My 12yo daughter and myself have several hunts for this year and we're matching our workout to what we anticipate being our toughest hunt. The quarry on the toughest hunt hang out at 8k ft (mt top) and roads end at about 5500ft. We need to carry our water and stay at the top as long as possible.
We're lucky to live at the base of a 10k + mt with FS trails going up it. So, we load up the backpack with increasing loads with a goal of 2,500 foot elevation and 4.5 mile one-way, then return for a total of 9 miles and 5k elevation change. We try to do this twice a week and make shorter, 2-mile, 1000 elevation gain trips another couple of times a week. I'm up to 30 pounds in my pack and hope to get to 40 - 50 lb range before the hunt. My daughter is starting very light, but can hopefully get to 20 pounds or so. We might cache some water up top on a scouting trip to cut down on the load uphill. Then, we'll somehow manage to haul down the giant beast she'll pin her tag on! We also do basic pullup, pushup, situp type stuff, jump rope. My daughters regimen also includes the gun range where I have a goal of getting her hitting up to 300 yards with her new Browning xbolt in 6.5 Creedmoor. She's up to 200 yards now and she'll likely make it to 300 now that I've upgraded her scope to a 4X16.
I have a couple of archery hunts, so I'm shooting almost daily to stretch my distance. My goal was 100% at elk sized kill zone at 60 yards which I accomplished and now just work to maintain going into season. Honing your fitness and hunting skills definitely moves the needle in your favor.
