Backcountry Elk Hunting Tips for Guys Over 40 - Strategies for Older Hunters

Backcountry Elk Hunting Tips for Guys Over 40 - Strategies for Older Hunters

Can You Still Do This After 40? | Backcountry Elk Hunting Over 40

Welcome to Backbone Unlimited. I’m Matt Hartsky, and today we’re talking to the guys who hear the words backcountry elk hunting and start to wonder if their best days are behind them.

If you’re in your 40s, 50s, or even beyond, and you’re asking yourself, “Can I still do this? Can I still chase elk in the mountains and come out with a full pack?”—the answer is absolutely yes. But let’s be honest—it’s different now.

Your body doesn’t bounce back like it used to. Your knees talk to you on the way down the mountain. You can’t skip sleep, eat junk, and grind for seven straight days anymore. That doesn’t mean you’re done—it just means you have to hunt smarter.

In this article, we’re diving into how to succeed as an older backcountry elk hunter. We’ll cover physical preparation, smart gear choices, pacing, recovery, nutrition, and the mindset shift that makes all the difference.

Because you’re not over the hill—you’re just at a different elevation.

What You Gain with Age in the Backcountry

At 48, I know exactly where you’re at. I’ve hunted with my dad in his 60s and 70s, and I can tell you—the idea that you’re “over the hill” is garbage. You’re not done. You’re just different.

What you lose in speed, you gain in wisdom. What you might lack in raw horsepower, you make up for with grit, discipline, and decades of experience. You know how to read a ridge. You know how to make smart calls at the right time. You’ve got years of real decisions under your belt—and that makes you dangerous in elk country.

Older hunters have something the young guys don’t: patience and perspective. You don’t panic when things get quiet. You don’t waste energy chasing ghosts. You know when to move, and when to wait.

That’s power.

How to Train for Elk Hunting After 40

Here’s where most guys over 40 go wrong—they try to hunt like they’re 25 again. They charge up the mountain on day one, fueled by adrenaline, and by day three their knees are shot, recovery is gone, and motivation fades fast.

If you want to be successful in the backcountry now, you’ve got to prepare your body differently. This isn’t about crushing yourself in the gym. It’s about building strength, durability, and recovery capacity.

Here’s the framework I use with myself and my clients:

1. Strength First.
You don’t need to be a bodybuilder, but you do need functional strength. Focus on deadlifts, lunges, step-ups, and weighted carries. These build stability, protect joints, and make pack-outs suck less.

2. Cardio That Transfers.
Long, slow distance builds endurance. Rucking uphill with a pack builds leg and lung capacity. Intervals build resilience—short bursts with short recovery. Don’t chase volume; train intensity and repeatability.

3. Mobility and Recovery.
Tight hips and stiff ankles cause injuries on uneven terrain. Spend 10–15 minutes a day stretching, rolling, and mobilizing. It’s not optional anymore—it’s protection.

4. Core and Stability.
Train your balance and single-leg control. Hunting isn’t linear movement—it’s sidehilling, crouching, drawing from awkward positions. You’re not training to outlift a 20-year-old. You’re training to outlast the mountain.

Build durability, not just strength.

Recovery Is the Game After 40

At 25, you can get away with four hours of sleep, a granola bar, and 2,000 feet of climb before daylight. At 45, that plan will wreck you halfway through the week.

As you age, recovery isn’t a luxury—it’s the entire game.

Here’s how I stay in the fight:

  • Sleep Setup: Invest in a good pad that actually cushions. Pack a lightweight pillow. If your back gets tight, elevate your hips or place your puffy between your knees.

  • Hydration: Cramps hit faster when you’re low on fluids. Salt, electrolytes, and steady water intake are non-negotiable.

  • Fuel Right: Don’t eat like you’re camping. Eat like you’re performing—real protein, clean fats, quality carbs.

  • Midday Rest: I take 30–60 minute breaks when I can. It keeps my legs fresh, lowers inflammation, and resets my focus.

You don’t have to baby yourself—but if you ignore recovery, your body will end your hunt early.

How to Hunt Smarter, Not Harder

Here’s where experience shines. You don’t need to chase every bugle or cover 20 miles a day anymore. You need to move smarter.

Slow down. Hunt methodically. Glass longer. Let your intuition lead.

Plan shorter, smarter stalks. Be patient with setups. Position yourself where elk want to be—water, benches, saddles, transition zones. Let them come to you.

Call less, think more. Your patience and timing become your biggest weapons. Younger hunters burn out. You stay consistent. That’s how you outlast the crowd and kill bulls when everyone else is packing out.

Pack Smarter to Move Lighter

When you’re younger, you can haul half your gear closet into the mountains and get away with it. Not anymore.

Every ounce counts now.

I trim my kit down to essentials:

  • Ultralight shelter system.

  • Simple, reliable layering system.

  • Bladder or bottle hydration setup with electrolytes.

  • Calorie-dense, high-protein food that digests fast.

If something never leaves your pack, it doesn’t earn a spot next time. I keep my total pack weight around 35–40 pounds for multi-day hunts. Less weight equals more days in the backcountry—plain and simple.

The Mental Game After 40

This part doesn’t get talked about enough.

Hunting in your 40s, 50s, or 60s can mess with your head if you let it. You remember how strong you were, how fast you could climb, how invincible you felt. When your body doesn’t respond the same way, it’s easy to start doubting yourself.

But this stage of life brings a different kind of strength. You’ve failed, you’ve succeeded, and you’ve learned what really matters.

The hunters who thrive after 40 embrace where they are now—not who they used to be. They hunt with purpose, patience, and presence. They don’t chase miles. They chase moments.

Stop comparing yourself to the 26-year-old on YouTube packing a bull six miles solo. You’re playing a different game—and that’s okay.

Redefining Success and Hunting on Your Terms

Success at this stage isn’t about distance or pace—it’s about consistency and enjoyment.

Maybe success for you means glassing more efficiently.
Maybe it’s setting ambush points based on sign.
Maybe it’s killing a bull one mile in instead of six.

It might even be coming home stronger and ready for another trip instead of wrecked for three weeks.

That’s not weakness. That’s wisdom.

You’re not proving anything to anyone. You’re proving to yourself that you can still get it done—and do it well.

This isn’t about ego. It’s about longevity. It’s about showing the younger generation what real toughness looks like—mental, physical, and emotional.

If you’re over 40 and wondering whether you can still hunt the backcountry—do it.

Not because it’s easy. But because you’re still built for the challenge. You’re still wired for grit. And if you’ve still got that fire in your chest that says “I’m not done”—then you still belong out there.

Final Message: You Still Belong Out There

If this hit home for you, share it with a hunting buddy in the same season of life. And if you want more training plans, gear breakdowns, and real coaching for guys who refuse to quit, join TEAM BACKBONE at BackboneUnlimited.com.

Because this lifestyle doesn’t belong just to the young—it belongs to the driven.

Hunt hard.
Hunt the backcountry over 40.
Never settle.

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