Cardio training is something that not every hunter necessarily wants to do, but needs to do. When addressing your aerobic capacity, you can utilize straightforward, traditional methods like long-distance running or biking, but at Mayhem Hunt, we prefer to incorporate high-intensity training to cater to the demands of hunting.
High-intensity training delivers measurable outcomes for hunters. This means we’ll be able to carry heavier loads for longer distances and recover faster in the field. We’ll also notice gains in the gym, along with those in things like heavier lifting numbers, faster workout times, and sustaining higher efforts for longer periods of time. This is the case not only for me but also for those following the Mayhem Hunt program. Many of the subscribers to that program act as real-life case studies that this stuff works.
Let’s dive into why high-intensity cardio is the ultimate preparation for hunting—and how you can make it work for you.
Rethinking Cardio for Hunters
When most people hear cardio, they picture longer, relatively slow efforts performed in endurance activities like running, rowing, biking, etc. It’s the classic image of grinding out miles at a steady pace, building aerobic stamina over hours. For hunting, this approach has tons of benefits and absolutely must be incorporated. We like to say, “You can’t fake endurance.”
However, long, slow distance training doesn’t fully capture the dynamic, unpredictable demands of hunting. On the contrary, we’d argue that an overabundance of training in single modalities can steal from the athleticism the mountains demand. A marathoner trains for sustained effort (and rightly so, based on the demands of that sport). Hunting, however, often calls for explosive bursts within those long sustained efforts.
Think sprinting to a vantage point, climbing a steep ridge, or lugging a heavy pack through rough terrain. These moments demand more than just slow, sustained efforts, and this is why we believe a mix of power, speed, and endurance that traditional cardio doesn’t fully address will deliver more bang for your buck.
Additionally, we’ve found through our experience that gearing the majority of our training towards intervals of high-intensity training lends itself well to creating an aerobic base without stealing critical power, speed, and strength. One final additional benefit to high-intensity training is the time requirement needed to see results. Most of you reading this article are not full-time athletes. Your training needs to facilitate busy lives, jobs, and families.
At Mayhem, and in CrossFit, we use the term: Metabolic Conditioning (MetCon), a high-intensity, functional training approach that we’ve seen to be far more effective for hunters. MetCon combines anaerobic (short, explosive efforts) and aerobic (sustained stamina) pathways, creating a hybrid fitness that mirrors the demands of hunting (and the real world).
Compare a marathoner to a sprinter: a marathoner grinds through long distances, but a sprinter’s explosive power aligns more closely with the quick, intense efforts of hunting. That’s why we use both! Hunting requires both systems: anaerobic bursts for sudden action and aerobic capacity for long days in the field. High-intensity functional training outperforms endurance-only methods by getting exposure to both systems more efficiently.
Why High-Intensity Cardio Wins
High-intensity cardio offers a superior return on investment for hunters, delivering results in less time and with greater impact. The time efficiency is hard to refute; a 20- to 30-minute high-intensity session can deliver the same (or better) fitness gains as hours of steady-state cardio.
For busy hunters, this means more time for work, family, or scouting. The carryover to the field with movements like sandbag carries, farmer’s carries, burpees, and even a simple squat or lunge directly translates to hunting tasks. Things like dragging a deer, climbing steep terrain, or, in the best case, packing out our trophy buck or bull.
Unlike running, which solely focuses on conditioning the lower body and neglects the strength needed in times like these, MetCon offers a more full-body approach. Without focusing on every aspect of the body, you’re lacking in places you don’t want to be in the field. I’ve been subject to it myself, loose footing with an elk quarter on my back, I’ve fallen flat on my ass. Without some serious leg strength training (and some good pals), I’d still be sitting on the side of that hill like a turtle on its shell.
I always make sure to focus on upper body strength training throughout the year, even though it is easily overlooked in most hunting scenarios. In my mind, a strong upper body is, in some cases, just as important. I have found myself holding full draw on an elk for over five minutes in an intense stare-down. Had I been only running for months leading up, I would not have been able to do that after multiple long days.
My goal is always to have a well-balanced fitness regimen. Having more movements to use in my training keeps it fun and interesting, and most importantly, it helps prevent overuse injuries that can show up from doing only the same endurance exercises day in and day out.
Real-World Proof
I’ve been asked if I’ve ever gone “max effort” on a hunt. The answer? More times than I can count! High-intensity conditioning shines in the field.
Picture this: you’ve glassed up a trophy bull one ridge over with plenty of daylight left to make the trip; however, the thought of a steep climb there and a steep climb back with a quarter loading you down is enough to make you second-guess it. This is the position we can easily find ourselves in, and I want for myself and all of you reading this to have that thought and turn it immediately into “Yeah, let’s go do it!” Hauling that meat tests your strength and endurance, which I firmly believe CrossFit’s approach prepares you for.
One hunt stands out to me when I think about this. We had spent five days hunting for cow elk while also holding a very coveted bear tag. Later on, one day after already filling two of our cow tags, we went back out with the goal of at least glassing up a cinnamon bear. Just like that, after multiple days looking for one, much to our disbelief, we picked one out across a valley! We quickly found a spot that set us up for a well-executed shot, and I took it.
One clean shot and the bear died right where it was! Now, the position we found ourselves in was less than ideal. However, we knew if we could get it field-dressed, we were confident that we’d have the strength and endurance to get it out. I can’t lie, this was no easy feat—dragging a bear that was somewhere around the 300 to 400 pound range out hundreds of yards—but I’m confident that without the mixed style of training we do, it could have never happened.
A Hunter’s Training Template
To prepare for hunting season, I split the bulk of my training each year into two 6-month blocks:
- January–June: Build a foundation of strength and conditioning.
- July–December: Peak for hunting season with sport-specific intensity.
Here’s a sample of what one of these workouts may look like leading into hunting season. This is just one example that I use to blend the strength and fitness I need to have endurance in a way that directly translates to the field:
25-minute AMRAP (as many rounds/reps as possible)
400-meter run
21 push-ups
12 strict pull-ups
wear a 20/14 pound weight vest
Final Thought: Train for Life, Win at Hunting
Admittedly, I don’t train only specifically for hunting; it’s just a byproduct of training for the sport of CrossFit for many years, and now for everyday life. But when I’m out in the woods, it’s not a secret that elite fitness pays off. Whether it’s fighting off fatigue, hauling gear, or holding a full draw while waiting for the exact right moment, high-intensity cardio makes it possible. Build your body for life, and you’ll crush your next hunt as a bonus. Get after it—your next adventure is waiting.
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