I call it the "bowhunters diet" Lots of time spent outside burns calories, and I usually eat just enough energy or granola bars to make it thru the day. When I get home, I'm usually too tired to eat much & then go to bed. REPEAT. I've learned I struggle badly doing any more than 5 or so consecutive all day sits. That's when my back really hurts from sitting/standing in my stand.
In this case, it has more to do with elevating your heart rate than how many calories burned walking to stand. If you don't exercise and rarely elevate your heart rate, it helps to slow your metabolism. If your walk to stand elevates your heart rate a few more times a week than normal, it will help burn calories while sitting in a stand. When I workout, I always forcus on workouts that will burn calories when I'm NOT exercising. Getting old...have to keep that metabolism up. You will get there one day, Trevor!
I'd say that is the reason in a nutshell. (which is why i asked if you guys don't eat:D). Not to downplay the walk in, but no one is going to get skinny off of these walks to the stand. Change in appetite certainly. congrats on 46 sits. I couldn't (well wouldn't) do it. I'd be burnt out quick, especially not even trying to hunt bucks for the majority of that. I love hunting, but I'll be the first to admit there is no way I'd make it through that many hunts mainly targeting does in the first 1/3 of season. You aren't kidding when you say you love doe hunting are you?! I'd be drained of energy from getting up for AM hunts all the time.
I guarantee it, but for now no thanks.:D i can fast for a week and not loose an ounce of weight, or I could eat till I puke for the same week....still 182-183.
You also have to remember that most aren't walking to their stand with just their camo on. I'm carrying about 35 lbs of extra weight which can increase calories burned up to 30%. When I walk approximately 2 miles a day (4 half mile walks) it adds up. Not to mention energy burned to keep your body warm. I think that is a huge factor. I'm more of a anaerobic person that focuses primarily on heavy weightlifting so this additional cardio really works my body in a way it isn't used to. I also think water weight is lost very fast without proper hydration and getting dried out with constant cold winds.
I generally gain weight during hunting season. I don't have the time to be active during the week, my evenings after work are typically spent on the "honey do" list that I don't have time for on the weekends. Also because my 2x primary hunting spots are 1.5 and 4 hours away, I end up eating a lot of crap food on the road instead of healthy home cooked meals. I also snack in the stand, if I have food I will stay in a tree all day long. I haven't done any all day sits yet, but starting in about 10 days, I'll likely be spending the entire day in the woods when I can get out. This year instead of pure garbage food, I'll plan to pack in granola and fruit along with some water and the occasional tuna sandwich. Since the day we got back from our honeymoon, (7/26) I've dropped 17lbs. So far I'm managed to maintain my weight this far into the season. I'm hoping to stick right around my current weight until January, then I will be starting up a round of P90X to tone up and really whip myself into shape. I'm sure I'll put a few pounds on during the week of vacation I have planned in November, but I should be able to drop that pretty quickly.
I feel like I've been in a 15 round fight with Mike Tyson by the time hunting season is over. I lose about 10-15 lbs every year. And that's eating my butt off when not hunting trying to compensate for it. I hunt morning and afternoon every single day (all day during rut) of the season. That will amount to about 150 sits and somewhere around 500 hours on stand. Some of my walks to my setups aren't exactly a nice little walk through an open field. There's some nasty/long walks to some of my stand sites(most of them lugging the climber). Gets a little tiring as the season drags on... i don't care how fit you are if you hunt like I hunt you will be whooped half way through the season.
Major lack off sleep during hunting season for me. If I am not out hunting, I am dreaming of hunting.
As bucks will lose weight during the rut, the hunters go into rut a lot sooner (depending on your state's hunting season). Every day that the weather permits, I am in one of the 14 stands I have available to me. I am up earlier than usual and go through the ritual. I avoid any meal within 2 hours of going out to avoid gastrointestinal distress and the need to void my body of fluids while in the stand. Get ready and head out. I walk a lot slower to maintain noise control. I get into the stand and go on the watch. The majority of my time in the stand is spent sitting/standing and looking. With a lot less physical exertion, I still tend to lose weight during the season. Then, when the firearms season opens up, I go from stand hunting to spot and stalk hunting and lose more weight. Over the total deer season I usually lose 15 lbs. I don't have a "robust drag" as I can either get the tractor or atv to anywhere on my hunting land. Most of the toll for me comes from mental exhaustion as I find myself in "deer mode" as long as I have tags to fill. I find an increase in vitamins and supplements does help, but an occasional day of heavy rain doesn't hurt either.
Usually by the time deer season opens In Minnesota I'm In pretty good shape from all the work that goes Into bear hunting and baiting. Deer hunting really hasn't ever taking a toll on me, bear hunting has a few times though. I love It though, It's fun hard work!!
not so much that i lose weight, but i get really banged up! my hands are always sore, i dont even straighten my fingers and little cuts and scrapes on my face, legs and arms sting all day.
I always lose weight during hunting season. Packing in gear, long hikes, and hopefully a couple of drags burns some calories. Also, I eat less while on stand so that accounts for some weight loss too. I'm usually not too bad in the aches and pains department, but on occasion I will tweak my back or knee a bit. Though this year I've had some nagging thumb pain in my left hand which is wierd.
I would have to say I lose a few pounds over the season....I do tend to get really sore at first and then later it dont bother me as much!
i work at a game farm that does drives through some of the nastiest thickest swamps there are during the 2 week gun season and muzzle loader. generally i am in much better shape after all of this. it really is a workout. 15 plus miles of walking a day, through stuff you wouldnt send your dog into lol
I tend to gain a bit of weight... even tho' I'm trudging around out there with my stand on my back. I don't eat while on the stand either. (I've never been thin, not when I ran miles every day, not when I biked 18 miles a day..... ) Being practically motionless in a stand all day does nothing but grow my butt and belly. My hair turns to crunchy, kinky straw from the harsh scent free soap. My face gets even more 'fine lines' from the wind burn... ...sigh...
I weigh within 10 lbs of what I did 25 years ago in high school. Doesn't matter what I do or don't do I'm ready for a 4 mile 2000' climb at the drop of a hat. Packing out that 80 - 100# pack on opening day just hurts more than at the end of the season...
