Most hunting injuries aren’t from gunshots – they’re from slips, trips, falls and carrying heavy loads. Being hunt fit is critical to prevent these injuries. Get #ROARfit.

As the Roar rolls around, most hunters are thinking about servicing their firearms, stocking up on ammunition, reviewing their block and watching the weather.

Fair enough. But there’s a safety factor that doesn’t get half the airtime it should: your physical condition and that of your mates.

“Fitness really matters when you look at the injuries hunters get,” says hunter Daniel Lastovicka.

“Gun incidents grab the headlines, but most severe injuries come from slips, trips, and falls – severe soft tissue injuries, broken limbs and dislocations. Fatigue, exhaustion and a lack of physical preparation are a major factor. But with a bit of prep, ideally starting long before the season begins, you can avoid many of these injuries.”

Roughly 152,000 Kiwi adults hunt each year, and many head into the hills for the Roar – the highlight of the hunting calendar.

Hunters, Lastovicka says, should be physically prepared and stay disciplined throughout their hunt.

“Every year, too many hunters get hurt because their bodies aren’t ready for the terrain, the load, or the long days,” he says. “Not only does planning and training help you avoid getting hurt, it also means a better hunt – for you and your mates as well. Nobody wants to be dragging the chain as the unfit member of the party.”

Lastovicka, who is based in Leeston near Christchurch and often hunts in the Canterbury hills, says a basic level of fitness and planning makes every mission safer. Hunting, he argues, should be approached like any other sport – the fitter you are, the easier and safer it becomes.

Being physically prepared isn’t about turning big days into bigger ones or carrying more weight for the sake of it, he says. It’s about being able to move well when you’re hours into a hunt, having enough left in the tank to make sound decisions and stay aware of your surroundings, and enjoying the experience rather than simply enduring it.

NZ Mountain Safety Council (MSC) has run the numbers. Its research shows severe hunting injuries double during the Roar, with 56% affecting shoulders, knees and ankles, taking an average recovery time of 76 days. That’s your Roar gone – and it can disrupt work and family life for weeks after the hunt.

MSC has developed a #ROARfit guide to help hunters prepare effectively for the Roar. With practical advice and tips, the guide helps hunters improve their fitness, build endurance and strength, and plan thoroughly before heading into the hills.

Lastovicka says consistent, regular exercise is far better than doing “one big session on the weekend”.

“Try to spend a few hours a day, four or five days a week on your feet with a weighted pack at a brisk walking pace,” he says.

“Build fitness and strengthen your ankles in running shoes, but use your boots occasionally too. Get your core working, and get used to your gear on your back. Add some time in the hills or longer local walks, and you’re already ahead.”

Being physically prepared is critical for your safety, as Lastovicka relates from a recent hunt when he and a mate were forced to call for help and be airlifted from a hut.

“Sitting in the hut waiting for the helicopter, it struck me how fatigue reduced our choices and the ability to make good decisions. The hills didn’t suddenly become dangerous, rather they became harder to manage when we were fatigued.”

That’s why getting #ROARfit before the Roar matters.

“The fitter you are, the longer it takes for your body to react to the stress in the hills, the more resilient you’ll be and the less likely you are to get injured or call for help,” he says.

“The Roar will always ask a lot of you. Being physically prepared means that you’re better placed to answer those demands, enjoy the time you’re out there, and get home at the end of it.”

Get #ROARfit with NZ Mountain Safety Council’s hunting prep plans and safety advice here.