Taking a Break from Elk

On the Trail with Mark Kayser

Taking a Break from Hunting Elk

POSTED BY: Mark Kayser
September 17, 2010

I've been bowhunting elk almost solid for the first two weeks of September, but it's time to take a break. Ya, right! I'm actually switching gears to deer for a few days and I'm heading toward Montana.

Starting on September 12 I'll be hunting with my good friend Doug Gardner at Gardner Ranch Outfitters (www.groutfitters.com) in southeast Montana. Although I wasn't successful in drawing an archery elk tag I'll be able to spot and stalk mule deer in the mornings and then sit whitetail stands in the afternoon.

Here's my best tip for stalking: be stealthy! No really, get a pair of slip-on fleece booties to soften your steps. You can order them through Crooked Horn Outfitters (www.crookedhorn.com).

As for whitetails I just hope I can stay scent free in the heat. I'm going to be testing Hunter's Specialties Tek-4 silver-lined clothing and incorporating their Scent-A-Way products everywhere (www.hunterspec.com).

I may even try decoying and some light calling, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there. I hope your archery deer hunts are going well and good luck!

Walk softly and carry a sharp stick, or something like that.

Comments

By AZsparrow Sunday, September 19, 2010 10:55 AM

I've used those fleece booties with great success in the desert areas of Arizona, though we called them "bear feet" they work especially great on gravel/rocky terrain as in the bottom picture. The only issue they have is that they collect every cactus needle and sticker around, LOL. Still, I think them worth that minor inconveinence. A friend of mine had success gluing a very thick felt to the bottom of his boots in a home-made version, similar to the material on the bottom of fly-fishing water boots/waders.
Whatever works folks, whack 'em and stack 'em.

By Last Rites Sunday, October 03, 2010 10:51 AM

I've used disposable hospital slip over booties with some old fleece snowboarding pull-overs my son disposed of glued onto the bottom of the feet with a hot glue gun. I've created several pairs of these "ninja" booties using this method. If you're strapped for a fleece pull over or hoodie to cut apart and destroy... just visit your local thrift store or go to a few garage sales. For a buck or two you can almost always find yourself a nice old and used fleece pull over that you can cut up and create some "ninja-feet" out of. The hospital booties are very cheap as well. One pair should last your for the entire season easily. Just make sure you're using the hot glue sticks for metal, wood, ect. The common glue sticks are normally only for arts and crafts junk, and only works on cardboards and paper. It doesn't glue cloth very well to hospital booties... but for some reason the "hot" glue sticks for metal work great!

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