Why Summer Scouting Is the Most Underrated Part of Hunting Season
In my decades of hunting, I’ve come to enjoy early pre-season scouting just as much, if not more, than the peak hunting season itself.
There’s a unique sense of excitement when you hit the trail and head into a remote area looking for new life and new growth, imagining all the possibilities that lie ahead.
Summer scouting isn’t just preparation for the hunt. It’s an opportunity to test yourself, your gear, and your physical readiness for the season.
Here are a few key things to consider to help you maximize your summer scouting adventures.
The Truth Most Hunters Don’t Talk About
When most hunters start preparing for fall, their minds go straight to:
- E-maps
- Tags
- New gear
- Finding the latest competitive edge
But here’s the truth most people don’t talk about:
If your body isn’t ready, it doesn’t matter how good your gear or intel is.
As a Physical Therapist who works with backcountry hunters, I see it every year. The difference between a successful season and a missed opportunity often comes down to one thing:
Time in the field.
Summer scouting during the pre-season is the perfect opportunity to get into the mountains, test your body, and prepare for the demands of the hunt.
Scouting Isn’t Just About Finding a Big Bull or Buck
Scouting season isn’t just about spotting animals.
It’s also about testing your own physical systems.
Ask yourself:
- Can your knees handle steep sidehills with a pack on?
- How do your hips feel after several miles of hiking and glassing?
- Do you have lingering back pain that gets worse with a heavy pack?
- Are you carrying a shoulder issue that might flare up at 10,000 feet?
Scouting trips give you the perfect opportunity to assess your physical baseline:
- What’s working
- What feels tight
- What might break down if you ignore it
Think of it as field-testing your body before the season begins.
Intel Equals Longevity
You wouldn’t hunt with a rifle that hasn’t been zeroed.
Don’t hunt with a body that hasn’t been calibrated either.
Many hunters fall into a common trap. They find a few workouts they like at the gym and repeat them all summer, assuming that’s enough preparation.
But hunting demands more than that.
Most hunters need a combination of:
- Strong cardio capacity
- Functional strength
- Good mobility
- Balanced biomechanics
Unfortunately, many hunters train without clear direction or a baseline to measure their readiness.
Understanding exactly what your body needs to improve is the key to effective pre-season preparation.
Simple Tests to Check Your Readiness
Here are a few quick tests you can perform to evaluate your mobility, strength, and conditioning.
1. Mobility Test: The Deep Squat
Try performing a deep squat.
Ask yourself:
- Can you squat with your hips below your knees?
- Do your heels stay on the floor?
- Can you hold the position for 10 seconds?
- Can you stand back up without using your hands?
If not, you likely need to work on:
- Calf mobility
- Hip mobility
- Leg strength
2. Cardio Test: Loaded Hike
Try hiking 3–5 miles with a loaded pack.
Pay attention to:
- Your pace
- Your breathing
- How your body feels afterward
This simple test gives you a clear picture of your current conditioning and helps you determine how prepared you are for carrying gear during the hunt.
3. Strength Test: Step-Ups
Put on a heavy pack and perform step-ups onto a 12–18 inch box.
Count how many you can do.
This serves two purposes:
- A solid functional workout
- A baseline to measure improvement as the season approaches
Common Injuries I See During Pre-Season
Professional athletes always worry about being sidelined by injury.
Hunters should think the same way.
Pre-season training should focus on maximizing your time in the field and preventing injuries that could end your season early.
Some of the most common issues I see include:
- Achilles flare-ups from sudden hill climbs
- Knee pain caused by weak glutes or stiff ankles
- Low back fatigue from long sits and heavy packs
- Shoulder pain from bow draw mechanics
The earlier you catch these issues, the easier they are to fix.
That’s why May through July is the ideal window for pre-season training and injury prevention.
Treat Scouting Like Your Pre-Season Test
Your summer scouting trips are more than just wildlife reconnaissance.
They’re your opportunity to test your body.
Ask yourself:
- How do your feet hold up after long hikes?
- Do descents make you sore?
- Can you recover quickly and do it again the next day?
Scouting season helps you build the physical resilience required for hunting.
When you focus on strengthening your body and improving movement quality, you can:
- Scout harder
- Recover faster
- Hunt longer
Your body is your #1 tool in the backcountry, so don’t let pain, fatigue, or lack of preparation keep you off the mountain.
Enjoy the Process
I hope you enjoy summer scouting as much as I do.
Make a weekend out of it.
Bring a fishing pole.
Take your family along.
Spend time exploring the mountains.
And while you’re out there, take the opportunity to test yourself and prepare for a successful season.
By Dr. Preston Ward, PT, DPT, OCS
Founder & Owner of MTN PHYSIO
