Boots for September Elk Hunt?
 

I' ve booked an elk/muley hunt into the Absaroka-Beartooth region for 3rd week in September. I have good Rockies for colder weather but I need advice for lightweight warmer footwear. I checked previous posts and got some ideas (Asolos FSN 95, Danner Radical 45, Dunham Green Mt. 6000, for example). These are hikers, however, and I' m concerned about durability. Since I don' t know the terrain, any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks.

RE: Boots for September Elk Hunt?
 

What altitude are you going to be hunting at? You are likely going to be in cold weather by the third week of September and likely snow.

RE: Boots for September Elk Hunt?
 

You may or may not be in snow by then in that area leaning towards lots of snow. Have you looked at the Cabelas mountain hunter boots or any of their " Elk" rated boots. I like a pair of lightweight hunting boots and a set of " quality" Pac boots . On the hunting boot go no more than 400 grams with the insulation..I try to limit it to 200 grams and never had cold feet.

RE: Boots for September Elk Hunt?
 

I just purchased a pair of LaCrosse sneakers!! Actually they are like the pack boots, low top, waterproof (and tested) grip very well, very comfortable and warm. I like the light weight as they feel like tennis shoes on your feet but I would go with something higher like 13" or 16" for those creek crossings.:D Just my opion.

RE: Boots for September Elk Hunt?
 

To answer yer question, take off yer shoes an' socks an' look et yer feet. You got good arches? The top of yer foot, is it high an' curved or is it more like a duck' s? Yer toes, are they long an' flat across the balls of yer feet or are they stubby with a narrow ball? Is the heel narrow or thick? Overall, do yer feet resemble ice skates or scuba flippers? Tell me thet stuff, an' I' ll tell you a good boot fer yer type of feets.

I got long, narrow at the heel feet that resemble ducks feet. My toes are like little gear shifters from an' old stepside truck. My ankles and heels are boney and my arches high. I need a boot that won' t slip at the heel, and laces to the toe to make up for the flat, wide arches and ball. Support in this area is critical or my feet move around inside the boot like a the clanger on a bell. Lace to toe boots like the Danner Elk Hunters are my choice. I also prefer a goodyear welt construction with an' air bob sole. Skip those glued on soles that are all over the Cabelas catalog. Also skip suede and nylon. I like 4 grams of insulation, cause there ain' t nuthin' worser than cold feet when yer tryin' to kill elk. Buy good socks too, and wear an' undersock to reduce friction on yer foot and wick away moisture. And don' t wear the same socks day after day. Your tent mates will appreciate that.

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RE: Boots for September Elk Hunt?
 

I can vouch for the asolo boots you mention.
Have worked well for me in a range of conditions.
Agree with B.J. make sure you match your boot to your foot type, and don' t skimp on socks.
I have the narrow feet with high arches, has taken many trials to strike the right boot.
The asolos were still comfortable after 10 days solid hunting a month ago.
I reckon gaiters are a good thing. I wear two pair. Short neoprene ones to keep water out of my boots when doing a short wade over a stream, and then knee length gaiters over the top to stop shingle and sticks from going down the top of your boots, also give your shins a bit of padding.
Good luck with your hunt.

RE: Boots for September Elk Hunt?
 

I am with Tim. The Asolo 95 does it all.
Last year I backpacked 12 miles into Wyoming on a deer hunt with 45 pound pack.
The next four days I scrambled over 10,000 foot mountains with no trails, over shale rock slides, boulders, through creeks, up and down steep hills, you name it.
These boots never failed me. Plenty of support, solid comfort, no hot spots on my feet, no blisters. I would not classify these boots as just a hiker.
I have used these boots exclusively on deer and elk hunts for the last 5 years on , many hunts of the type described above in the mountains of Idaho and Wyoming in all weather down to 25 degrees (if it gets colder than that or there is snow I switch to my Vasque Albertas, which I really don' t like that well), and in the deserts of Wyoming and Utah in 80 degree weather on antelope hunts.
I am still wearing the same pair of these tough boots,(if I washed them they would still almost look like new), they are due for a resole however after 5 years of hard use.
Believe me, if they fit your feet you can' t go wrong. And no I don' t own stock in the company. I have tried Rockys (not enough support and wear out too fast) Danners (too heavy and didn' t fit my foot well) and Vasque (good but they hurt around the ankles) and the Asolo' s are just better in my experience.

RE: Boots for September Elk Hunt?
 

