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Make Hunting Healthy Again

Why Hunters Should Get In Shape, and How to Get Started

by Richard Baimbridge

Looking back at some of history’s great hunters, from Teddy Roosevelt to Ernest Hemingway to legends like Fred Bear, as well as modern names like Wisconsin’s Dan Infalt (founder of The Hunting Beast) and celebrity hunters like John Dudley, Steven Rinella, or Lee and Tiffany Lakosky of “Crush”, you start to notice something…not only are they larger-than-life personalities with a lust for raw adventure, they’re also rugged, tough and in damn good shape.

But as the saying goes, “good times create weak men” – and it seems that, like much of the rest of this country, hunters have gotten a bit soft around the belly lately. It’s easy to see why, considering how easy hunting has become with all the modern amenities like ATVs and 5-star luxury deer blinds, not to mention the foods, drinks and snacks we consume. Gone is much of the challenge and danger of the past – but with it, so too is the adrenaline that kept us strong.

Whatever you might think of his controversial stance on vaccines, the significance of RFK Jr’s Make America Healthy Again (aka, the “MAHA” movement) can’t be overstated. We are a nation in the midst of a massive health crisis – one that’s mostly self-inflicted by bad diet choices and sedentary lifestyles.

Today, over 74% of Americans are overweight -- including 40% who are obese, putting them at high risk for heart disease and Type 2 diabetes, among other things. According to an alarming report from the Pentagon, 77% of young Americans are now physically unfit for military service. You cannot defend a nation, no matter how great it is, with statistics like that.

Of course, for the hardcore elk hunters and bowhunters out there, I’m preaching to the converted. Despite the advantages of modern compound bows, they already know the benefits of strength and endurance training. But no matter what kind of hunter you are, the challenge of big woods hunting takes a level of dedication and endurance that few people have these days. That’s good news for you, as it means more opportunities.

A recent study by the University of Georgia Deer Lab found that the average distance hunters travel from the parking lot out into public lands is less than 250 yards, while over 90% of the hunting pressure came from just 50% of the land mass. Hunters also avoided steep slopes and other rugged areas, creating huge safe zones for deer. A Penn State study found that 87% of bear and deer hunters travel less than 0.5km from a road. They shockingly concluded that the number of deer killed relative to the overall deer population was so low that hunting should not be considered a viable form of overpopulation control.

In short, the woods are chocked full of deer – but almost 90% of hunters are just too lazy or unfit to go out and get them. Think about that the next time you’re driving home empty-handed…

Of course, pre-season scouting is another good way to stay in shape, taking long walks out into the woods, clearing up trails and shooting lanes, setting up trail cams and getting things ready far enough in advance of hunting season that deer get used to the surroundings.

But it’s much more than just that. To truly be at your best as a hunter, you need to have strength, stamina, a clear mind and the flexibility to be able to stray off the beaten path, climbing up steep slopes and moving through rough terrain that takes you to places most people don’t go.

For that, you need a fitness regimen – whether it’s hitting the gym at least three times a week, running, or things like CrossFit. The difference you’ll feel walking out into the woods when you’re in shape is indescribable. Rest assured that it puts you in an entirely different physical and mental zone. One that makes you more confident, focused, patient and successful as a hunter. Paired with experience and knowledge, it’s the difference between being a weekend warrior and a true professional.

I’ve been very active and fit for most of my life, but there was a time after some health problems that I was overweight and couldn’t do a single push-up. Being in my 50s, I figured it was just the reality of my age.

But I got back on the fitness path and I’ve never felt better. At the age of 55, I took up boxing and within a year I was completely ripped. I’m not gonna lie – there’s nothing easy about it, except the temptation to quit. The voice that tells you, “Why not take it easy today?” is your greatest enemy.

Diet is another hard one. I am very mindful of what I put in my body. I stick mostly to protein and fresh vegetables, avoid processed foods, carbs, sugary snacks, and especially soft drinks. Beer is my Achilles heel, but I keep it down to a cold one every other day.

Once you’re MAHA red-pilled, you realize that supermarkets and convenience stores exist to make you sick. It might sound like a conspiracy theory, but it’s a fact. I carry nothing but fresh fruits and homemade or all-natural snacks with me out into the woods. Our family meals are healthy, natural, made from scratch, with no phones, TVs or devices ever allowed at the table – and every dinner starts with a prayer.  

This kind of lifestyle requires discipline – but I agree with RFK Jr. that you can’t take your country back without taking back your health, too. And that’s something we all gotta do for ourselves, because ain’t nobody gonna do it for us.  

Tips:

• If you don’t already have a fitness regimen, start slow. Consistency is the key. It’s better to work out 3 times a week on a regular basis than to push yourself too hard once a week.

• Work with a trainer and set goals. Find someone who makes you keep going even when you want to stop. Join a gym or boxing club. Choose something you like doing, not something that feels like a chore.

• Don’t obsess about weight – think about fitness. I rarely ever check my weight but focus primarily on overall health and appearance.  

• Eat most meals at home using fresh ingredients, nothing pre-packaged. Avoid sodas and unhealthy snacks. If you do eat snacks, make them yourself or buy all-natural, low-sugar snacks.

• Give yourself freedom to enjoy pizza, ice cream, alcohol (if you drink) and other guilty pleasures occasionally.

• Take your discipline with you hunting. Put your phone away, focus, go deeper into the woods, higher into the hills, and master your skills.

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