I've hunted elk a few times. After walking our horses over the Continental Divide in the Bob Marshall Wilderness west of Choteau, MT, it is hard for me to imagine any elk hunter has spent too much energy exercising for a few months before their mountain hunt. I had competed in biathlons and triathlons, and ridden my bike over 100 miles as fast as I could tolerate before my hunt in the Bob. I also used free weights. I am really, really glad I had prepared myself (almost enough) for that hunt.