Local program offers preparatory fitness classes for hunting season

Montana’s hunting season is approaching and there are several things Bozeman hunters can do to increase their chances of success. A large part of this preparation involves physical fitness and MTNTOUGH — an app and online program — was created for this purpose. 

MTNTOUGH was created in 2017 by Dustin Diefenderfer, an ultramarathon runner and backcountry hunter. The organization’s app and website offer a range of programs for hunters and outdoorsmen of all fitness levels.

Programs — including strength and endurance training, yoga regimens, nutrition plans and mental health and spiritual resources — were created by outdoorsmen with experience in the Bozeman area. 

“Our primary customer is a hunter, so somebody who goes in to harvest a game animal on their own and pack it out,” said Weston Paul, director of business at MTNTOUGH.

Although the concept of online gym training may be considered unconventional, Paul said that it allows users to train at their convenience.

“While we focus on hunters, we also have a pretty big interest from the military community and from law enforcement,” Paul said. Some individual fitness programs are targeted at overall wellness, while others are designed to prepare hunters for upcoming seasons in Montana.

“For us, we want to make an impact on people’s lives through fitness, but we understand that, overall, people need [numerous components],” Paul said. “It’s not just fitness, we try to offer a well-rounded sweep of programs so people can kind of tap into their best selves.”

In partnership with local magazine Outside Bozeman, MTNTOUGH will be offering an in-person hunting fitness class on Sept. 24, before the start of rifle season. This class is designed specifically for hiking and packing out animals and teaches hunters the basics of strength and endurance, according to the Outside Bozeman website.

“We do this in an effort to build community here locally and then educate people, too, on the importance of training for hunting,” Paul said. The class costs a flat fee of $10 and will be offered from 6 to 7 p.m. at the MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab in Bozeman. 

For more information regarding the class or to sign up, visit https://outsidebozeman.com/store/events/class-hunting-fitness. 

For more information regarding MTNTOUGH, visit its website at https://mtntough.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopG1KHGQvafYZ4RANWRijYsFVSqXaTZy8oQ9r4OalmszR8Ebv-X.