Each year, nearly 3 million wild turkey hunters take to the woods and fields of North America in pursuit of the continent's largest game bird. And each year, many hunters find themselves winded, tired and miserable because they weren't prepared.

Doc Dettmer's Health Tips: During the Hunt

Just because you've trained for the hunt doesn't mean you can forget other factors for your hunting safety. Remember these tips for a safe hunt.

• Hunt in pairs, with a partner in moderate proximity or at least tell someone where you'll be hunting. Two-way radios can also be helpful.
• Allergies can be as deadly as cardiac or respiratory conditions. Being aware of your allergies such as dusts, molds, and pollen before the hunt is helpful. It's also very important to know if you are allergic to critters that sting or bite. If you have such allergies, having your EpiPen (Epinephrine) with you (not in the vehicle, with you) when you get bit or stung is very important because hunting situations often take hunters far from the emergency room. Be prepared to treat any known medical condition.
• Be prepared for ticks and chiggers. Something so simple as tucking your pants legs into your boots can make a great difference in deterring these little pesks. Also, treating clothes with insect repellent before the hunt can save a lot of misery.
• Rest often during the hunt and drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated can determine the way you feel during and after the hunt.

"Every so often I hear about hunters who fall ill in the field," said Scott Vance, former collegiate athlete, licensed personal trainer and the National Wild Turkey Federation's director of partnership programs. "Today's turkey hunter isn't always able to meet the physical challenges of the hunt. Combine that with existing health problems and you have a recipe for disaster."

Unlike deer hunting or duck hunting, where a hunter generally spends hours sitting still in a treestand or blind, turkey hunting requires a good deal of walking — one of the best forms of aerobic exercise.

Most turkey hunts require the hunter to walk moderate to long distances while scouting or trying to locate birds. Add the fact that he or she is usually traveling up and down hills, around trees, over logs and traversing creeks, and the hunter has a formidable workout.

Because turkey hunting is often physically exerting, and more than 910,000 Americans die of cardiovascular diseases, many hunters could be at increased risk of a heart attack or stroke while in the field.

However, a few months, or even weeks, of exercise before the season starts could make the difference in whether you walk out of the woods with your hunting partner or send him scrambling to the nearest hospital for help.

According to Dr. Robert Dettmer, retired M.D., avid turkey hunter and immediate past chairman of the NWTF's National Board of Directors, the first step to start living a healthy lifestyle should be a balanced diet with caloric intake that matches daily needs.

"Your diet is something you can control every day," said Dettmer. "Even if you don't have much time to exercise, watching what you eat makes a difference in your overall health."

If you have any of the risk factors for heart or cardiovascular disease, Dr. Dettmer suggests seeking advice from your doctor concerning dietary needs before starting any new workout regimen.

Doc Dettmer's tips to becoming a healthier hunter:

Doc Dettmer's 6 Ways to Stay Energized

Your meals on the day of the hunt are as important as all the training that went into your preseason preparations. Here are some helpful tips to keep you energized during the hunt.

• Eat a nutritious breakfast. Try a bowl of cereal or oatmeal with a serving of bread and maybe a serving of fruit or juice to jump-start your day.
• Take healthy snacks to fuel you through mid-morning.
• Eat a healthy lunch.
• Take snacks with you for the afternoon and early evening portion of your hunt.
• Be mindful of dinner. Late night meals can lay heavily on a hunter's stomach and lead to restlessness.
• Drink...... water. Dehydration can cause weakness, fatigue, muscle soreness and dizziness.

If You Smoke, Stop
Smoking is the worst thing you can do to yourself. Smoking and tobacco use can cause disabling lung disease, cancer and heart disease. Mixed with the added strains of the hunt, tobacco use can lead to disaster.

Walk
Walking is without a doubt the easiest and most beneficial form of exercise. Start off walking short distances and work into longer more difficult walks. In just a short time, you'll start to shed unwanted pounds and feel better.

Eat Moderate Portions
If you're out of shape, it's probably because you don't exercise enough and you're taking in too many calories. By keeping your portion sizes reasonable, you'll be able to eat the foods you want and stay healthy. Did you know the recommended serving of cooked meat is three ounces, similar in size to a deck of playing cards? A medium piece of fruit is one serving and a cup of pasta equals two servings. One pint of ice cream contains four servings. Refer to the Food Guide Pyramid for information on recommended serving sizes.

Eat a balanced, nutrient-rich diet.
To maintain good health, you need more than 40 different nutrients so avoid cutting any single nutrient out of your diet completely. There is no magic food that supplies them all and weight loss from all-or-none diets are difficult to maintain.

Your diet should include:

• Bread and other whole-grain products.
• Fruits; vegetables; dairy products.
• Meat, poultry, fish and other protein foods.

Maintain a Healthy Weight
Your ideal weight depends on factors including your sex, height, age and heredity. Excess body fat increases your chances for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, some types of cancer and other illnesses. Conversely, nutrient deficiencies can increase your risk for osteoporosis and other health problems. If you're constantly losing and regaining weight, a registered dietitian can help you develop sensible eating habits for successful weight management. Regular exercise is important to maintaining a healthy weight.

Train for Conditions You Plan to Hunt
If your hunting conditions require you to walk three miles before daylight, try walking that far on a forced march several times before hunting season arrives. If you want to hunt in the mountains, train in the mountains or at least simulate that type of hunting in your exercise. Many pieces of cardiovascular training equipment have modes that allow you to mimic mountain passes, gradual inclines and any other condition found in nature.

Also, walking or jogging in the area you'll hunt during the weeks prior to the hunting season will allow you to do some much-needed scouting and will increase your chances for success during the hunt.

For more information about the NWTF, call (800) THE-NWTF.

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