Tom Rowland Podcast Episode 612 is my conversation with Dan Staton, founder of Elk Shape, a training program and community built specifically for hunters preparing for Western big game hunts in steep, demanding mountain terrain. We get into how to actually train for the mountains, why so many hunters show up unprepared, the role of mental toughness when the country gets hard, and how Dan built a community around getting people ready for the hunt of their lives.
Listen now: Apple Podcasts · Spotify · YouTube · press play in the player above to watch.
Dan Staton is the founder of Elk Shape, a training program and community built specifically for hunters preparing for Western big game hunts in challenging mountain terrain. He focuses on the physical and mental preparation that hard backcountry hunts demand.
Elk Shape is the training program and community Dan Staton built to get hunters physically ready for Western big game hunts. It is designed around the specific demands of mountain hunting rather than general fitness.
Dan emphasizes training that prepares the body for the specific demands of steep terrain, heavy packs, and long days at elevation. In the episode he breaks down how that kind of preparation differs from generic gym work and why it matters when the hunt gets hard.
Dan argues that mental toughness is as important as physical conditioning when you are deep in difficult country. He discusses how preparation builds the resilience hunters need to keep going when conditions and terrain push them to quit.
Elk Shape is built for hunters preparing for Western big game hunts in challenging mountain terrain, from first-timers to experienced backcountry hunters who want to show up in real shape for the demands of the mountains.
Tom Rowland Podcast Episode 612 with Dan Staton is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and iHeartRadio. The video version is embedded at the top of this page.
I have a lot of respect for people who take preparation seriously, and Dan built an entire program around getting hunters ready for the mountains the right way. Western big game hunting is brutally physical, and most people underestimate it. I wanted Dan on the show to talk about how you actually train for that kind of country and the mental side that comes with it.
Press play in the YouTube player at the top of this page to hear the whole conversation in their own words.
Dan built Elk Shape because he kept seeing hunters underestimate what Western big game country demands. He gets into the gap between gym fitness and mountain readiness, and why showing up out of shape can cost you the hunt. Listen to that part of the conversation in the episode.
Dan breaks down training built around the real demands of the mountains, steep terrain, heavy packs, long days at elevation, rather than generic workouts. It is specific, purposeful preparation. Hear how he structures it in the episode.
Listen to the full conversation: Apple Podcasts · Spotify · or watch in the YouTube player at the top of this page.
When the country gets hard, conditioning is only part of what keeps you going. Dan talks about the mental toughness backcountry hunting requires and how preparation builds the resilience to push through when you want to quit. Press play in the player above to hear it.
Elk Shape is not just a program, it is a community of hunters chasing the same goal. Dan explains how he built that following and why a shared mission helps people actually stick to the work. Listen to the full conversation in the episode.
What I appreciate about Dan is that he treats hunting preparation as seriously as any athlete treats their sport. The mountains do not care how badly you want it if you have not put in the work, and Elk Shape exists to close that gap.
The mental toughness piece is the part that stuck with me. Whether it is hunting, fishing, or anything hard, the preparation is what gives you something to draw on when it gets ugly.
Press play in the player above, or grab the full episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
The Tom Rowland Podcast brings you long-form conversations with the most accomplished anglers, hunters, conservationists, and outdoor professionals in the game. Listen to every full-length Tom Rowland Podcast interview.
Dan Staton · Elk Shape · Western big game hunting · Tom Rowland Podcast
Dan Staton is the founder of Elk Shape, a training program and community built specifically for hunters preparing for Western big game hunts in challenging mountain terrain. He focuses on the physical conditioning and mental toughness that demanding backcountry hunts require, helping hunters show up genuinely prepared for the mountains rather than relying on generic fitness.
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