I've been hunting deer up around 9k lately... I can say with some surety that being in really good aerobic shape greatly decreases the adjustment period/consequences of going low to high like the OP will be doing.
IMO, weight training done right is just as important. One of the things an elk hunter needs to be able to do is roll out of bed, every day, even after a tough day. Training your body to recover quickly from a tough workout that would leave most people sore is a big benefit. Cardio doesn't get me that.
I agree. I remember the first year I hunted elk, the patriarch of the camp said, the night before opening morning, "tomorrow the Bataan death march begins".... he was right... by the 3rd day there was a lot of groaning at 4:30 am when it was time to roll out of the cots. SO much blowdown up there... brutal. But speaking strictly of the altitude adjustment and my own experiences, being very strong aerobically really helps take the edge off. I would surmise that a strong aerobic system HAS more red blood cells? Or is more able to utilize what it's got?
Of course some [bleep] just backpack up and shoot two cows opening day and are done with it.
