The more I have elk hunted the more I think camping close to a good glassing position is the key

Facts...foot conditioning only happens with hiking time, preferably on uneven terrain.

Great tips. Add lounges and squats while brushing your teeth. If you work from home, add in some push ups when you come back from the bathroom. If you're in an office, take the stairs. Heck I "hike" my stairs (basement to 2nd floor) with my pack for 20-30 minutes, if I can't make it out on a trail. Gotta keep the legs active.

You are so right on Feet and conditioning. That is the mentality the military uses on long marches, not endurance so much as conditioning your legs and feet. Awesome video man. Well done;.

Yeah, I really agree. I just think even just getting out and walking is a big deal. Good video thanks for sharing.

You nailed this one! Great advice!

Your right on Randy! Boots make such a big difference especially in the winter! It just makes the hunt so much more enjoyable and well as comfort!

Well i drive 1300 miles or more to elk hunt. So i do the best i can. I stay in shape all year because of that 3 weeks. Pretty flat here at about 750' sea level. But i do start doing 55 lb packs in August. Joined the service at 18, got out and went into construction. That was 32 years ago so my feet ugly hobbit hooves that are indestructible. My wife and kids call them "gangle feet". Had i discovered elk hunting earlier in life i would be living in the mountains without any doubt. Good luck this year to everyone 👍

I have been deer hunting for over 50 years. I used to buy Danner Boots, Rocky boots, red wing boots, Mendel boots, You name it I used them. I would like to thank you Randy from the bottom of my heart for recommending Kenetrek Mountain extreme Boots. I had no idea that man could make a boot that comfortable and that durable? I now have 4 different pairs of Kenetrek boots I purchased the mountain guides for a stiffer soul they are amazing. I would suggest if you are reading this ? Do yourself a favor and get a pair. Start with the mountain extremes. You can thank me later. I can't believe how much harder I can hunt since I purchased them.

Thank you Randy great information

Watched this this on fresh tracks+ a few weeks ago. Best advice I've seen lately it's also good to condition joints and ligaments. I've humped a ruck many miles for several years for special people and have ran several marathons, nothing.... NOTHING substitutes training for the actual thing you'll be doing with the actual gear you'll be using. And nothing can make up for lack of heart and mind.

I know the feeling of getting back into hunting shape, every year I say I'm going to stay in shape but then it's to do over again before elk season

Great tip Randy!

Randy is the best…wish you much health! This is how hunting should be. Greetings from Alberta. And Romania!

100%! I’ve been doing hypertrophy training on my upper body in the gym but once a week I load up my pack with 2-25 pound dumbbells and have a very steep rocky trail I go hike up/down and that’s all I do for legs. I’ve already seen the difference in scouting this season, way easier!

great video, I agree!

Randy Newberg, upu are a wise man!

I just got back from an after work hike/scouting trip and this was the first thing I saw when I turned on the TV. Perfect timing! Do you have any suggestions for insoles? The ones that came in my boots aren’t doing it for me.

I couldn't agree more!

I stay in decent shape all year with air squats pushups pull ups and jogging. Summer comes is hiking camping season regularly hike 10 to 30 miles carrying a 40 lb pack through the Rockies. Working out keeps you in good enough shape that when you hit the mountains after a few months off it's just a small adjustment. Mostly only a little sore in strange places like feet and calfs. Some mountains are ass kickers though just hit the highest point in montana and 2 other peaks along the way 15 hours non stop hiking over 30 miles and probably 20,000 feet in elevation gain and loss my hips were gone couldn't lift my legs the next couple days.

I live in probably one of the flattest places in the US. There is one arroyo with I would say a 30° grade bank. I put a 40 or 60lbs pack on and I'm sprinting every summer day in 90+ heat. It certainly helps.

The old saying 'fail to prepare=prepare to fail' rings true here

Brilliant! Fabulous! Wonderful! I don't "Like" this episode, I Love this episode! Thanks so much for this, Randy!