Note to Tim Buma,
You mentioned using gaitors to keep water out of your boots when crossing creeks, I bet in your country there are lots of small creeks to cross.
Tim have you ever seen a product call Wiggys light weight wader. They have an internet site wiggys.com.
They sell a pair of lightweight waders that are great for wading creeks. They weight like 7 ozs and have a little carry sack. You just throw them in your pack or day pack. Whey you come to a creek pull them out, throw them over your boot tie them at the top (they go up to the top of your thigh) and off you go. Get on the other side, pull them off shake them off put them back in the carry pouch and off you go nice and dry.
I use them a ton because when backpacking in for scouting or hunts there will often be several stream crossing before you can get to your destination.
Anyway just a heads up in case you have any interest in checking them out.

RE: Boots for September Elk Hunt?
 

Maybe a dumb question but I still have to ask. Why do so many people suggest taking a pair of pac boots into the mountains with them. I am not a full time mountain person by any means, but I have wondered. Especially during an early season hunt. I also have a pair of Danner Elk hunters and pair of Cabela Canada hunters by Meindl. I have to say that I am biased toward Pac Boots, and have never really liked any of them.

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RE: Boots for September Elk Hunt?
 

Robert, I understand what you are saying. About the weather getting bad and all early. Although I have never been in a heavy mountain snowfall, I have much experience with snow coming from the snow belt area of New York. But what I am saying is that for me my regular boots can handle the snow, keep my feet dry, and are confortable to wallk in. If I had to do a lot of walking (like in the mountains on an elk hunt), I can' t imagine wearing pac boots if my regular boots would work. Even when the snow is too deep, I through on my snow shoes with my regular boots and go. I don' t want to sound like a mister know it all or anything cause I' m not. I know my territory but not yours. I' m just trying to understand.

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RE: Boots for September Elk Hunt?
 

MassHntr,
I' m no expert by any means, but I have the Danner Radical 45s and I love them. They' ve gone on two Colorado elk hunts and will make their third this fall. I have hunted in both the middle of september and the middle of october. I also bring a pair of 10" high gore tex boots with 200 grams thinsulate in case it snows or gets cold (Danner Sequoias specifically). I don' t mean to imply that I' m stuck on Danners, it' s just that I happen to own two pairs and they work really well. I, personally, am not a fan of heavily insulated boots. After being in the Radicals, wearing heavily insulated boots feels like I' ve got snowshoes on and I hate it. I walk extensively when I hunt elk and therefore I don' t have a problem with my feet getting cold at all no matter what the temperature. I can not strongly enough say how much I love the Danner Radicals. They are as light as a pair of sneakers and have decent traction. My feet stay dry through dew and small steams. I can walk all day and my feet feel fine at the end of the day. In short, they feel very similar to cross training sports shoes, only they have gore tex, better traction and come up higher on your ankles. They are as light as the cross trainers I am wearing right now.
Just one guys opinion.

Bill the Dog

RE: Boots for September Elk Hunt?
 

Use to live in those hills areas of western ny ,pa & also be up in there adarondacs mtns some .

was 94 here the othr day in the valley, then the high of 45* the next day at, 6000 Ft. & the nite before last everything abover 7,000ft was covered in white again out my back windows some small mtns, melted quick after the clouds lifted& the sun came out:D

it has snowed in august, end of lots , if not about anytime at the higher elevations or a 40- 50 degree sudden tep drop even in the lowlands here sometimes.

But yep i agree i take 2 pair of boots , leaving one back at camp of course[:-]

RE: Boots for September Elk Hunt?
 

snowbelt yep i be born in buffalo, ny lived there almost 30yrs& canada etc also some -
Mtn snows& weather make buffaloNys seem like the tropics.

and wind like the [>:] & ground blizzards in lower elevations. fairly commen... buffalaonians would think it was the blizzard of 77 all over again.

RE: Boots for September Elk Hunt?
 

I think the reason for the pac boot suggestion would be more temperature related than snow related. I spent 10 days in the Bridger Teton Wilderness area in mid September and along with the two foot of snow 10-15 below zero every morning. We were up fairly high. Leather just doesn' t cut it in those temps. The newer pac boots by lacrosse are surprisingly comfortable and lightweight. The technology there has come a long ways.

RE: Boots for September Elk Hunt?
 

I hunt the BT Wilderness. Cain' t remember those temps ever happening prior to December. 10 to 15 ABOVE zero is possible, not regular however in September. I spect yer FOSAACT, or from Californy.

I bring pacs for snow. Leather will get soaked, an' you have to pull on froze, wet boots ever mornin' . Hate huntin' in deep snow, though, an' will wait a day or so for the early snows to melt rather than trudge around with noise makers on my feet.

RE: Boots for September Elk Hunt?
 

Good Point Noway...i have had a couple of Danner Boots and I still could not get them ever to fit exactly right ....