Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Best Boots for Montana Elk rifle hunt?

October in the west at 8K' plus

Can be a crap shoot

Might be 50* & sunny

Or a blinding snow squall

Weather people here have suggested an 'unsettled summer/fall'

Last winter was MAGA winter

Pack boots are terrible to hunt in if your in any sort of mountainous terrain. Plus they make your feet sweat profusely. I only wear them when hunting with horses.
I use either Meindl insulated or Kennetrek uninsulated boots for most of my elk hunting. The Kennetreks take a real long time to break in. I really don't bother with the insulated pair until it gets into the lower teens, but I also am on the move in rough terrain alot and iften put over 10 miles on in a day. If you plan on sitting and glassing most of the day pack boots with a tight ankle fit are probably your best bet, but be aware if it's warm you will be miserable in them and if you put on lots of miles they will tire you out faster.
As Brad noted boot fit is very important and more so than the brand. In your price range your not going to get good quality boots, period. Plan on doubling that amount give or take.
Also Dillon is over ran with people so if you want to succeed plan on getting up way early and getting way back in. Keep in mind if you tear up your feet on the first day your hunt I basicly over. Invest in good quality socks too and swap them out often.

Oh, [bleep], he's one of them.

Hanwag and Crispis have been the best fitting for me!

Thanks for all the replies. I am going to step up my budget and I am trying to find a place here where I can actually try some of the mention brands on to get the right size and fit

Another vote for Irish Setter Elk Trackers.

You can order them in in wide, medium, or narrow if you don’t buy them from a box store.

https://www.lowaboots.com/mens

Sparky’s garage great restaurant. Probably like The Den better but both are good

lol. Squirrel hunting is like elk hunting?

you should stick to getting firearms banned moron



Re: Wayne LaPierre is called a "terrorist" by the NY Daily News.
bigwhoop #10752090 12/05/15
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Eric308
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 381
He uses fear and paranoia to proselytize, so I suppose the shoe fits. The NRA, dependent as it is on gun maker profits to survive, long ago left the land of the rational.

I am a fan of Crispi boots.

My john deere boots are fine for me. Zipper over the ankle, have held up many years.

You will not be sorry. I have Lowa and Vasque currently, with insulated Wolverines I use sometimes.

This is an excellent boot, they should ask more for them. Buy two pair and thank me later.

https://www.amazon.com/Tactical-Com...gear+boots&qid=1689458096&sr=8-4

Didn't read all the replies, but I like this advice. I have been on several hunting trips that involved hunting several days consecutively in the western US, and I've hiked CO, AZ, and UT quite a bit in both winter and summer months. Only thing I would add, and you probably won't like hearing it, is I would have two pairs of boots. One pair gets wet, either from sweat, leakage or just wet conditions, and you sometimes need an extra day to dry them out. Two quality pair of Goretex or other waterproof boots that you've broken in somewhat ahead of time are golden. And it's another pair of boots that will serve you for other hunting duty, or working around outside as well. I went on a 7 day upland bird hunt in NE MT last October, where we walked from 5 to 14 miles a day, and I had a pair of Lowas (GTX) and a pair of Dannon Pronghorns (uninsulated), and was glad I had both. Crispis are another brand I've had good experience with as well. Merrel used to make a great hiking boot, but I haven't been as impressed with their offerings lately. If you're going to be moving quite a bit as you hunt, you probably won't need tons of insulation. Just added weight, and makes your feet sweat.

Those look like a great warm weather boot.

However the OP is asking about elk hunting in Montana in mid October. I don't think a mesh sided boot with Cool-Max is what's called for. He also asked about wide sizes, which is not offered with this boot.

I have a pair of uninsulated EW Rocky Gore-tex boots that I've worn in temperatures in the mid-teens with wool socks. For really cold weather I have a pair of Chippewa 400gm insulated EW boots with a bob sole that's great in snow. Both are more than 25 years old now, so I won't try to recommend the specific style.

There’s nothing more for me to add that the guys haven’t already mentioned so I’ll just reinforce a couple points that I believe are crucial…..First, try on as many different boots as possible and get the best fitting, most comfortable. Second, definitely wear them well before you go hunting. Break them in and get familiar with them. The time to make modifications or add Dr. Scholls inserts ain’t when you’re in the backcountry. I’ll usually get my new (leather) hunting boots wet and hike with wet boots for a break in period that’s dependent upon the boots themselves.

I’ve been using a 9” pair of USA made Danners for 20 years but I’ve had to rebuild them a few times. I finally replaced them last year. They weren’t “light” but they were warm and comfortable. There were times when I desired lighter weight boots but the Danners never hindered me. I have a pair of Northface hiking boots that are very light and extremely comfortable but they are WARM so I only wear them in the snow and they are my go-to boots for my snowshoes. I bought a pair of Xtra-tuff high top style waterproof “hiking” boots but they aren’t really for hiking far. I think my new boots are Redwing and I also bought a pair of Wolverine that was on sale and has so far proven to be a great value for a nice boot.

Definitely…definitely…definitely wear them a good bit before you take them into the hills! If they need to stretch or you want a more “custom fit” put them on and walk through the creek then hike around for a day or two while the leather is wet, you can change into dry socks. 😀

If you're car camping, I recommend bringing two pairs of boots in case of failure. I like having a pair of light hikers and some heavy duty. A pair of Crocs for around camp are nice too

" Keep in mind if you tear up your feet on the first day your hunt I basicly over. Invest in good quality socks too and swap them out often."
Carry Moleskin and Luekotape and address Hot Spots ASAP...

Best boots on a limited budget

https://tacticalgear.com/belleville-usmc-combat-500-waterproof-coyote

These are not insulated, but with goretex. They do make one that is insulated. If you go this route you need to order one full size smaller than normal. They make several styles so be careful ordering, you don't want steel toes and many have them. These are USA made and better than the USA made Danners IMO.

Insulated.

https://tacticalgear.com/belleville-c775-gtx-600g-waterproof-boots-coyote-brown

If you can afford them.


https://www.sportsmans.com/footwear...d-gtx-waterproof-hunting-boots/p/p229375

I hunted in Whites for 25 plus years love them. They however are a pain in the butt to break in like two month's of suffering.

I had a Rep tell me not to do the water trick to them it swells up the leather and reduces the life of the boot.

Whites are trully quality my smoke jumpers were rebuilt twice i used them at work would last a life time if you just hunted in them.
They are heavy though.
The Hunters Whites makes are ok the tread is not as deep as i would like in ice deep snow and down hill climbs.

My smoke jumper hills dig in and i can really go down some steep stuff.

Way past the budget you were looking at though.

I switched to Lowas about 5 years ago love them i still bring the whites as a back up.

Good luck and hope you guys see a lot of animals.