Hunting Friends,
Summer seems to be getting a little more serious about smiling upon all of us in the Northern Hemisphere! Not only is it getting hotter but in just over a week, on June 21, it will be the longest day of the year with the "summer solstice" occurring once again. With this event, I'm always jolted to reality, knowing that fall will quickly creep up on us and that I better kick it into gear physically if I'm going to be prepared physically for my sheep guiding season. For each one of us, physical conditioning and getting into "sheep shape" can carry various connotations. However, if I have learned one valuable lesson over the years, it is simply this: Getting yourself "in shape", or finding yourself "out of shape" will dictate how much you enjoy your hunt, and many times will determine your ultimate success or lack of. I was talking with a buddy about this the other day, so I guess that is what triggered the following thoughts for you to consider.
I don't know about you but it gets tougher and tougher each year for me to keep my mind focused on fine tuning my physical conditioning during the summer season. Heck, there are just too many distractions such as the great barbeque's with friends, dutch oven cookouts in the mountains, and yup, you can't beat a cold coke (or beer for some of you) on a sweltering day! Everyone will approach the mental aspect of getting in shape differently but it all comes down to how bad you want to attain the goals you have set for yourself to ensure that you have done everything in your power to enjoy your hunt several months from now. For me, I always think of hunting season as my personal "olympic games" (senior) LOL and try to train accordingly. You may choose to paint a different picture in your mind to push yourself. The bottom line is to find something that motivates you personally. Luckily, I've never been one to be overweight. If your metabolism is a little sluggish and you put the pounds on easily it can make it even more difficult for you to reach your goals. I have also found that as we age it definitely doesn't get any easier to shed a few pounds or to push your workouts to a higher level.
Well, I just wanted to wish all of you the very best as you look ahead to the personal hunts you will be going on this year and how you are going to attain your physical goals. I've watched many of my hunting friends incorporate various workouts into their routines. For some of you, hiring a personal trainer may work or choosing a buddy who will push you at the gym. My advice is to not wait any longer to establish your conditioning program that should feature a training regimen of strength training with both aerobic and anaerobic exercises. You will need both to prepare yourself to enjoy the hunting season! I also strongly suggest that you take time to throw on a backpack and do some hiking each week on rough, uneven terrain. There simply isn't an easy substitute for this! You also need to find some time to do some target shooting both at the rifle range and somewhere safe out in the hills. And last, don't forget to monitor your calorie intake more closely this summer. Reduce those calories, ramp up your exercise program, and you will lose some unwanted pounds and get stronger.
It's my personal bias that if our children and grandchildren see us preparing and working hard when it comes to hunting then there's a good chance we will pass on our pure love and enthusiasm for "getting out on the mountain" to them. In return, they may also pass this perspective on to generations after us. If nothing else, preparing for our/your hunts will force us to look at life a little differently when it comes to our personal health and longevity.
Good luck everyone. Here are a few pictures I digiscoped last Saturday of some mountain goats as I made my annual climb to the summit of Delano Peak in the Tushar Mountains here in Utah. All I can say is the wind "damn" near blew me off of there and it was colder than you know what! Take care and be safe.
Randy
HIGH DESERT WILD SHEEP GUDES
