- Joined
- Jan 28, 2003
- Messages
- 13,903
I’m going to drop a truth bomb. I do a lot of hunting in the Rockies. I’ve carried rifles of all weights from ultra lights to 10 lb chunkers.
I’ll go 5 to 10 miles a day on average with multiple thousand foot elevation changes. This is at altitudes from about 6,000 to 11,000 feet. No matter what the better shape you’re in the easier the hunt will be.
If I’m working out and watching my weight and doing my physical training it’s a lot easier than if I’ve let myself get lazy and fat.
For me High Intensity Interval Training 3 to 4 days a week, plus a few hard fast rucks with weight on my back is the answer. When I’m keeping up with that, hiking and hunting in the mountains gets real easy.
When I allow myself to go into couch potato mode hunting in the mountains gets really hard and miserable.
In conclusion when I’m in shape carrying any rifle is easy. When I’m a fat, lazy, slug carrying any rifle including an ultra light weight one is hard. It’s less about gear and more about physical fitness and endurance. And if you don’t think a mountain hunt takes fitness and endurance take a look at a few of these.
Solo multiple day hunt conducted at above 11,000’, goat was shot at nearly 13,000’. Rifle was a Model 70 in .270 Weatherby weighing about 8.5 lbs
Solo Shiras moose hunt I killed my bull on the 8th day and packed him out solo one quarter at a time 2 miles each way it took me 5 trips carrying about 80 lbs out each time. I got the last quarter out at about 02:30. Rifle was a M-70 in .375 H&H I’m guessing she’s about 10 lbs dressed. Hunt was conducted at about 8500’ to 9500’. Walking an average of about 10 miles a day.
Some of the absolutely hardest days I ever spent hunting were chasing hounds in the high country of NM for cats and bears. I carried a handgun back then for the most part but I shot this Tom with a M-70 in .243. The longest, hardest days you’ll ever spend in the mountains hunting will be behind hound dogs in the Rockies.
I’m recovering from a pretty bad leg fracture and reconstructive surgery at the moment. Here is what I’ve been doing for the last month and another month to come. Sitting on my butt getting soft…
Anyway as I sit here and plan my recovery to get back to hunting I’m not planning on buying an ultra light rifle to make up for my lack of fitness. I’m planning on how I’m going to get back into the gym and on the bike and then on my feet and on the trail to build up my mind and body so I can enjoy hunting where I like to hunt! Anybody who’s planning a hunt out west should be doing the same. Worry more about fitness, less about equipment.
I’ll go 5 to 10 miles a day on average with multiple thousand foot elevation changes. This is at altitudes from about 6,000 to 11,000 feet. No matter what the better shape you’re in the easier the hunt will be.
If I’m working out and watching my weight and doing my physical training it’s a lot easier than if I’ve let myself get lazy and fat.
For me High Intensity Interval Training 3 to 4 days a week, plus a few hard fast rucks with weight on my back is the answer. When I’m keeping up with that, hiking and hunting in the mountains gets real easy.
When I allow myself to go into couch potato mode hunting in the mountains gets really hard and miserable.
In conclusion when I’m in shape carrying any rifle is easy. When I’m a fat, lazy, slug carrying any rifle including an ultra light weight one is hard. It’s less about gear and more about physical fitness and endurance. And if you don’t think a mountain hunt takes fitness and endurance take a look at a few of these.
Solo multiple day hunt conducted at above 11,000’, goat was shot at nearly 13,000’. Rifle was a Model 70 in .270 Weatherby weighing about 8.5 lbs

Solo Shiras moose hunt I killed my bull on the 8th day and packed him out solo one quarter at a time 2 miles each way it took me 5 trips carrying about 80 lbs out each time. I got the last quarter out at about 02:30. Rifle was a M-70 in .375 H&H I’m guessing she’s about 10 lbs dressed. Hunt was conducted at about 8500’ to 9500’. Walking an average of about 10 miles a day.


I’m recovering from a pretty bad leg fracture and reconstructive surgery at the moment. Here is what I’ve been doing for the last month and another month to come. Sitting on my butt getting soft…

Anyway as I sit here and plan my recovery to get back to hunting I’m not planning on buying an ultra light rifle to make up for my lack of fitness. I’m planning on how I’m going to get back into the gym and on the bike and then on my feet and on the trail to build up my mind and body so I can enjoy hunting where I like to hunt! Anybody who’s planning a hunt out west should be doing the same. Worry more about fitness, less about equipment.