Bear Bums - Bear Hunting

In response to a BearBums reader I thought I’d talk for a minute about specific hunting boots I like.

Thanks for the comment! I do have my favorite hunting boot for vigorous hunts and have tried many that are good. Those of you with bad feet require extra effort in satisfying our feet’s complaints. In the early 1990s I had a desert sheep hunt in Utah and used a pair of Vasque Leather Boots. I had been warned the toes would wear out if I didn’t try and stop it so I coated the toes with a rubber covering. These shoes were light yet rough and the coating over the toes saved my feet. I’ve worn those shoes out over the years.

Vasque Leather Hunting Boots

My most difficult sheep hunt was with Glen Wilsie in Alberta and once again it was a tough hunt. Here I had a pair of Meindl’s I got at Cabela’s. I’m still wearing this shoe. They’re stiff, hard toed and heavy and great for the rocks of serious sheep hunting.

Big black bear hunting is different. There can be a lot of walking but not much in comparison to sheep walking. Here I like lighter boots, like Danner Trophy 600G Hunting Boots, Vasque or a tough canvas shoe like they use in Africa. The Russell shoe/boot hit this role.

Danner Leather Hunting Boots

You’ll see it repeated a lot, but remember, a good boat is only good after you’ve broken it in. I often find myself feeding the horses, changing irrigation water and just going on made up hikes with a pair of new boots.

Boots will become your good friend faster if you treat them well. They seem to very much enjoy attention. I’m a fan of Sno-Seal as a leather treatment. Rub the stuff on good and thick then cook it into the leather with heat like that of a stove or the good old outdoors….blow dryers work too.

Sno-Seal Leather Treatment

Remember to have the boots broken in well prior to the hunt, having good socks, and plenty of band aids. Every single night after a hunt, get the mud and moisture off them and oil them up, a lot!!

On the wet hunt like our Prince of Wales Island, black bear hunt this fall we know it will be wet. We plan to dry out all the boots each night. When dry they’ll get a thick coat of the sno seal.