Stalking footwear

[BearSupreme]

Hey everyone,

I was out bear hunting on vancouver island this last weekend and brought my bow with me and I quickly realized I am never going to get close enough stalking a bear (or any animal) on a road with the amount of noise it makes. My boots seem louder than my old ones and I know they have hard soles, but im sure my old ones wouldnt be quite enough either.
Anyone have any tricks for stalking quietly on roads or other surfaces?

Thanks!

[monasheemountainman]

Hover board

[Chillybilly]

Take boots off add a couple old pair of wool socks and sneak in!

[allan]

If your just on the road, walking easy. I've used Under Armor Runners. Not the ones with the rubber soles but the ones that seem kinda foamy. (or any ultra light runner). I do plan on trying to find a pair of huge wool socks I can put over my size 14 hikers someday but alas my grandma no longer knits and I cant find socks big enough...

[Big Lew]

Similar to what "Chillybilly" mentioned, when walking/stalking while bow hunting I wear
a cut down pair of winter boot felt liners taped at my ankles and then pull on a couple of
pairs of thick old wool work socks. The plus side is that I can walk about as quiet as a bear,
and the down side is that the setup wicks in water and branches tend to latch onto the socks.
I've been able to sneak right up to deer without them hearing me. My setup doesn't allow
for as much slippage, has more traction, and doesn't wear thin like just wearing socks.

[Riverbc]

Take boots off add a couple old pair of wool socks and sneak in!

This. For the last 100 yards the boots always come off. It has really upped my game.

[Wild one]

Thick socks work but I often just wear sneakers if the terrain is not rough

The main thing I find with those new to bow hunting is they need to learn how to shift the weight on their feet and slow down and watch where they place their feet. This is way more important than the footwear it self. Than add in the path they choose during the stalk. To get really close it is a different ball game

take your time and pay attention to everything that can cover your noise and movement. If you make a mistake pause and don't continue till the animal calms down again. Don't be afraid to crawl super slow. Read the animals reaction to every movement you make

It takes time and lots of failed stalks to get good. Since I was a young kid my dad would send me to see how close I could get to random animals we were not hunting this is what I credit to my ability to getting close. Practice and screwing up and trying new things is the best way

Bears are easy if the wind is good and they are feeding. They are very forgiving if you go really slow and pause if you make a sound. They settle faster than any other animal I have stalked. But if you spot them well driving they are more alert and less forgiving

There is no magic piece of gear that will increase your success on stalks. Practice and failing over and over till you dial in your skills is what will increase success. It's not a race and the more effort you put in to stay out of sight and silent the better

a trick for bears wear a black sweater during a stalk down a road so they think your another bear

[warnniklz]

I'm use to bare feet on gravel and wild rose bushes in the cariboo. I usually rock flip flops, until I gotta sneak in. Barring that, I wait for them to come to me. Or lead poison them.

[BearSupreme]

Thanks for all the input, good idea on the black sweater Wild One. My hunting boots cumbersome to tie and untie so maybe switch to other footwear when I know ill be stalking and put my hunting boots on when I get something or know ill be on a long hike. Anyone try jimmy-rigging some oven mits over their boots?

[tomahawk]

Once determined to be a shooter, the serious stalk when bow hunting is in wool socks and wool pants (for advancing quietly on the knees)

[Treed]

I use Bama socks, they are liners for work boots. A bit better than wool socks in that they don't pick up stuff. I put them on as soon as I feel like I'm near fresh sign. work great for me. Slippery on pine grass though. If you put gortex sock in them, you could even keep your feet dry. I'm just too cheap.

[NorBC]

Can't beat socks, especially if you're just day hunting. Feet won't hurt during the stalk because you're heart will be jacked up. The trip back to your boots usually kill the feet though!

[Hankenhunter]

Just on a lark, I tried my felt soled wading boots. Worked great so I glued felts to a pair of old light weight hunting boots. Worked even better! I highly recomend
this as the felt grips onto anything. Cheers,
Hank

[Lozzie]

I find if possible while closing the gap wearing boots I prefer to walk on the grass or moss on the edge of the road rather than the road itself. Also practice picking up your feet and setting them down flat if on gravel a lesson taught to me by mentor, its amazing how much less noise you will make.

[blueboy]

Bass pro socks, keep the bill they will replace for life good luck kill a big one

[Blockcaver]

LL Beane rubber bottomed boots are fairly quiet.......The chain tread is soft enough to stalk bears on most logging roads if you go slow. Good luck!

[boxhitch]

a trick for bears wear a black sweater during a stalk down a road so they think your another bear On hands and knees I suppose? waiting for the video


they need to learn how to shift the weight on their feet and slow down and watch where they place their feetBe a toe-walker instead of a heel-walker

[The Hermit]

On hands and knees I suppose? waiting for the video

Be a toe-walker instead of a heel-walker

I've used a black umbrella to hide behind on a stalk on b-bears. Works great.

[Backwoods]

All great info already posted but what I do is I have an old pair of huge thick wool socks, and I'm able to pull over my boots, I cut a slit in the top of the sock to slide over the boots easier, also stalk up the side of the road on grass if possible, still being patient on your stalk watching your footing, play the wind, if the winds working in your favour that's a bonus to help cover your sound and most importantly scent!! I also have a pair of wiggie down bootys I wanted to try this spring.
Backwoods

[Wild one]

On hands and knees I suppose? waiting for the video

Be a toe-walker instead of a heel-walker


No need to get on your hands and knees. It's an old trick lots of guides use and works

they want let you get so close that you can sniff their butt but it does make a bear second guess what you are

[MRP]

From the two old bear gides I know, one always took his boots off. The other had a frend make him a thick knitted slippers big enough to he pull over his boots.

[brian]

Go barefoot, I guarantee you'll become a stalking machine when your tender baby like feet feel every bramble, stick, and rock on the ground.

[Bowzone_Mikey]

My sneaky slippers are a thick felt sole with straps that go around my boots ...similar to Crampon type ice cleats

easy to make ... or if your not a Crafty bitch they are commercially available as well