Personally, If you have good boots I think it's more important to be in good cardio shape. I was in MT this year again and to go from 700 feet to 7000 feet was huge for me. Now I'm not the most in shape other than round, but wow, just the going up smaller hills was tough for me....huffing and a puffin due to the elevation....

Tell your sponsor to send me over some of those $500 dollar Kenetrek boots! 😮

One of the best things one can do to get in shape is to carry water. I am carrying 2 gallons of water in 1/2 gallon jugs. When I get to the top of the trail, I empty the water. Then downhill, you aren't stressing your knees.

Down hill with weight on is a killer. The knees, ankles and toe nails get an unbelievable hammering going down hill.

1000% agree!

Danner Trophies are my go to.

I had a volunteer job which had me on concrete for nine hours a day. Bodyweight squats improved my legs enough so that the legs didn't get tired, but my feet still did. I've noticed the same thing when walking with a pack to prepare for hunting, my legs are ok because of my exercise program, the feet are the weak link.

Great advice Mr. Randy,hope you kill some Good Old Big Ones or some Big Old Good Ones this year.

Randy. That’s why you gotta go shed hunting in the off season. Every shed adds weight to the pack. But I know you would rather hang them in a tree for good luck. Nothing wrong with that but at least you’d still be out there hiking in elk country 😜🤙🏽👊🏽

I’ll get my Crocs ready

Any suggestions for midwest cornfield terrains 😂. Seriously what to do in NW Indiana there is nothing even to consider like hillside, I don’t know how to improve my training for elk hunting except to go in gym or walk around the neighborhood

Yeah I’m screwed this year. Tore my acl and meniscus in may. I’ll be out hunting but I won’t be going as far as a normal year

Thats what the marines taught me take care of your feet

A summer bucking hay and new roofs.

Luckily I do a lot of concrete and construction work, wheelbarrowing etc. so my feet are never the problem it’s always the conditioning I have an issue with lol

This is why I hunt chukar before rifle season!

Dont forget. Train in high elevation, where the air is thin and you truly get tired and tested for breathing properly and walking a good pace

I've never much had to worry about having a hot spot in my boots, seems like I have.. had.. magical feet. So the question I have is, what do you do if you find a hot spot on your foot while you're doing some preseason hiking?

Before I was a hunter I was a hiker. In my early 30's I was in the gym with weights and did 30 mins on the treadmill at 6.5 mph for a half hour 3 days a week. Out on the trail my knees always hurt on a 20 to 30 km all day hike. I went to the doc and nothing wrong with my knees. The gym workouts didn't do squat. It only worked the show muscles and not the mountain trail working muscles, Fast forward to my late 40's. I'm not in the gym and my preparation is kit on my back and out on the trail. Yoga is actually a better work out for hunting. I should listen to my wife and do some more of those sessions with her. It actually works the working muscles and is more difficult than y'all might think. Plus, here in Alberta where you need to win a draw to get an elk tag anywhere you will have a hope in heck to see an elk during season, I finally won a late season cow elk tag. Dec 21 to Jan 20 and I have permission to hunt land where I might just get one in the foothills of the southern Alberta Rockies! I can also hunt the onky week of the year I can have off of my self employed work. WOOHOO!!!

Blistered feet are a pain in the not-feet.

I just work a little harder. Being a roofer has its perks,but not many 😆😔

Great advice I’m more built for rolling than walking, Bahahaha

🍻

Too much Dairy Queen Randy. I went there yesterday for lunch and messed my 2022 GMC Sierra up when I backed into their dumpster trying to get ne an ice cream!

0:23 that looks like you're on a greenscreen

The old rule. Practice like you play!!!

Boots are over rated out west! We rarely have rain. Let your feet breath. Zero drop , flexible soled shoes are where it's at! Closet the ground = better ballance, lower center of gravity, less chance of turning your ankle. When ever I'm with my hunting bros and we are on a stalk during archery season, they sound like a heard of goats in the big heavy, bulky boots. It's bad. Additionally Additionally