Episode #65 Backcountry Fit For Quail Season?

We trade the usual gear talk for the gear that decides whether you can actually reach the birds: your heart, your legs, and your daily habits. We break down why quail hunting demands nonstop mobility and share simple ways to train, eat, sleep, and hydrate so you can keep chasing coveys for decades. 

• why physical health matters more than a shotgun or a dog for backcountry access 
• heart disease stats and why hunters should pay attention in their 40s and beyond 
• how belly fat and extra weight make desert miles harder and raise risk 
• steps, brisk walking, and why quail hunters need durable cardio 
• off-season training ideas like hikes, runs, cycling, and leg and core workouts 
• cleaning up diet with the 80-20 rule and cutting sugary drinks 
• sleep as recovery that improves energy and lowers stress on the heart 
• Arizona trail ideas for conditioning and building stamina 
• hydration basics for desert heat and keeping hunts from ending early 
• a stewardship mindset for staying strong for family and the outdoors 

To help further our work, please consider making a tax-deductible gift. Visit us online at azquailtoday.com and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest information and updates.

Connect with us: Email us at ryan@azquailtoday.com —we'd love to hear from you! 
Follow us on Instagram at @azquailtoday

Transcript

Welcome To Arizona Quail Today

SPEAKER_00 0:07

Welcome to Arizona Quail Today, your go-to podcast for all things quail hunting in Arizona. We're dedicated to educating and inspiring the next generation of quail hunters. A big thanks to our supporters and proud partners, Arizona Outdoor Adventures, Fathers in the Field, and Marsupial Gear. Thanks for tuning in, and now let's dive in today's program.

Is Rock And Roll Dead

SPEAKER_01 0:59

All right, welcome back to another episode of Arizona Quail Today. Man, that's rock and roll. I mean, here's what's crazy is that rock and roll is dead. I wish it wasn't. But it is. Think about it. They're never on the top 100 billboard charts unless it's from the 70s, the 80s, the 90s. All the rock and roll is the old rock and roll. Classic rock is dead, man. I wish it wasn't. It's a pe it's a funeral that nobody wants to go to. It's a whole nother podcast for another day, but this was some good old rock and roll that's gone.

Your Body Is The Key Gear

SPEAKER_01 2:21

Tell you what, so what are we doing today? Well, here's what we're gonna do today. Maybe you've been thunderstruck. Maybe you've been hit by something really hard and you don't want to acknowledge it. I'm talking about your health. I'm talking about getting out there into backcountry but scared to death because your physical ability isn't able to help you get out there and you're starting to worry. Well, hey he everybody, welcome back to Arizona Quail Today. Today we're talking about one piece of gear that matters more than your shotgun and your dog. We're talking about your heart and your body. Now, here's the reality: most of quail hunters between 20 and 65 years old, listen, in your twenties, you can get away with just about anything. Eating anything you want, doing whatever you want, drinking whatever you want, you just get away with it. In your 30s, though, you can slide by. But when you hit your forties, you either wreck your body or you reconcile with it. And it's your choice. If you reconcile with it, you set yourself up to still be chasing birds really strong in your 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s. So here's what we're talking about. We're talking about just the importance of physical health as it pertains to making sure you're doing a great job getting out there in the backcountry. And so the question comes is how are you taking care of your body? I know this sounds like interesting to you, but gee whiz. I mean, what's more determining you getting out in the backcountry is not your dog, but it's your body.

Heart Disease Reality Check

SPEAKER_01 4:21

So let me talk to you about heart disease. This is something I'm exploring myself because I'm 40. Oh gosh, what am I? 46. Gonna turn 47 here in October. Let's talk about heart disease just for a second and why this matters. Heart disease is still the number one killer. That's not good. It's it's not good. It's the number one killer in the US. Someone has a heart attack about every 40 seconds. That's about 805,000 Americans have one every single year. For men ages 40 to 59, around 40% already have had some kind of cardiovascular problems. And so you just gotta understand how you treat your heart and what you do with your heart is incredibly important.

