Experts agree that an important part of preserving both mental and physical health is regular exercise. One form of exercise that many people do not categorize alongside traditional workouts is hunting.
Hunting is a sport that requires mental stamina, upper and lower body strength, and the endurance to stay active during a long day in the field.
In addition to the positive impacts hunting can have on your physical health, doing such intense exercise frequently can improve your mental health as well. The intense nature of the sport requires hunters to stay in shape year round, in preparation for hunting season. Stem cell therapy from ThriveMD can help get you healthy and in shape for hunting season months in advance.
Whether you’re an experienced hunter or a beginner just getting interested in the sport, knowing the potential health benefits that come with hunting can make it feel even more rewarding. Here are just a few of the benefits that hunting can have on both your physical and mental health.
Vitamin D intake
One of the benefits of hunting is that it gives participants a reason to spend time outside, often in the sunshine, which is shown to increase vitamin D and serotonin levels. Hunting requires long hours spent outdoors, which studies show is beneficial for our mental and physical health.
Reduced Stress
Experts define adequate exercise with significant stress reducing benefits as “moderate-intensity aerobic activity.” Due to the intense nature of hunting’s physical requirements – walking long distances, carrying heavy equipment, and maintaining balance and stamina – it fits this definition. Hunting frequently can cause a significant reduction in stress and feelings of depression or anxiety, due to the intensity of the workout and the aforementioned amount of time spent outdoors.
Sense of Community
One thing that sets hunting apart from sports of similar intensity is the shared sense of community among hunters. Hunters bond with one another easily due to their shared love of the sport. Hunting alongside friends can make the long hours in the field (which are very rewarding but often difficult) feel a bit easier or more enjoyable, and can lead to improved performance. The sense of community also has benefits for hunter’s mental health.
No matter what your reasons are for hunting, it is one of the best workouts and most rewarding sports or physical activities you can do, in addition to being one of the most enjoyable.
