Captain Tred Barta - HUNTING: Slowing Down

[Captain Tred Barta]

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Captain Tred Barta discusses the keys to be in the right condition for your hunt. From coping with high altitudes to the right ways to train your body before you reach the hunting grounds, these are the right ways to prepare yourself and be ready for the hunt. Slow down, work at your pace and improve your success with these important points to consider before and during your hunt. Add your input and ask the questions that will help you be more successful.

[Dave Sikorski]

Slowing down is a great thought. The biggest bull in the world isn't worth going down the mountain in a body bag.

I've hunted out west with a number of different people. Different age, body type, personalities, and experience levels.

I think that every hunter is going to experience different problems with high altitude. I've seen some of the healthiest guys in the world fall out in the first mile of a first morning hike. I can only assume they lost the mental battle.

I've seen folks that are out of shape go the distance and hang right on the guides heals. Were they one step from willing themselves into a heart attack or other issues???

I've been on hunts both in shape and out of shape and feel blessed that I haven't had any health troubles on a hunt.

Last month on an Elk hunt I was primarily on horse back(God bless their hearts), but after shooting my bull down off of a rim with the horses on top, I learned that I should have been in better shape.

The bottom line is hydration and a lot of work back home will better your chances of having an enjoyable hunt. Get to your hunt area as early as possible, and don't be afraid to express any concerns to your guide. There's nothing manly about killing yourself on a mountain, and nothing weak about sitting down to relax and catch your breath. Last time I checked, dead guys don't tip!

Even at age 26 and in pretty good health, I love sitting down on a log and just soaking it up. Don't forget how lucky you are to be on top of the world amongst mother natures finest creatures.

-D

[Captain Tred Barta]

There's nothing manly about killing yourself on a mountain, and nothing weak about sitting down to relax and catch your breath. Last time I checked, dead guys don't tip!

-D

Hey Dave,

I'm laughing my ass off as my step son, Ian, types. What an absolute, classic, great line. I'm thinking about having this embroidered on my hunting clothes. Facts talk with a loud, clear voice. I hunt hard, but I hunt slow. And when I get tired, I sit down. I hope we can get more response on this thread from professional trainers and athletes talking about the rigors of high-altitude exersion. Hope the rest of your season delivers you the trophy of a lifetime.

Keep the wind in your face, fair chase. Good hunting.

Dead Men Don't Tip.

[Bking]

I hunt a 110 acre farm in Pa that is surrounded by developments. I have hunted almost everyday since the season opener. I have had many encounters with young bucks, does and a couple shooters. I have put in all the leg work this year that I think has put me into a great position to harvest a trophy. I have ten different set ups which I rotate according to wind and deer movement. My 2 questions come from what I have observed so far this season.

1. The wind, I am very careful with scent control and hunting the right winds with the right stands however what I have noticed is that when the wind is perfect for me the hunter (wind in my face and blowing away from where the deer come from) I do not have near the activity that I do when the wind is wrong . I know that deer tend to travel with the wind in thier face , but I am seeing the opposite time after time where the deer come from the areas that I thought they would with my wind blowing right in thier face. now when I look at the wind direction each day I go to the stand where the wind is in my favor , but I keep seeing more deer and mature deer at that when the wind switches and is no longer in my favor. Any thoughts on this?

2. I have been having a lot of trouble getting to and from my stands without spooking deer . I take the best routes(according to the lay of the land ,bedding areas etc) in and out possible to avoid spooking deer but it seems like no matter which way I choose I spook deer in and out. Any thoughts on this?

I have attached a photo of the land , Thanks for your time and thanks for bring your passion for hunting to SFC.

Brian King

[Captain Tred Barta]

Hey Brian,

Seems like you've got your act together and I know that your two questions are sincere. And the map shows me, even more, that these are genuine questions. But I cannot answer any of it. However, Jackie Bushman probably could. What else can you really do except get the wind in your face, and travel to your stands. You are the expert on this property. You are the smartest person in the world on this property. And perhaps your next step in life, politely said, and no sarcasm added, is that you need to believe in yourself, and believe in what you have observed.

One of the great things about hunting Is that the conditions, and the animals that we hunt, are unpredictable. This is why I loathe cameras in the woods.

I will make one suggestion though, give up on your tree stands, buy a Barta Long Bow, offered by Three Rivers Archery, get some wooden arrows; and the next time you spook a deer, have an arrow on the way.

Great luck this season,

Tred.

[Gurn]

I will make one suggestion though, give up on your tree stands, buy a Barta Long Bow, offered by Three Rivers Archery, get some wooden arrows; and the next time you spook a deer, have an arrow on the way.

You might shoot less deer, but your garenteed to have the time of your life doing it.

Thank for taking the time to post the lay of your land.

[Bking]

Thanks for your thoughts Tred!

Brian King

[stuntdogs]

Tred, Great Points. I know that hydration is a critical component to hunting sucsessfully at elevation. I remember the first time I hunted in elevations of a mere 7200 ft. Despite drinking, what I thought, was alot of water,I awoke during the first night thinking that I had the worst inner ear infection that you could imagine, it felt like my head would explode. fortunately I did not miss a days worth of huntingafter taking several Ibuprophen. Since that time I have begun drinking excessive amounts of water, in advance of, and during my hunt, and have not had any recurrent experiences of that nature.

When I was younger I could just wing it physically, but now I really need to be more serious about my physical pre-conditioning. Nothing is worse than looking forward to, and planning a hunt, only to find it a dissapointment because of a lack of personal preparation.

Thanks for your insights.

[mlp1985aggie]

Hey Mr. Barta, and everybody, hope ya'll had a great thanksgiving first of all!! I am born and raised in a small town outside of san antonio, texas. All the hunting I have ever done is pretty much in south texas, and trust me there is no altitude or hills to climb out here. I guess the primarily thing to overcome is heat exaustion cuz it does get pretty warm down here im not gonna lie. I love gatorade, life water, and all that stuff, but either hunting or working out theres nothing liek water and I wouldnt rather drink anything else in situations like these. Ive been to new mexico and colorado, utah, arizona and kentucky, but not hunting unfortunately more likely snow skiing and I got to school in kentucky and boy is it cold out here right now and I love it, its nice to get a real winter into my system for once. But snow skiing in the rockys takes a lot out of me and Im in pretty good shape and I would looove to do some hunting in terrain like this. I can see what your talking about and how to get your body in the shape for this terrain, cuz it can be rough. And i can concur about the water hydration part cuz theres nothing better in my opinion. Also having a very good meal in your body is a very big part in not getting so tired and weak while climbing and walking a ways. I guess thats my 2 cents to help out in this discussion. Take it easy

[Steve_Montana]

Most people don't realize how much their diet comes into play when hiking mountains and high elevation.

If your muscles need sugar and if your body has been storing it all in fat... they have no fuel for endurance. If you are going to do a high elevation hunt... start learning how to eat right too.

Fuel for muscles comes from sugar and fat stored in muscles, sugar and fat in the bloodstream and, to a lesser degree, protein. When you start to exercise intensely, more than 50 percent of your energy comes from sugar stored in muscles. Two hours later, most of the sugar stored in muscles is used up and less than 10 percent of energy comes from that source. If you do not supply extra sugar during exercise so that your muscles will use less of their stored sugar, muscles run out of glycogen and your performance will suffer.