Hunter Body Types And Belly Fat

SPEAKER_01 5:16

So let's talk about just funny body types for a moment. Let's just be honest about kind of the the uh how you look. Because how you look will determine a little bit about how healthy you are. So uh for for some of the common hunter body types, we'll see you some of you might have the muffin top. I've got a little muffin top going on. It's a little sidebar love handles action happening, the guts hanging right over your belt. That's extra weight, though, guys, that you're carrying around that you don't really need. That's not helpful for you. Uh lugging it around the back country. You you're you wear out faster and you make those steps, uh steep washes twice as long as they they need to be, because you're just lugging around that stuff. Or you got the pot, the big old pot belly. Maybe some of you guys, it's like you're bigger than a pregnant lady, and you know it, and it ain't good for you. So you you gotta be asking the question, like, well, how's that doing on my heart? And some of you are like, Man, I'm turning this podcast off. Well, this podcast might save your life because maybe it's a wake-up call. Uh that's incredibly tough on your heart. Belly fat wraps around your organs. You need to understand that. It drives up your risk for heart disease tremendously. And all those extra calories from either beer, fast food, or whatever you're eating, it just it packs it in big time. So, you know. What are we talking about?

Steps Per Day For Longevity

SPEAKER_01 7:08

Well, I want to talk to you about just simply moving. I mean, the good news is is if you can walk and move around, your odds for a long, healthy life go way, way up. I mean, if you hit like 6,000 to 8,000 steps a day, that can seriously cut your risk of dying or early. Even like 15 minutes of walking a day, of brisk walking, is linked to about 20% lower chance of death. And and that's perfect for us because quail hunting is all about covering ground on your feet. So you might hear my dogs panting in the background. I don't know if you can hear that or not, but these dogs just got out of just it's hot outside. And so when you're out running around in the backcountry, you're burning calories, you're you just moving on your feet, that's good. That's it gets you gets gets you moving, and moving is living. And so, you know, how much ground do we actually cover? Well, you you if you caught our earlier podcast called you know, your boots will carry you nearly 70,000 miles, you already know this hits hard. I mean, your boots are that piece of gear that you use every single minute you're you're outside in the backcountry. And if the average person walks about 2.5 miles uh in a given day from age 20 to 65, that's roughly 52,000 miles from everyday life. And it's realistic in realistic quail hunting miles, maybe you're looking at at 67,000 miles to 70,000 miles with adding up all the seasons of getting out there and hiking. That's nearly three trips around the equator. So, you know, that's again why I think it's important to even have this conversation because quail hunters typically, I mean, you're just doing more walking than most hunters, in my opinion. I mean, I don't know, you maybe you can send me in, but like think about dove hunting. You just sit there and by inside your truck or just out by a in a wash, or elk hunting. Maybe you're stalking slowly. Maybe you're covering some ground, you know, bighorn sheep, maybe, you know, scrambling and but a lot of that's pretty stationary once you get settled. Quail hunting is non-stop walking. It is one of those sports that means you've really got to be mobile. And you're typically not r walking on flat, easy ground. You're on rough terrain, washes, all that stuff. So you need your you need your legs, you need your feet, you need to be able to move. And in order to do that, you gotta have some decent cardio and you're you need to be in a physical health where you're not driving yourself to a heart attack when you're getting

Off-Season Training That Works

SPEAKER_01 10:15

out there. And so some of the question comes, or what are some of the off-season, off-season kind of training techniques? What can you do? And uh I'll tell you what.

SPEAKER_02 10:30

Can't touch this. Can't touch this.

