All About Bow Hunting Fitness with John Dudley

As you may already know, John Dudley is our go-to guy for all things bowhunting. As the most trusted source in archery (and a HuntWise Pro), he's full of insights to help hunters become better with a bow every season.

Today, we share a conversation we had with John about bow hunting fitness, why it's important, and how it's different than other types of fitness. If you want to be a better bowhunter this fall, now is the time to get fit! Check out these tips from HuntWise and John Dudley.

Why Bow Hunting Fitness Matters

John Dudley is a fit guy, and he believes physical fitness and archery success go hand-in-hand.

He says:

"Physical fitness just makes you better: better as a person, better at the sport you're in . . . just better.

Then, if you're better as a person, you're just going to be better at whatever sport you apply that to. I can tell you that with archery, there's a lot that can be said about how added strength helps you pull more weight. That stuff, to me, seems pretty obvious.

But what I'll tell you is that when you apply physical fitness as a hunter, you start to unlock all kinds of different levels. The bottom line is that the longer you're there [in the field] and the deeper you go when you have to, the more success you're going to have.

Being able to weather out storms, go over that next peak, pull harder on what you have to drag out, or pack in food for a hunt, or you name it, being physically fit will just add to your excitement and add to your success in the field."

Anyone Can Do Archery, But Strength Adds Accuracy

"One of the great things about archery is that it truly is a sport anyone can do. Regardless of your age, gender, or strength level, you can get into archery, and you can do it really well.

But when you add strength, you add accuracy.

I've said this since I first started competing, having come from leaving a football scholarship to work at an archery shop and compete in national events — I've always said that my fitness level is what has enabled me to exceed. I didn't have the natural or refined archery talent. But I did have more in the tank than some of the other veterans out there.

Some of my early success came from my fitness ability and stamina, more so than my knowledge of the game."

How is Archery or Bowhunting Fitness Different from Other Types of Fitness?

John Dudley puts it this way:

"In my opinion, bowhunting fitness or archery strength training relates more to real-world strength and stamina.

A lot of people focus on specific exercises for a sport, and you'll see that. Like, with a swimmer, you'll see super wide shoulders and an extremely strong core. A bike ride has powerful legs and midsection, but they're pretty weak on the top. Most bodybuilders or people in high school who lift for football are going to be bigger on top than on the bottom.

However, the reality is that we need functional fitness in bowhunting and archery that helps us everywhere else in life.

I can tell you, when it comes to cardio and stamina, the one thing I notice I lack when I hit the mountains is how much gas I have in the driving force in my legs. So, for me, getting on a bike and grinding out a bike ride helps develop the legs I need for packing and pumping up a mountain.

However, when you look at the strength you need for stepping over logs, high-kneeing to go up a hill, or trying to post-hole through snow, these are the types of things you can build strength on with rucking and having a weighted pack on while going on long hikes at a fast pace.

Being able to go through a park or the woods with a pack on your back, making uneven steps or horizontal steps with that weight, you build so much functional strength that is 100% related to being on a hard hunt out back in the mountains."

Strength Training Balances Your Symmetry

"Doing strength training with archery will help you balance your symmetry.

Archery is a very one-sided sport, where we push with one side and pull with the other. We don't take our bow and shoot it right-handed one time, then left-handed another time to balance out.

The truth is, if you look at how much you pull during practice sessions with bows, it gets to be crazy to think about it. It's 60 or 70 pounds every time you pull, and you do that for just 10 arrows, you're talking 700 pounds you've pulled in 10 arrows of practice.

So if you're shooting 100 arrows, you're talking 7,000 pounds you've pulled on one side of your body and pushed forward on the other side. By doing weight training and using dumbbells, you force your body to balance out and regain symmetry."

How Does John Dudley Stay Fit?

He makes no secret of how he stays fit, and his mission is to help archers and bowhunters get better at the sport. So, if you're up for the challenge (and ready to improve your fall hunts), it's time to take on his tips for cardio and building push, pull, legs, and core strength.

Through his Nock Fit series, John Dudley highlights key exercises and areas of focus every bowhunter should incorporate into a consistent fitness routine to improve stamina, strength, and accuracy in the field.

Check out his videos and use the off-season to get in shape and improve your archery strength training habits, so you have more success in the field this fall!

Get Fit and Get HuntWise for Better Bowhunting Success

We always love sharing insights from our pros with our HuntWise audience! Whether you're new here and thinking about trying the app for the first time or you're a seasoned HuntWise user, there's always more to learn about hunting.

We hope these tips from John Dudley help you improve your bow hunting fitness and, in turn, that getting fit helps you enjoy more successful hunts this fall (and year-round).

Along with using the off-season to get in shape, we hope you'll also explore HuntWise! For new users, you get your first week free in the app.
Now is the perfect time to download it and check out a Pro or Elite subscription — free — for a week to engage with our best features and gear discounts.

If you're already an Elite user, then you know the value of using HuntWise before the season starts to scout and check your tree stands and trail cams. Plus, you have access to FieldGuide⁺, where you can brush up on hunting tips through our exclusive video collection for Elite subscribers (only)!