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Turkey hunting boots

Hatchie river bottoms and would rather be totally snakeproof than totally waterproof if I had to choose only one. Taken March23. In a normal weather year they're pokin around good in March. Pissed off and ornery in April. Downright come after ye in May and beyond.

This feller was laying in a little sunny spot less than 2 ft from my boot just trying to warm up that morning. Never saw him til he tried to ease away all chilly and groggy. If it would have been April May or June my foot or leg would have got a hit no doubt.

Head the size of a billiard ball. Body like a baseball bat. Just plain mess up your pretty spring day.


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TheLBLman said:
In part because many my haunts have a good population of both big cottonmouths and rattlesnakes, along with a good bit of water, my "go-to" turkey hunting boot is the Irish Setter VaprTrek Snake Boot.

My current pair is my 4th pair of Irish Setter snake boots.
I've been pleased over the years with their light weight and comfort.

I've ripped up rubber & neoprene boots too many times turkey hunting, so for me, I need something more durable to push thru the briars & brush.
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This! I use them deer hunting also. I made the switch from Lacrosse because I started hunting more hills and these have been great. They can be warm during the spring but I keep a pair of hikers in the truck to change when done hunting. I can also attest that they work for snake bites! I am still on my first pair but have a couple years in them. I would recommend a boot dryer to help them last longer.

Kenetrek boots are awesome but I can't spend that much. Randy Newberg has a code that will get you a set of gaiters with the boot purchase.
 
LaCrosse is all I wear. I turkey hunt in 14" mountaineers. Bought em in 98. Still waterproof. Still got original bootlaces. That's after many seasons in Montana, Idaho and Colorado. And the airbob sole is unbeatable for traction. Just my opinion.
 
My experience with rubber boots , Mucks included has not been good.
As mentioned above, I've had several pair that got holes poked in them and most were uncomfortable and didn't wear well.

I own a pair of snake boots I bought at Gander Mt. several years ago (6-8) , I've used them both for deer and Turkey hunting as well as fence repair and general use around the farm .

They have held up well and were lightweight, comfortable and waterproof.

These were the lace up, front tie with side zipper in them, which seemed too give more ankle support without binding the ankles movement.

The soles were medium/soft flexible rubber, with good traction in wet conditions.
Great for crossing ankle deep creeks, but not a wader...
The zippers finally gave out on them so I'm in the market for another pair myself!
Great thread , Thanks for posting
 
Spurhunter said:
I bought some Irish Setter Rutmasters a couple years ago and I've been well pleased. Probably a little heavy but super comfortable and waterproof.
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My best friend absoluetly loves these boots. I found some on sale this year and purchased them, but do not plan to wear them until my Grange knee boots fall apart.
 
Generally speaking, all of my boots last a fair amount of time. With that said, all of my boots instantly go on a boot dryer when I come in from the woods. I own and routinely use three boot dryers, thus no excuses for not having one with me wherever I am at.
 
Andy S. said:
Generally speaking, all of my boots last a fair amount of time. With that said, all of my boots instantly go on a boot dryer when I come in from the woods. I own and routinely use three boot dryers, thus no excuses for not having one with me wherever I am at.
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Boot dryers are worth their weight in gold. I don't leave home on a hunting trip without mine.
 
I've owned several different brands and use to wear Danner most of the time because they were super light but the last two pair I had leaked after one season, one pair would leak just walking across a early morning grass field so those have been retired... I've been wearing a pair of Irish Setters the last 3 years, while a little heaver than the Danners I really like them and so far no leaks.
I like the rubber boots but I've just poke too many holes in mine.
 
I guess it's worth mentioning that I go through a pair of muck boots every other year. Between deer hunting and turkey hunting I always rip holes in the neoprene uppers. But I find them much more comfortable than the all-rubber boots I've tried.

I'd be interested in everyones' opinion. I feel like snake boots are a little bit of a gimmick. I've owned them and they're nice, but has anyone ever heard of a snake actually biting through regular rubber boots?

I should probably err on the side of caution, but I guess I don't. One farm I hunt borders a huge beaver pond slough. There is a 1/2 mile of old gravel road bed with a 1/2 mile long beaver dam bordering it for the entire length. I guess it's more of a beaver levee. Never seen anything like it anywhere else. Regardless, every sunny morning in the spring, cottonmouths come out of the swamp mid-morning and lay in the road to warm up. It's a bit of a mine field walking out. I usually just take my time and throw rocks to scare them out of my path. But a couple years ago I killed a turkey and was still jacked up on endorphins, not paying attention and I walked right over this one. I guess he was still cold and sluggish because he didn't coil up and act aggressive until I was past him. Could have really ruined a good morning.

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Southern Sportsman said:
I guess it's worth mentioning that I go through a pair of muck boots every other year. Between deer hunting and turkey hunting I always rip holes in the neoprene uppers. But I find them much more comfortable than the all-rubber boots I've tried.