SPEAKER_01 10:35

Dude, I'm moving with the 90s. I'm moving with it. You gotta get moving. You've gotta get uh going in the off-season. You've gotta take brisk walks, hikes, runs, you know, do what you can to get moving a little bit more than normal. Uh, because in the off-season you're you're you can get you can get out of shape real quick.

unknown 11:02

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 11:03

And so uh your dog can too. So I'd get moving a couple times a week. Leg and core workouts, squats, lunges, step-ups, deadlifts for that desert terrain. Maybe some of you put packs on and and do a little hiking. That's kind of hardcore. I've never done that before, but I see these guys doing it. Uh you know, getting out and scouting some backcountry, going on a walk, just whatever it takes to get a little cardio. I'm not gonna k I'm not gonna uh lie here. Dude, I got invited into a spin class with my wife, and it was it was an hour of like pedaling a bike and it was crazy. Um it it it was uh intense, it was challenging, and I felt like a gangster the whole time. Nah. It was uh it was crazy, but it it was good. Uh I walked out of there with one hour of like fully intensive like cardio and I figure, man, I'm in that 40s age frame where I've gotta reconcile my body, and so I can't get away with whatever I want to eat anymore. I'm gonna have to like increase my my ability to get out there and start really going after it in the area of uh trying to be more active.

Food Fuel Sleep And The 80-20 Rule

SPEAKER_01 12:45

One of the other things you guys you know uh to consider doing is just eating better. Just eating better food. I mean I'm talking about uh just cleaning up your diet and what you eat, you know. So you're like thinking, like, man, I didn't know I was gonna get this on the podcast, like from you know, Ryan. But I'm like, hey man, we're gonna talk everything quail hunting and and your food matters. It's your feud, your food is fuel. I mean, I think that's a way to think about it. And so clean up what you eat, cut out the fast food to some degree, sugary drinks, soda, diet code, you think about all these kinds of things. Uh they really can wreck your body pretty good. And so you got I mean, dropping just like one soda a day can save you potentially listen, you over 15 pounds a year. Like you just quit drinking soda. It could hugely impact your physical health, add years to your life, miles to your boots, more time in the backcountry. So focus on real food, like lean meats, like how about quail? How about fish, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and 80 and and water 80% of the time eat clean. 20% of the time, just eat whatever you want. That's just the 80-20 rule. Uh, the 80-20 rule is the idea that's kind of like it's sustainable. You know, everybody likes to do these diets, but just make a lifestyle modification on how you eat, sleep, exercise, all that get you further and faster, enable you to do bigger and better hunts. Don't don't try to be perfect or you'll quit. Just live healthy 80% of the time. Give yourself some grace. The other 20%, it's just realistic. Just eat what you want, do what you want, skip a workout, sleep in, whatever. And speaking of sleep, don't forget sleep. Sleep matters. It's like you give your body a break, man. Seven to nine hours of sleep is generally speaking, for most people, really good for your body. Good sleep helps control your weight, lower stress on your heart, and keeps your energy really high in the field. So um, these are some things to consider. And I mean, it's good for you. So, so what are some things that you can do? What are some things that you can do in the off season? You're not gonna go to a spin class, you're not gonna go do all that, you're gonna, but you want to do something.

