I thought I would post some of the changes I have made in the way I hunt. I am not advocating how anyone should hunt, but these work for me. For context I hunt in south west Alabama in mostly river bottoms. I know the terrain where you hunt will dictate your methods and equipment. I started Turkey hunting when I was early forties and am 63 now.
I wore lacrosse rubber boots for years trying not to get my feet wet. Well I still got my feet wet wading through water. So now I just wear a pair of lightweight tennis shoes and I just get wet feet if that what I have to do to get to a bird. Another bonus of tennis shoes is their so light weight they feel great. Also much easier to walk quite in the woods.
Another thing I changed is I took my seat off of my Turkey vest. I just sit on the bare ground it doesn't bother me. Usually you have to move working a Turkey, much easier to just move than worrying about a seat or cushion. I also feel I hide better by getting as low to the ground as possible.
The other change I made is hunting exclusively with a 20 gauge and tss ammo. The last 5 years I have had no problems killing birds with a 20 gauge. They are a joy to carry when you do a lot of walking and don't cause brain damage when you pull the trigger.
As long as they aren't red, white or blue.
I started out wearing tennis shoes to hunt turkeys 45 years ago. They are light and I could move through the woods pretty quiet. I also shoot a 20 guage and TSS with no issues.
If its warm enough ill wear mine too. most days here in N Ga I have to wear boots. As far as a seat goes. Glenda Green made me an innertube seat with an elastic strap that goes around my waist. its right there when I move. I don't use a vest. Most days if it dont fit in my pockets it don't go. Other days when I know ill be further in and plan to stay longer ill use a small fanny pack.
I have used the hiking style shoes, but for myself i want more foot support and traction on ruff terrain... But if you feel comfortable wearing tennis shoes, then I say go for it ...
Sounds a lot like my attire. Tennis shoes or crocs, no vest or cushion to deal with, weapon of choice is split about 50/50 between a 20 gauge and a 410. The brain damage has already been done from years of 10 gauge and 12 gauge abuse.
Back in the 60's, 70's, and maybe even into the 80's, my standard footwear was high-top Converse All-Stars. Age and too many sprained ankles finally got to me. Over the years I have graduated to boots with a great deal more support,...mostly out of necessity. Don't know about others, but I have found out the hard way that a guy can only torture his feet and ankles for so long before it catches up to him. ::) ;D
And I heard from a reliable source that you replaced your cushioned vest with Depends.
Quote from: GobbleNut on April 28, 2023, 03:18:48 PM
Back in the 60's, 70's, and maybe even into the 80's, my standard footwear was high-top Converse All-Stars. Age and too many sprained ankles finally got to me. Over the years I have graduated to boots with a great deal more support,...mostly out of necessity. Don't know about others, but I have found out the hard way that a guy can only torture his feet and ankles for so long before it catches up to him. ::) ;D
No truer words have been spoken
2 aleve before I hit the woods does wonders ...
Quote from: guesswho on April 28, 2023, 03:26:25 PM
And I heard from a reliable source that you replaced your cushioned vest with Depends.
:D That water dun went under the bridge years ago, buddy. The real question, though, is since when do you hang around with anybody that is a "reliable source"?... ;D
Good point :TooFunny:
Great points but I am just a coward. I still have too much respect for Mr. No Shoulders to give up my snake boots. I don't think my ankles could take tennis shoes but hikers would sure be more comfortable.
I pretty much have to do the same, I have been trying to find boots that did not hurt me but can't find any. Will have to get out the Peet air dryer for my shoes.
Several years ago I bought these Danner Hunting Sneakers/Shoes. I wear them on warmer, dry days, they do have support, the materials are solid. I would wear them all the time if I could........
For the most part, I ditched the seat as well. Too much of a pain, and it is my back, not my butt that causes issue.
I often ditch the vest to make a short move... Mouth calls in a necklace wallet, maybe a box call in my cargo pocket... And there have been times when that one quick moves turns into a couple short moves, into a longer move... Couple years back, took me a while to find my vest after killing a bird.
But I am with GobbleNut on the ankle support... Twisted my ankle a couple years back, and it still hurts. I am hunting steep/hilly/rocky terrain... And not to mention all the stickers and vegetation that would get into tennis shoes....
Hunting were I do, the rubber boots would be a horrible choice... Light weight water-proof hunting boots with good soles and good ankle support are a must (although those waterproof boots have never proven to be waterproof very long).
As to the depends... Seems like it could work, and would sure cut down on people asking to hunt with you....
I am looking at everything in light of traveling lite but I'm NOT giving up my insulated boots at our sub freezing temps. I wear sandals and sneakers canoeing after May but hate having cold, wet feet all day.
Cold wet feet .... :P
I'm sticking with my muck boots....
Been many a May when an old pair of boat shoes was the key ingredient to keeping me comfy. If I can stay comfy, I can stay longer. My PB came on a hot day, after 5 long hrs from initiating our convo to closing the deal. Them old birds are a tough sale.
As for terrain, i think having on a different type shoe makes you walk, well, different. You could say its a nice change in step
I can't wear tennis shoes on account of the terrain. Too steep and rocky and would be easy to roll or break an ankle. Wish I could, though. They say a pound off your feet is ten pounds off your back.
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I wear Hoka running shoes most of my hunts, but use Lowa Renegades for mountain hunting due to the support needed.
A couple of year ago, I found these Bates boots that are basically equivalent to higher top running shoes and I love them. Have started using them in the mountains some too. https://www.militarybootsdirect.com/bates-boots-e04031.html
I don't care about waterproofing - I always wear merino wool socks of varying thickness (Darn Tough brand) which keeps my feet warm even when wet and dries out fast enough for me. I also have never gotten a blister in my life, so some of you may not be able to do that. I also carry a spare pair of socks with me to change if needed or desired.
You can get a .410 that weighs less than 4#. That cuts enough off your weight budget to add
an aluminum chair. Comfort aside, the chairs allow setting up in places sitting on the ground would not work very well. I have killed turkeys I would not have without the chair and I have killed turkeys sitting on the ground with the chair lying next to me. I only leave the chair in the truck when I have a quick specific play in mind and no time for anything else.
I did similar with footwear when I hunted similar country, but lighter construction mountaineering boots leaves me less fatigued elsewhere. We have some rough country around here with lots of up and down steep ridges. It's not high elevation mountains but you are always climbing or descending. Mountain boots are like installing a set of steps up the side of a hill.
Ankles need more support. But I'm with you on those knee boots being a poor choice in SW Alabama. Too many sandy clay ridges shifting to hardwood bottoms. I have been using lightweight hikers and just been sucking it up when they get wet. There have been a number of advancements though with these waterproof socks, and I am going to give them a try this year.
When I plan on doing a lot of walking I'll wear a pair of lite weight hiking shoes.
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I use a North Mountain Gear leafy suit. I just ist wear a pair of OD green scrubs under them, I have like four pairs of them I tactically acquired before I retired from the Army. The scrubs are lightweight and breathable. In regards to footwear it depends on where I am hunting. Some areas have streams I have to cross and some areas have no major water features. If I am in an area with water it's rubber boots of not I wear a pair of merrells or lowa hiking boots. Regardless I wear my snake gaiters, in the part of Tennessee I am in we have copperheads and some rattlers.