I do aa lot of cross-country skiing during the off season. I also hit the gym at least once a week for a couple of hours. Reminds me, now that my bad cold is done for I need to go back. I walk three miles in less than forty minutes on the treadmill. That's a brisk jaunt. I think that fast walking is much better than jogging for us old farts. Jogging is too hard on the joints.

Best off-season exercise is pushing myself away from the dinner table. There's no shortcut to maintaining good condition that doesn't include wise eating. I don't eat terribly healthy, I just don't eat much. And I drink a lot less. A couple of nights a week I'll walk to the bar very late and have one light beer.

I do my own excercise regimen and walk miles in the woods. Running is not an option as my knees won't hold up. I am humbled by the mountains and father time each year, so maybe i need to pick it up a notch.

I had another knee replacement in June so I had to dedicate two months to religious exercise to get going so I could walk at least 5 miles before antelope season. I also lost 10 pounds too and that helped. I still had issues but have enjoyed hunting again.

I am also adjusting my hunting tactics because I can't chase through the woods or carry as much as I used to. I always remember the joke my dad told me that I am sure is as old as the hills:

"Two bulls were looking over a pasture below at a herd of beautiful cows. The young one said "Let's run down and breed one!" The old bull looked him in the eye and said "Let's walk down and breed them all!".

So I am adjusting.

In the off season I work out three times a week including 30 to 40 minutes on the eliptical during each session. Also, I hike, canoe, and hardly ever take an elevator preferring stairs instead.

I just try to get out and put some miles on my boots. I usually try to carry my pack loaded with some water and safety necessities too. There are enough steep hills around I don't worry about looking for a hill to climb. Although I have heard of guys walking up and down bleachers during the preseason to get ready. I think the main thing is to get your heart rate going and maintain it for twenty minutes at a time.

I have found that riding a bicycle is a lot easier on the joints and I don't get as bored as when walking. In the winter I have an Airdyne that I use along with walking the dog.

The winter time is the most physically demanding part of the season for me. The cold and the snow present allot of challenges. With the heavier clothing, pac-boots and snowshoes along with my gun, day pack and traps requires one to maintain good physical conditioning especially if your wearing bear paw snowshoes. Anyone familiar with snowshoes knows that a bear paw is a flat shoe unlike the Michigan or cross country shoe with an up turned nose and tracking tail you must lift the front of the shoe when walking. I stay active year around and do allot of hiking and stream fishing that along with hard work does it for me. I've realized one thing as I've gotten older I have an expiration date and while the rest of the world is trying to get some place in a hurry I just move along slowly and enjoy the moment.

JamesD, love your sentence on expiration date. One advantage to getting old, you learn to pace yourself

core strength is EXTREMELY important for overall strength and endurance!!! I don't touch normal weights, i only use either my own body weight, a weight vest, or lift things like logs, and I've gotten ripped. I used to be a beanpole, and I'm still pretty thin, but because I've built up my core, I can lift things that suprise people when they look at my arms. swimming is a great overall fitness habit, and pushups, situps, and pullups are underrated, they work a lot more of your body than people give them credit.