motivation. BUT I am starting the regiment again today. I still have 45 pounds to loose and hope to have it off by May 7th, which is the 1 year anniversary to when I started this journey. I went from a size 50 waist to a size 36. I am off my blood pressure meds and I feel a million times better. I can't tell you how happy my mule is!!

[savage]

Wow Fred, thats great.Good for you!!! that is one of the hardest things in the world to do.

I used to get out of shape in the summer and back in shape every fall when I started hunting again. The last 4 years I have been bear hunting all spring and summer and lion hunting all winter. this has really helped and I have stayed at 200 lbs for 4 years now. I could always loose another 10-20 lbs but that would require laying off the twinkies and beer......

[Jason Waterhouse]

Awesome Fred

[sheimer]

Fred, that is too cool. I wish more people I know who are in the shape you were would follow your example.

I am on the other end of the spectrum. I weigh 160 soaking wet. I'm around 5'10". I manage a couple ranches and am raising a 6 yr old girl and a 9 yr old boy. They keep me running and the cows and boss seem to fill in the spare time. I have issues with runnng out of energy on the long hikes and especially in cold weather. I have to make sure I eat excessive ammounts of carbs before and during a long hike after the hounds. If not I get the "sugar shakes" something terrible. My lungs don't seem to bother me but when all the muscles start to quiver, I get pretty nervous. It's something that everyone needs to pay attention to. If your body doesn't have the energy required, your in deep doo doo.

Scott

[pegleg]

Scott you might ant to have a thyroid test done. many people are aware of the side effects of a slow thyroid but a overactive thyroid is a completely different issue and much more dangerous in less time. a interesting note is that people under stress are more likely to develop the condition.
my experience was during a continuous period of high personal stress. I assumed the changes I felt were a typical result of the stress. weird energy fluctuations, often unable to sleep, a rapid pulse and over all feeling of tension. I wasn't in a position to consult a medic for some time. when I finally was the attending nurse started taking my vitals, said; oh my god! pushed a button rushed out and came back with a crash cart. I got real excited at this turn of events and started wishing I HADN'T come in. I mean I wasn't that sick till I got there right?? The area around my exam table got real crowded sticking little tabs and wires all over me starting a IV etc. this whole time no one is telling me why the excitement. Finally the Dr. explains my blood pressure is sky high with little change between beats and that my heart rate is a buck sixty five. He asked if I have a drug habit he should be aware of? turns out to be thyroid and I get put on a course of r&r for three weeks and meds for a year. If I hadn't had the time to get checked out then I probably would have had a serious event soon. honestly after my body got leveled out life started to look rosey again I guess the point is if things don't seem quite right make the time to see the Doc.

[bob baldwin jr]

pegleg: You are correct been to the ER twice once for Heart Attack and Once for stroke . It really gets your attention when they start yelling STAT, hook you up to 2-3 machines ,put an IV in you . I don't care if you are flat broke or not . Both my hunting buddies thought they were fine til thier wives came home and found them each dead one in his shop one in his living room . Both 5 years younger than me and I THOUGHT in better shape than me . Just is NOT worth taking a chance over

[sheimer]

Thanks for the advise, it's something I'll take seriously, as everyone should. I have stopped by the doctor before and they mentioned that my heartrate was a little slow (55-60 BPM) and my blood pressure is good. They had some fancy name for it like hypoglycemia or somethng like that. Reguardless, I was just mentioning that we need to go prepared when we to the woods with our dogs. Whatever our physicall needs are, we need to be aware and compensate for them accordingly. We talk of hound nutrition and this type of dog food and that type of dog food but I never hear of OUR nutrition and it's something that is just as important, if not more.

Scott

[pegleg]

Scott you might ant to have a thyroid test done. many people are aware of the side effects of a slow thyroid but a overactive thyroid is a completely different issue and much more dangerous in less time. a interesting note is that people under stress are more likely to develop the condition.
my experience was during a continuous period of high personal stress. I assumed the changes I felt were a typical result of the stress. weird energy fluctuations, often unable to sleep, a rapid pulse and over all feeling of tension. I wasn't in a position to consult a medic for some time. when I finally was the attending nurse started taking my vitals, said; oh my god! pushed a button rushed out and came back with a crash cart. I got real excited at this turn of events and started wishing I HADN'T come in. I mean I wasn't that sick till I got there right?? The area around my exam table got real crowded sticking little tabs and wires all over me starting a IV etc. this whole time no one is telling me why the excitement. Finally the Dr. explains my blood pressure is sky high with little change between beats and that my heart rate is a buck sixty five. He asked if I have a drug habit he should be aware of? turns out to be thyroid and I get a Rx of r&r for three weeks and meds for a year. If I hadn't had the time to get checked out then I probably would have had a serious event soon. honestly after my body got leveled out life started to look rosey again I guess the point is if things don't seem quite right make the time to see the Doc.

[merlecore]

Scott: my doc said i have hypglycemia or whatever too, i used to get headaches real bad cause of it. but as far as keepin fit goes, idk about the rest of you guys but at 17 chasin girls makes up for most of my exercise haha, that and bein in the woods with my dog

[LDB]

Once cat season is over I try to get out several days a week and take a hike in the mountains. I usually hike in an area that I am likely to pick up a shed antler or two, that helps keep me motivated to keep walking and push myself to do more than just take a casual walk. I have a goal of picking up at least one antler and if I accomplish that then there is always the matching shed to look for. Sure helps when bear season opens.