In this post, I share the best exercises for tracking bucks on snow. It is helpful to get in shape to maximize each day. The best muscles that to train to get the most out of your workout are your trapezius, biceps, and hamstring muscles. In this post, I describe three easy workouts you can do to train each of these muscles.
These are easy workouts that don’t require a lot of time and don’t have a learning curve, but help immensely to prevent lameness, muscle cramps, and to hit the woods harder, faster, and stronger.
I’m no fitness expert, but these have helped me a lot and I know they will help you too.
Trapezius (Traps) Exercises
The trapezius or traps muscles are located on your upper back and shoulders.
If you don’t work out your traps before the season they will become incredibly sore. These muscles hold the weight of your gun. Carrying a 7-8 lbs gun around all day will give your traps a good workout, especially if you rarely use these muscles.
Training your traps before the season will keep them from getting sore which will keep your mind sharp and focused on looking for bucks.
Trap Exercise For Tracking Big Woods Bucks On Snow
Because I like to train as similar to the real hunting scenarios as possible, I like barbell shrugs for getting your traps in shape for tracking deer on snow. Holding a barbell is very comparable to holding a rifle in form. For this reason, I like doing shrugs with barbells.
How To Workout Your Traps
I like to do 3 sets of 10-15 reps. This will cause your traps to get really sore in the next day or two. I want these muscles to get very sore and let them heal. Once healed they won’t be as sore the next time they are worked out. It really doesn’t take more than a few workout sessions for these muscles to stop getting sore.
How Often To Workout Your Traps
After waiting for 3-4 days I will work out my traps again and repeat this process until they pretty much stop getting sore altogether. At this point, you’re ready for hunting season. Once you start tracking, you will barely notice your traps. This makes a big difference in your ability to focus on the hunt.
Bicep Exercises For Tracking Bucks On Snow
Your biceps are another muscle that is used when your gun is in your hands. Your arms can get pretty tired and sore from your gun over the course of a long day if they are not worked out before the season.
Best Biceps Exercises For Tracking Bucks On Snow
Hammer curls are my favorite bicep exercise when preparing for tracking bucks on snow. Hammer curls also work your forearms in addition to your biceps. This is important because when you hold your rifle, your forearm muscle will naturally be used near the elbow joint and will get tired if you don’t train it.
Fortunately, the hammer curl is the perfect exercise to prevent both bicep and forearm fatigue when tracking.Â
How To Workout Your Biceps
Again, I like to do 3 sets of 10-15 reps. This will cause your biceps to get sore in the next day or two. Once healed they won’t be as sore the next time they are worked out. Similar to your traps, it does not take more than a few workout sessions for these muscles to reduce soreness after workouts.
How Often To Workout Your Biceps
After waiting for 3-4 days I will work out my biceps again and repeat this process until they pretty much stop getting sore altogether. At this point, you’re ready for hunting season. Once you start tracking, you will barely notice your biceps, allowing you to focus on the hunt.
Hamstring Exercises For Tacking Bucks On Snow
Your hamstrings are a very important muscle to work out before the season. It does not matter how in shape you think your legs are, your hamstrings take a beating when tracking in snow. The high-steps that are needed when walking quietly in snow will make you use your hamstrings a lot more than any other common activity.
I often walk 5-7 miles per day for work, but I found out the hard way that it doesn’t matter. I still got leg cramps until I started working out my hamstrings before the season.
Best Hamstring Workout For Tracking Bucks On Snow
I like the seated or lying-down leg curl machine. It’s very controlled and allows you to focus on working out the hamstrings.
How To Workout Your Hamstrings
Like I’ve mentioned with the other workouts, I like to do high reps and low weight I will do 3 sets of 10-15 reps. This will cause your hamstrings to get sore in the next day or two. Once healed they won’t be as sore the next time they are worked out. It does not take more than a few workout sessions for these muscles to stop getting as sore.
How Often To Workout Your Hamstrings
After waiting for 3-4 days I will work out my hamstrings again and repeat this process until they pretty much stop getting sore. Trust me, you’ll be thankful you worked out these muscles once you’re lifting your legs up over 6-8 inches of snow for 6-10 miles multiple days in a row.
Conclusion
Hopefully, these exercises for tracking bucks on snow have helped you prepare for the upcoming tracking season. Can you track deer on snow without working out and getting in shape? Absolutely, but working out allows you to hit the ground running. If you don’t work out you’ll likely be needing recovery days or pushing your body harder than it’s ready to go out of the gate.
This is just a very simple workout regime that will help you in tracking scenarios. You can add additional exercises to these muscle groups to further your progress.
It is important to also be in shape cardiovascularly. Additionally, drinking water while tracking and stretching before after tracking will go a long way to prevent muscle rigidity, lameness, cramping, and improve muscle longevity.
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