I'd be interested in everyones' opinion. I feel like snake boots are a little bit of a gimmick. I've owned them and they're nice, but has anyone ever heard of a snake actually biting through regular rubber boots?

I should probably err on the side of caution, but I guess I don't. One farm I hunt borders a huge beaver pond slough. There is a 1/2 mile of old gravel road bed with a 1/2 mile long beaver dam bordering it for the entire length. I guess it's more of a beaver levee. Never seen anything like it anywhere else. Regardless, every sunny morning in the spring, cottonmouths come out of the swamp mid-morning and lay in the road to warm up. It's a bit of a mine field walking out. I usually just take my time and throw rocks to scare them out of my path. But a couple years ago I killed a turkey and was still jacked up on endorphins, not paying attention and I walked right over this one. I guess he was still cold and sluggish because he didn't coil up and act aggressive until I was past him. Could have really ruined a good morning.

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GOOD LORD - SCREW THAT! I'd scream like a little school girl
 
SS, for me it's somewhat peace of mind and not having to look every single time I put my foot down. I was talking with my neighbor about this and not sure what it is but our area is an absolute snakepit. Slam full of what you just posted above.
 
Southern Sportsman said:
I guess it's worth mentioning that I go through a pair of muck boots every other year. Between deer hunting and turkey hunting I always rip holes in the neoprene uppers. But I find them much more comfortable than the all-rubber boots I've tried.

I'd be interested in everyones' opinion. I feel like snake boots are a little bit of a gimmick. I've owned them and they're nice, but has anyone ever heard of a snake actually biting through regular rubber boots?

I should probably err on the side of caution, but I guess I don't. One farm I hunt borders a huge beaver pond slough. There is a 1/2 mile of old gravel road bed with a 1/2 mile long beaver dam bordering it for the entire length. I guess it's more of a beaver levee. Never seen anything like it anywhere else. Regardless, every sunny morning in the spring, cottonmouths come out of the swamp mid-morning and lay in the road to warm up. It's a bit of a mine field walking out. I usually just take my time and throw rocks to scare them out of my path. But a couple years ago I killed a turkey and was still jacked up on endorphins, not paying attention and I walked right over this one. I guess he was still cold and sluggish because he didn't coil up and act aggressive until I was past him. Could have really ruined a good morning.

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A certain sensitive area in my lower extremity tightened up real fast when I saw this....
 
Southern Sportsman said:
I feel like snake boots are a little bit of a gimmick. I've owned them and they're nice, but has anyone ever heard of a snake actually biting through regular rubber boots? I should probably err on the side of caution, but I guess I don't.
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Same here, except I have never owned a pair of dedicated snake boots. I have yet to hear of anyone being bit and penetrated through a normal knee boot. Maybe there are isolated cases out there. I probably should be more cautious as well, especially with 7" hikers in the hills (copperheads and rattlesnakes), but after being in the woods, swamps, etc for 25+ years and no "close calls or near misses" to my knowledge, I do not give it much thought. I truly look at it from a likelihood/statistics point of view based on my hours afield and lack of interactions, with plenty of time in the woods over the years.
 
I run a pair Kenetrek Hardscrabbles with Kuiu Yukon gaiters. I know this is a super expensive combo but I have never been so happy and confident in my set up. I am not a fan of tall boots and never can find a pair of rubber boots to fit my flat narrow foot. This combo is great for tall wet grass and crossing creeks. I don't recommend it if you are gonna wade water but I've never had my feet get wet with this combo in my style of hunting in East Tennessee. I also do not encounter swamps like you west Tennessee guys. My wife has Kenetrek gaiters and she loves them. If you watch, Kenetrek will run a deal where you get a pair of gaiters free with a purchase of boots. I mean after $400 they should always give you a pair lol.
 
Don't do much turkey hunting, but when I do I usually wear snake boots. Have a pair of cabelas pinnacle snake boots that had been great. I would buy them again if they were still made.
 
Longbeard865 said:
I run a pair Kenetrek Hardscrabbles with Kuiu Yukon gaiters. I know this is a super expensive combo but I have never been so happy and confident in my set up. I am not a fan of tall boots and never can find a pair of rubber boots to fit my flat narrow foot. This combo is great for tall wet grass and crossing creeks. I don't recommend it if you are gonna wade water but I've never had my feet get wet with this combo in my style of hunting in East Tennessee. I also do not encounter swamps like you west Tennessee guys. My wife has Kenetrek gaiters and she loves them. If you watch, Kenetrek will run a deal where you get a pair of gaiters free with a purchase of boots. I mean after $400 they should always give you a pair lol.
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Great setup. Nothing like having quality footwear and gaiters. If you amortize that investment over 5-10 years, it is not that expensive IMO. Assuming you use your gear/footwear in the woods, like most of us here do.
 

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