Footware??

Hi all.

Cornflakes season is all but here.
On my last hunt it was starting to get crunchy until the rain came down. It got me thinking about my boots.
They are your normal hunting boot. Leather, waterproof and rubber sole. Now I have heard of people hunting in socks (I did this one day during the roar this year due to leaving my boots at home :roll: and getting mad blisters) and there very quiet. Dive booties is another as well as hardman bare feet.

Was just wondering if anyone here uses any of these methods during the summer months? Im thinking about maybe dive booties as they will probably last longer.
Thoughts??

Tim

Maybe these would work? I wear them when spearfishing. Might give it a go in February when in Kaimanawas.

Freediving Socks Rob Allen 3mm

Shit man just wear your boots, plenty deer been shot by hunters wearing boots. Even in the summer.

I wear cross trainers as my feet get too hot in boots.
Nice and light, comfortable and still shoot deer in them.
Too much of the secret ninja stuff and unbeknown you will sneak past the sleeping deer

Barefeet

I used to stalk the main beach Mt in barefeet, worked well :)

I carry a spare pair of socks, if the boots get to noisey I clip them on my pack and put the extra socks on, then do like a roman sandal type pattern with insulation tape. Might be a bit ott but if I can hear my footsteps from 1.7m then deer can probably hear them from 30m which at times is further than I can see.

I bush hunt in my running shoes which are Barefoot shoes, New Balance Minimus, or Merrell Trail gloves. More comfortable than dive booties, lighter, more flexible.

Minimus 10v2 Trail - Men's 10 - Running, Minimal - New Balance - NZ

I like my boots also but man it felt so much better just wearing socks, and a whole heap quieter. Of the 5 deer I have seen in the wild, I have spooked 3 well before I knew they were there. Was hoping to get a bit of an advantage maybe.
The whole bare foot thing is probably a step to far for me, a bit too soft these days.
Thanks for the replies so far. Im sure some of you hardened hunters had a bit of a chuckle.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sniper

I like my boots also but man it felt so much better just wearing socks, and a whole heap quieter. Of the 5 deer I have seen in the wild, I have spooked 3 well before I knew they were there. Was hoping to get a bit of an advantage maybe.
The whole bare foot thing is probably a step to far for me, a bit too soft these days.
Thanks for the replies so far. Im sure some of you hardened hunters had a bit of a chuckle.

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You may be surprised if you try stalking in bare feet. As long as you are not on very rocky ground (or around prickly stuff) it doesnt take too long to get used to it. You can always put your boots back on if your feet get sore and just take them off when in a 'hot' area.
The best thing about soft bare feet (especially with sika) is that it slows you down

exactly

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shearer

You may be surprised if you try stalking in bare feet. As long as you are not on very rocky ground (or around prickly stuff) it doesnt take too long to get used to it. You can always put your boots back on if your feet get sore and just take them off when in a 'hot' area.
The best thing about soft bare feet (especially with sika) is that it slows you down

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Had to find and carry a tramper out from the back of Lake Sumner .No horses or chopper. 6 of us stretcher bearers and it took two days in the middle winter. All that made it bearable was that it was lightly snowing so the sandflies and mozzies were asleep. The dickhead took his boots off to cross a creek, lost his balance, arsed over and broke his ankle and fibula. In my opinion for what it's worth, bare feet are for the house and the beach.