I was having a conversation with a guy today about his past jobs. At one point he was planting trees after loggers clear cut an area. He told me how his caulked (AKA corks) boots were the only sane way to walk in the mountains. These boots are basically work or rubber boots with a spiked golf shoe type of bottom (metal spikes 3/8" long). They really grab into fallen logs and moss.
This obviously got me to question what I wrap around my feet when I hunt... Now I'm pretty sure I need to have my own pair of corks! So if you have or do use corks for hunting I'd love to hear about your experience. But this is more of a general post on footwear.

What are your experiences, opinions, and preferences.

You can also post about what and where you typically hunt.

Pictures are appreciated!

Here's a pic of corks

When I lived on the Or. coast there are more than a few times I wish I had corks!  I hyperextended my knee one day when I slipped on a wet, leaf covered piece of wood.  Early season I wore light hiking boots, like Lowa Renegades and late season I wore Extra-Tuffs.  

Now that I live in the desert, I just wear trail running shoes or if I need something more, Lowa Tibets.

I live in the rainforest of Southeast Alaska, and the woods have huge trees, with lots of blowdown trees. It can be a real obstacle course.
The most common boot here is far and away the rubber Xtratuf. This gives the advantage of keeping feet dry getting in and out of boats, wading into muskegs, etc.
However, I also have a pair of corks; for some areas these are best. If there are a lot of blown down trees on steep slopes, with corks on they are a highway for you. You can get up on the logs and go from one to another, turning an obstacle into a road.
The spikes in corks screw into the sole of the boot. There are different lengths and different types of metal used in their construction. If you are going to walk on rock a fair amount, they make cork spikes with a carbide core that re sharpens itself as it wears away the softer outer metal. These are good if you have to walk a lot on gravel roads.
Another option is real long corks, called redwood corks because the bark on redwoods is so thick.
I use a mix of corks, with different types on different areas of the same boot. Put some long ones at the toe, but shorter more durable

I still have the corks that I used for logging and forest fire fighting. I would not use them to hunt with, ever, unless I was in the PNW or Alaska.
But they do stick to whatever will hold them, (unless a piece of bark gets caught in them and you don't know that, palnt your foot and TA-DA! on your fananagan pronto). But thats kinda rare.

Anyway, mine are logging boots, not at all what I would want for a hunting boot- comfortable, good on rock, LIGHT WEIGHT.
Corks are very noisy on rock too. Metal on stone is never quiet.

You will only use them to scratch an itch on your leg once.

Maybe the newer ones are more forgiving but mine are not at all a hunting kind of boot. Awesome when felling though.

Joshua

They're great...until you find yourself walking on bare rock. Then you sound like hobnails on pavement. The other drawback is they will carry you swiftly to the ground when walking on rounded boulders.

Other than that they're hard to beat. Wore 'em for nearly 40 years logging

I think GFA is spot-on in his book on Stalking and Still Hunting when he speaks of a good hunting boot having a soft, flexible sole to allow you to feel the ground underneath before you fully put weight on each step.

I know he recommended the L.L. Bean Maine Hunting Shoe, and lately the Schnee's pack boot.

I found a pair of leather boots here locally that fit the bill for warm weather hunting with a nice, soft sole that doesn't ka-chunk, ka-chunk with each step.  Very flexible and quiet with fairly good tread.

I wear a pair of the fila skeletoes and find them awesome only down side iv found are grass seeds getting between my toes

Some years ago I watched a nice buck and a doe lay down on an open hillside. It took me over an hour to stalk within bow range, the last 50 yd's in my stocking feet. I killed that buck with an osage selfbow. I favor moccasins over hard sole boots for stalking.

I like the looks of these moccasin/boots made by Carl Dyer

 

I do not know if you can find it in the united states  but in Europe there is a very good pair of stalking and still hunting shoes.

http://www.harkilauk.co.uk/products/harkila-products/footwear-2/lynx-gtx-6-boot.html

http://www.harkilauk.co.uk/products/harkila-products/footwear-2/lynx-gtx-9-boot.html

In this picture I'm wearing a pair of high moccasins that I made. The outer is elk skin with a sheep shearling inner liner. I rubbed Bear grease into the elk skin and heated it in a warm oven. Kept repeating until the leather wouldn't absorb    any more. They were warm and dry even in the snow.

 

I have two boots I really like one is the Danner Elk Hunter with bob soles.
The other is the one G.Fred Asbell suggests, the LL Bean hunting shoe. Don't ever wear the LL Bean on pine needles though they turn into skis!!!

I also use a pair of Carl Dwyer moccasins at times it it's dry. These will turn into skis also  on slick grass or pine needles, but are very quiet & comfortable

Those moccasins look pretty awesome. Although where I'll be this fall will be slippery and steep! +2 for the pictures. Never been to potterville, but I reckon I've drank enough on MSUs campus to at least get an honorary degree. Born and raised 30 miles north of Detroit. Romeo.

What else do people strap on their feet come hunting time?

Normally I don't have to walk very far to hunt deer but this year I think will be different. I wear a medium height waterproof boot by b*** pro. I'm really interested in moccasins though.

If this comes up look at these moccasins

www.carldyermoccasins.com

I've always wanted to try a pair of caulk boots. I am a logger and I can definitely see where they would come in very handy. The only reason I have never gave them a try is because of the various terrains I deal with on a day to day basis. They would be awesome for dirt and walking out on trees to de-limb and top them. But I also work in country that is filled with slate rock and limestone bluffs. Sometimes I dont have the option to walk around such obstacles and caulks would put me on my arse in a hurry.

I wear Georgia Boot Co logger boots, with a rubber sole. They come with a six month leak proof warranty and a one year warranty on the construction. They are lightly insulated and come in steel toe.

I wear these same boots hunting. I keep them on about an 18 month rotation. I buy them new then wear around the house doing yard work etc to break them in. Then they are my hunting boot for that year. By that time my work boots are wore out they get replaced with the hunting boot. Repeat the process. Logging puts boots to the test.

When it gets really cold, I'll wear BOGS with wool socks. BOGS are like Mucks but I like their soles better.

I hunt in the same country I work in, it's some rough stuff at times in certain places. These two boots have never let me down though.

Just my humble opinion...walking quite isn't about the footwear on your feet. It's about where you put your feet and how you do it. I could strap 2x4's to my feet and be quieter on a hardwood floor than some people I've been in the woods with who had on "quite" boots.

I've been using merrel's barefoot running shoes  here on the Oregon coast. Really light weight, quiet and allows you to feel the ground. However, they don't have any ankle support, but I've used them for 100+lb loads with no problem.

I used to wear Beans Maine Hunting shoe, I have switched to Schnees version. Extremely high quality.

The last few years in the rocks and mountains of Idaho and Wyoming, I have used USMC Mountain Boots with excellent results.