Every year, thousands of western hunters spend the winter talking about the same dream:
“This might be the year I finally draw.”
But for serious backcountry hunters, March isn’t just about dreaming — it’s about committing.
Because across the West, big game application deadlines are hitting fast. States like Colorado (April 2), Montana (April 1), Utah (April 24), and New Mexico (March 20) all close their elk and deer applications in the coming weeks. And the moment you hit “submit,” something shifts mentally.
You’re no longer hoping to hunt.
You’re preparing to hunt.
That’s why March marks the true beginning of hunting season — not September.
And for the hybrid athlete who lives the Always in Pursuit mindset, that means it’s time to start building the strength, endurance, and durability needed for the backcountry long before opening day arrives.
March Means Applications. Applications Mean Accountability.
Submitting your western hunt application is more than entering a draw — it’s starting a countdown.
From early April application deadlines to September archery openers, most western hunters have:
- Roughly 150–180 days
- About 20–24 weeks
- And approximately 140 training opportunities
to prepare their bodies for steep climbs, heavy packs, and long miles in rugged terrain.
Yet every fall, hunters find themselves struggling under load because they waited until July to begin training.
The truth is, your success in September isn’t built in August. It’s built in March — during early morning rucks, incline treadmill sessions, trail runs, and strength training workouts designed to prepare your legs and lungs for elevation and load-bearing movement.
That’s why off-season conditioning is the single most important performance factor for western hunters.
The Demands of a Western Backcountry Hunt
Whether you're chasing elk in Colorado or mule deer in Montana, western hunting places a unique set of demands on your body:
- Extended uphill hiking at elevation
- Load carriage of 40–80+ pounds
- Long glassing sessions in cold weather
- Downhill descents that punish joints and connective tissue
- Multi-day endurance output with minimal recovery
Unlike whitetail hunts from a treestand, western hunts require a combination of:
- Aerobic endurance
- Leg strength
- Joint stability
- Core strength
- Muscular stamina
In other words — you need to train like a hybrid athlete.
This is where structured preseason conditioning comes into play.
Build Your Aerobic Base Now — Not Later
March is the ideal time to begin building your Zone 2 aerobic base, which is the foundation of all endurance performance.
Low-intensity efforts like:
- Weighted rucks
- Incline walking
- Trail jogging
- Long-distance hiking
teach your body to:
- Burn fat efficiently for fuel
- Improve oxygen delivery
- Increase mitochondrial density
- Enhance recovery between efforts
- Sustain long-duration work output
These adaptations are critical for backcountry hunting success.
When you're climbing at elevation or packing out meat after a successful harvest, your body will rely heavily on this aerobic system to maintain output without fatigue.
Starting this process in March gives you a 20-week runway to build real work capacity — not just short-term fitness.
A Simple March Training Split for Hunters
If you're unsure where to begin, here’s a simple three-day weekly split to build backcountry readiness:
Day 1: Ruck Intervals
- 30–45 minutes
- 25–45 lb pack
- Incline walking or trail hiking
Day 2: Lower Body Strength
Focus on:
- Step-ups
- Split squats
- Deadlifts
- Lunges
- Sandbag carries
These movements strengthen the posterior chain and improve uphill output.
Day 3: Long Zone 2 Effort
- 60–90 minutes
- Low-intensity hike, jog, or ruck
- Maintain steady conversational pace
Repeat weekly and gradually increase duration or load.
Gear That Supports Off-Season Training
Your training gear should move with you — whether you're rucking before sunrise or grinding through gym-based strength sessions.
The Oryx Outdoors Always in Pursuit training system is built for hunters who demand durability and performance during both in-season and off-season efforts.
The Threshold 2.0 Performance Shorts are engineered for:
- 4-way stretch mobility
- Abrasion resistance for pack contact
- Breathable fabric for long-distance rucks
- Lined and unlined options for comfort during load-bearing movement
Cool March mornings also call for adaptable layering — especially when your first mile starts in 40-degree temps and ends in sweat.
The Summit Hoodie delivers:
- Lightweight warmth
- Moisture-wicking performance
- Stretch mobility
- Temperature regulation for early spring trail sessions
When your gear works with you instead of against you, consistency becomes easier — and consistency is what separates prepared hunters from struggling ones.
The Hybrid Athlete Advantage
Training like a hybrid athlete doesn’t mean abandoning your outdoor lifestyle.
It means enhancing it.
By combining:
- Strength training
- Endurance work
- Load-bearing movement
- Mobility and recovery
you prepare your body to handle the unpredictable demands of the backcountry.
Western hunting rewards those who can:
- Move quietly over uneven terrain
- Climb aggressively when needed
- Recover quickly between days
- Carry heavy loads efficiently
The more prepared you are physically, the more effectively you can execute when opportunity presents itself.
Train Now So You Don’t Suffer Later
Once draw results begin rolling in this spring, your hunt becomes real.
Every week that passes without preparation is one less opportunity to improve your conditioning before opening day.
Starting your training in March means:
- Better endurance in September
- Less fatigue during long climbs
- Improved pack-out performance
- Reduced injury risk
- Greater confidence in the field
Remember:
You don’t rise to the occasion in the mountains — you fall to the level of your preparation.
And preparation begins now.
So as you submit your western hunt applications this month, commit to building the strength and endurance required to make the most of your opportunity.
Because success in the fall starts with the work you put in this spring.
Always in Pursuit.