Arizona Hikes To Build Endurance

SPEAKER_01 15:51

I'd say again, get hiking. Uh, there's a lot of cool spots all through right here in Arizona. Um, some fantastic spots to train, build endurance. Um, you know, here's a couple recommendations. Pinnacle Peak Park in North Scottsdale, uh, solid, moderate hike with great views, good elevation gain, perfect for building um stamina. Now I'd just go early or go when the sun sets. Uh, another one is over in the east end of the Phoenix Valley, and that's uh the Peralta Trail in the superstitions. You head towards Weaver's Needle for epic scenery, rocky terrain, just feels like quail country. And you'll you'll see wildlife out there. It's really, really cool. Another one up north is Boyton Canyon Trail. That's a beautiful one. Beautiful red rock views, uh shaded sections, nice lengths, and uh really great way to test your legs. Then there's uh Butcher Jones Trail out there at Swarrow Lake. Lots of good lake views mixed with Swarrows, rolling hills, big open country, easy access from the valley. Then you have the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve, which is just right around that's my neighborhood, uh right in that area, right in the city. It feels wild though. They're like, I think it's 6,000 acres uh of uh a preserve there, beautiful quail country, nice big swarrows, nice views. You can see Cardinal Stadium, you can see Four Peaks, you can see all sorts of cool stuff out there. So get out there, put some miles on the boots in the off-country, enjoy God's creation while you train and stay healthy, stay strong. And then, you know, for me this summer, um, I'm gonna head up to Colorado with my wife and a few buddies, and we're gonna do some hiking, some exploring. We'll do a side-by-side one day. Um, we're gonna have a ton of fun. We're gonna hit my wife and I always hit a lot of trails around 9,000, 11,000 feet in elevation. Um, and I can kick your butt in the area of cardio. That thin air gets you breathing really, really hard. But uh legs feel it too. But that's good for the lungs, good for the body, good for the soul. So um, you know, I love going out out there. We hike through pine forests, cross streams, uh, go up on ridges, get big views. It's pretty awesome. Uh, it's an incredible adventure. Yeah, and that keeps you strong in the off-season, that gets you sh help you moving uh faster and further in the on-season and doing bigger and better trips. And so uh put some miles on those boots and then don't forget to stay hydrated too.

Hydration For Heat And Heart

SPEAKER_01 18:45

That don't let the desert dry you out. The heat strokes are a real deal, and you get real high uh dehydrated real fast. Staying hydrated is huge for the heart, especially when you're out in the heat chasing chasing um your dog or your birds or just uh chasing a good time and get carried away with work or whatever you're doing. Stay hydrated. When you're dehydrated, your blood actually gets thinner, I'm sorry, gets thicker, and your heart has to work super hard to pump it, and your heart rate climbs. And uh proper hydration helps you your heart pump easier, it keeps your muscles working right and prevents cramps that can uh cut a hunt or a hike short. So be mindful of that. Stay hydrated. Aim for uh they say at least uh half your body weight in ounces of water per day, more than your active, the more you're active, it's hot. Um so throw a water bottle or hydration pack in your off-season training routine and and make it a habit. Uh your your heart and your your legs will thank you when opening day rolls around.

Stewardship Mindset And Closing

SPEAKER_01 20:10

And at the end, you know, and I think thinking about all of this is in regards to just kind of a stewardship mindset for your body. Uh, at the end of the day, your taking care of your body isn't just about hunting longer, it's just about uh stewarding what what you've been given. Uh you you've got to honor your body. Uh you're you need to take care of yourself uh so you can live long, live strong for your family, for your friends, uh to make a difference in this world and explore all this wonderful uh great outdoors. So that's about it. And you know, one way to stay sharp in the offseason is well, uh grab a copy of my book, Bible Readings for Bird Hunters. Maybe you're a man of faith, maybe you're not. Maybe you're a gal of faith, maybe not. Uh I present 21 Ways to Elevate Your Hunt. It's a quick daily devotional that pairs scripture with real hunting stories and lessons. You can pick it up on Amazon and uh there's an audio version. If you don't like to read, you can listen. They're really super short, very easy to read, lots of little stories. It was perfect summer reading, short enough to read in the morning with your coffee or uh stick it in the truck and just have it whenever you're ready. So, bottom line, guys, uh your best hunting years are still ahead, so take care of that machine doing all the work. It's your body. Start small, stay consistent, and you'll still be the one covering tons of miles when others are sitting on the couch. So that's it for today. Uh, today's episode on Arizona Quail Today is a get after it, and we'll catch up with you on the next one. There you go. Closing out with a little pearl jam. Because you gotta get your rock and roll from the 80s and 90s if you're gonna get rock and roll today. Alright, that was a bonus one. We'll see you guys later.

SPEAKER_00 22:49

Thanks for listening in. To help further our work, please consider making a tax-deductible gift. Visit us online at azquailtoday.com and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest information and updates. Till then, remember to get outside.