The Wilson Post
LEBANON WEATHER

OUTDOORS : These boots are made for talking




On caribou hunts in Tiaga, you not only walked a long way, you waded a lot. Knee-high boots you could walk in, were important. I found Muck boots to be the best for me.

On caribou hunts in Tiaga, you not only walked a long way, you waded a lot. Knee-high boots you could walk in, were important. I found Muck boots to be the best for me.

Many hunters, especially ones planning a trip out of state, make a big mistake. They buy a new pair of boots and wait for the “Big Trip”, to break them in. The coming, spring turkey season, provides the ideal time to break in new boots. Old boots, however, bring memories. JLS

They stood there, in military precision. The current ones were in the middle. Noticed the missing ones, the gaps in the ranks. They began to tell their tales.

I undertook the cleaning out of the “equipment room”. I was working on the boots. These boots were made for talking.

An old pair of Danner boots, missing. Torn by the malpais, sole flopping, left in a canyon in New Mexico. Worn out like me.

Old L.L. Beans. The official Maine Guide Boot. On their second set of soles, (they use to re-sole them for free.) Still worn in the slop. Wore them one morning when I killed a four-year old, eight-point in Hickman County.

Georgia Boot Company-Sport/trail turkey boots-up front. Most comfortable boots I ever wore. Like me, wore out before their time. Just haven’t the heart to throw them away.

From left: An ancient pair of L.L. Bean Guide Boots, now on their second set of soles. Up front my old Georgia boots and behind them, the current, tennis shoe type boots I wear. Far right is a pair of first class Schnee pac-boots. They work down to minus 30 degrees and are too warm to wear around here.

From left: An ancient pair of L.L. Bean Guide Boots, now on their second set of soles. Up front my old Georgia boots and behind them, the current, tennis shoe type boots I wear. Far right is a pair of first class Schnee pac-boots. They work down to minus 30 degrees and are too warm to wear around here.

Of course the Schnee pac-boots for when it gets arctic out. There were more.

Others I can’t remember. I’ve gone through a lot of boots. If an army travels on their bellies, a hunter travels on his boots.

Through the swamps, across the mountains, in the snow, blazing hot weather, below zero and everything in between. A hunter, a true hunter, laces up his boots and goes.

No, not the nimrod who parks his truck, gets on his ATV and rides down, a cut road to the blind, complete with heater and attendant food plot.

I’m talking about the hunter, not the shooter. I’m talking about the one who wore out a pair of boots just scouting. That’s when you break in new boots, when you go scouting or turkey hunting.

There was a time when I would spend 50-60 days a year just scouting. I covered so many miles, I lost count.

How do you hunt 21,000 acres if you don’t know every inch of 21,000 acres?

Do you even know how big that is? A section is 640 acres. That is one square mile. Twenty-one thousand acres is almost, 33-square miles.

And yes, I knew every inch of it. I wore out a lot of boots. And that…that, was just for deer hunting. Boots took a beating.

In early September, each year, I would wear out a pair of boots chasing elk in the high country. If you really want to determine how good your boots are, go elk hunting in the rocks, scree and obsidian from an extinct volcano. One year is about all you get out boots in that stuff. Better have good ankle and arch support.

Up on the Tiaga, slipping around trying to put an arrow in a caribou, good, knee-high rubber boots you can comfortably walk in are mandatory.

It is wet and rocky country and that is where I learned about Muck brand boots. They handled both aspects. Today, my footwear doesn’t make a lot of difference.

Today, I park the truck, walk 350 yards and climb a tree. Today, I hunt in Nike hiking boots — tennis shoes, if you will.

I have a pair of Schnee pac-boots. Keep your feet warm down to -30. Haven’t worn them in years. Not going where it gets that cold, anymore. I wear…”tennis shoes”. Pshaw!

Oh sure. I kill a lot of deer.

Last year, as in the 12 years before, I killed six, “meat deer”, mostly does.

It wasn’t hunting, not really. It was a gimme. I let 10 times as many walk.

No boot leather worn out on them. Not much satisfaction, either. Just climb up, shoot, drag them out. Do it in tennis shoes. Or for that matter, in shorts…some days.

For me, the satisfaction. The true enjoyment of hunting, was the scouting.

The unraveling of the mystery. All the rest was window dressing. Took a lot of walking and good boots. Today, tennis shoes are sufficient.

You see, I have little feeling in my feet. Peripheral neuropathy. Feet don’t get cold and I don’t walk very far. So, tennis shoes. I wish I still needed good boots. Boots are made for walking.

And maybe…memories.

Leave a Reply