Stalking shoes

So I've taken to hunting in my socks in the Bush, and it has definately improved my kill rate in public land NI bush.

While It's generally OK for navigating but there are times in more rocky spots and creek bottoms where the feet take a bit of hiding.

Thought I would upgrade camp shoes to something that can be stalked in to balance out the quiet vs risk and also maybe save going through a pair of socks every hunt.

What are people using? Anyone tried the barefoot style shoes?

vibram toe shoes are mint, worst thing is seed heads between your toes and people feet shaming you, but once you wear them in they are just like a really good summer crust

The Ashley boots by skellerup are super quiet in the bush and surprisingly grippy, and if you don't like the height of them they can be trimmed down to a buller height

Socks over boots - Vietnam Trick I learned off a vet

I used a pair of vibram 5 fingers on my roar trip last week. They were awesome for stalking, but after 11hrs and about 10km of up, down and sidling, my ankles and calves were cooked and the soles of the shoes were peeling away from the upper (granted they are over 10yrs old). I don't think I'll replace them tbh.

If I had a honey hole that I hunt regularly, which didn't require much of a walk to get there, or I could pack in with normal boots then do short day hunts out of close to camp, then the vibrams would be a good option

yeah my vibrams died of the same thing after 3years of using them in the orchard working, i would use them the same as you dorkus - walk in then chuck them on

There’s any number of trail running shoes that will do the trick, like Solomon cross runners ?

Socks and crocs, lightweight and if it gets rough chuck on 4wd mode

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Originally Posted by Dorkus

I used a pair of vibram 5 fingers on my roar trip last week. They were awesome for stalking, but after 11hrs and about 10km of up, down and sidling, my ankles and calves were cooked and the soles of the shoes were peeling away from the upper (granted they are over 10yrs old). I don't think I'll replace them tbh.

If I had a honey hole that I hunt regularly, which didn't require much of a walk to get there, or I could pack in with normal boots then do short day hunts out of close to camp, then the vibrams would be a good option

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Yeah I always take the big boots for hike to and from hut/camp to hunting area then socks on for the sneaky bits. Hate carrying a load of meat without boots.

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Originally Posted by woods223

There’s any number of trail running shoes that will do the trick, like Solomon cross runners ?

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Yeah I've tried trail runners/light boots and while better than stiff alpine style boots they are still pretty noisy comparitvely.

The best thing with socks is being able to feel what's under your feet. You can also move quicker while still quiet so good to cover more ground without spooking the next 3 gullies

I dont have an absolute best answer but perhaps shearers moccasin's made of deer skin would be the answer - like these traditional 17th century scottish ones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfi12ljLNlw

Nick-D. You must be one heavy footed hua to be worried about spooking game three gullies over. There’d be any number of hunters on here who, like me, regularly sneak up on animals close enough to near touch or stand on them. I live in boots so a bit tenderfoot, don’t walk without foot ware unless absolutely necessary. Each to their own though.

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Originally Posted by woods223

Nick-D. You must be one heavy footed hua to be worried about spooking game three gullies over. There’d be any number of hunters on here who, like me, regularly sneak up on animals close enough to near touch or stand on them. I live in boots so a bit tenderfoot, don’t walk without foot ware unless absolutely necessary. Each to their own though.

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Haha try hunting sika of clements! Clever buggers! I've shot heaps of deer in boots, I just see and shoot them at a higher rate in socks. I can move at the same noise level but faster so cover more ground and more likely to get onto a deer, or can be pretty much perfectly quiet.

Why bother with socks, just warmth?

My vibrams wouldn't weigh much more than a pair of thick wool socks. Would definitely go back down that track if I was stalking japs more often

I wear my Merrell trail running shoes, zero drop barefoot, or Inov8 barefoot shoes. I have tried cheaper nasty ass ones before but if they slip on your foot they are a waste of time, buy quality sneaky trail running barefoot shoes and you wont go wrong.