Hunting often demands more physical exertion than you’re accustomed to doing. Conditions that hamper your physical ability to perform safely and responsibly while hunting include:

• Allergies
• Asthma
• A heart condition
• Excess weight
• Poor physical conditioning
• Eyesight (glasses or contacts)
• Hearing loss

Your mental condition impacts your performance as well.

Prepare for your hunt by getting in shape well in advance. The amount of time that it will take to get in shape will depend on your physical condition and the difficulty of the planned hunt.

Be aware of the physical and medical conditions of your hunting partners. For example, if they carry medication for a particular condition, you need to know about it so that you can administer the medication in case of an emergency.

Children and older adults may walk at different speeds from the rest of your group, which may cause your hunting party to extend over a broader area than you anticipated. Before shooting, be aware of the location of each member of your party.