Rubber boots and bow hunting

Atypical Said:
Do you wear rubber boots to your stand/blind?

I've only sat for deer a few times as I prefer spot and stalk, but sitting is going to be my primary method this fall.

What's the general consensus on wearing rubber boots to your stand/blind?

Thanks.

I use them for early season bowhunting. I do not have a good insulated pair, so using the cheap ones when it is cold is not a good idea. Found that out the hard way. My toes were popsicles!!

The nice thing about rubber boots is they do not absorb scent like leather boots and any scent that may be on there is easy to wash off. Plus where my one of my treestands was located  this year was a swamp, so rubber boots were a must!!

I always wear rubber boots for the scent free factor.But make sure when you buy new ones to leave them outside to get rid of the rubber smell.Playing the wind is more key than anything

Always.  When I buy a pair, I wash them in a water/baking soda mix to get any scent off of them and leave them in my scent-free tub when I'm not hunting.  For really cold weather, you can use the mickey mouse boots.  They actually work really well and are made of rubber. 

i have 2 pair of rubber boots, i like the lacross boots i have they are realy comfortable and the right combination of "i can get my foot out/they stay on in the mud and on long walks"

i have a 400g thinsulate pair and a 1200 g thinsulate pair, i wear the 1200 all the way in to coyote hunting and my feet never get cold.

 Im not too big on the whole rubber boot thing. I guess it depends on how far you have to walk in. For me, I have to walk in one way minimum of at least 1/2-3/4 of a mile. By the time you are more than a few hundred yards in any scent that was on your boots should be gone, unless you have spilled gas etc on them recently lol. The few studies that I have read on comparing scent of rubber boots vs your regular hunting boots and walking into your hunting area back my statement up. To each their own i guess.

Bri-Guy2 Said:
For really cold weather, you can use the mickey mouse boots.  They actually work really well and are made of rubber. 

I second the mickey mouse boots.  I've been wearing mine for 10+ years when it is cold out and they are very warm, plus they don't break the bank!

taylorman_55 Said:
 Im not too big on the whole rubber boot thing. I guess it depends on how far you have to walk in. For me, I have to walk in one way minimum of at least 1/2-3/4 of a mile. By the time you are more than a few hundred yards in any scent that was on your boots should be gone, unless you have spilled gas etc on them recently lol. The few studies that I have read on comparing scent of rubber boots vs your regular hunting boots and walking into your hunting area back my statement up. To each their own i guess.

I think its more of the fact that the rubber boots keep your scent in, and if you tuck in your pants there is nowhere for the scent to go. Because leather is porous, it lets your scent wick out. Thats my understanding anyways. I would like to see those studys!! I tried a quick google but could not find anything!

 

odocoileus Said:

taylorman_55 Said:
 Im not too big on the whole rubber boot thing. I guess it depends on how far you have to walk in. For me, I have to walk in one way minimum of at least 1/2-3/4 of a mile. By the time you are more than a few hundred yards in any scent that was on your boots should be gone, unless you have spilled gas etc on them recently lol. The few studies that I have read on comparing scent of rubber boots vs your regular hunting boots and walking into your hunting area back my statement up. To each their own i guess.

I think its more of the fact that the rubber boots keep your scent in, and if you tuck in your pants there is nowhere for the scent to go. Because leather is pourus, it lets your scent wick out. Thats my understanding anyways. I would like to see those studys!! I tried a quick google but could not find anything!

Both of the articles/studies I read were in a hunting magazine, not sure if it was field and stream, ill have to see if i have it in the pile of magazines I have. Both studies showed that if taken care of properly there was literally no difference in scent given off between the rubber compared to the leather, and one of the articles stated that you are more likely to sweat in a rubber boot than leather and if not closed off could "give off even more scent then a regular 'leather" boot.... but if closed off properly (like you stated) there was no difference. Both boots were also sprayed down with a scent killer type spray. To me, the boots im wearing to the blind, I dont usually wear them during the day going to the store etc, but rather keep them in the back of the pickup the day of the hunt. Im always walking through cow pastures and lots of tall grass to get to my blind, so ill have alot of natural scent on me by the time i get to my blind, and I also spray down with a scent killer spray. I'll see if i can track down the studies for ya!

I wear rubber boots until it is too cold for me.  I actually will walk in as much deer poop as possible  to my stand  and that seems to work very well for me.  A lot of times the deer will actually smell where I walked and follow right up to my stand instead of wheeze and walk away.  They just seem to be calm.  I think the rubber helps.  Maybe just peace of mind.

Absolutely wear rubber boots when bow hunting.  As for comfort, get yourself  a pair of 1500 gram Lacrosse Alpha Burly's and your feet will never get cold and they fit like a glove.  I actually wore them many times this past fall pheasant hunting due to water around cattail sloughs.  Can wear and hike in them all day with no effects at all.

I usually just put rubber boots on when I'm checking cameras or hanging stands/ setting up blinds.  Never had a pair of rubber boots that my feet didn't sweat in in september, the scent just comes out the top of the the rubber boot. If your walking through  grass tall enough to touch your ankles, the grass is probably gonna touch your pants too. If your walking through really short grass or dirt on the way to your stand, than it shouldn't matter what your wearing since the bottoms of all boots are rubber. If your foot stink can get through the pores of the leather boots, pretty sure it isn't going to have any problem going up the rubber boot and right through your pant legs.