Ross Russell, aka “elkhunterfromhell” lives by the words:
“IF YOU AIN’T SWEATING…., CLIMBING OR PACKING, WHAT FUN IS IT?”
When the snow gets deep and the deer and elk start dropping their antlers he and his trusty chocolate lab Magnum head out to find the fresh sheds before they have had a chance to bleach out. At 5 years old, Magnum is happiest out in the mountains. Ross says “He has been covering the elk mountains since he was 4 months old and lives to go in search of antlers. He hates hunting season, as he has to stay home and watch me pack everything up, knowing where I am going.”
The Eastern Washington hunter pursues elk in Northern Idaho and Northwest Montana. He has been at it for 30 years now. He knows that his physical fitness is directly correlated to his hunting success.
“To train for hunting and shed season, I spend 5-6 days a week all year in the gym on the treadmill and lifting weights.”
Combined with strength and cardio training, he is prepared to bring the fight to a 300 class bull elk in steep rugged country.
All that work in the off season gives him a good idea of the quality of bulls that he will encounter during the archery season as well. In 2007 he called in this nice bull to 12 yards.
“was a fun screaming match for 2 hrs and eventually I bull rushed him from 70 yds, down to 25 in thick tag alders, screamed over my shoulder, raked a tree quickly and here he came..I pulled back and watched him come in screaming and at 12 yds he came broadside, gave me a window and it was high 5 time after that! “
So obviously Ross’s time in the off season in the mountains with his training partner Magnum, pays off during hunting season.
Besides, as Ross says, “If you ain’t sweating, climbing or packing, what fun is it?”
