So I've never owned a "hunting boot", but have had many great hiking boots and I'm wondering if it's best to go with a "hunting boot" or a mountain hiking boot from a company I've used before (Vasque). I'm looking for a great boot under $250. Schnee and Danner have a lot of supportive fans, but I'd like to hear it from the forum and am open to suggestions.
Schnee has their Outlook at a hundred off:
https://schnees.com/outlook/
Banner 453 are one's i hear good things about.
Big game Western hunting in the mountains.
I'm particularly fond of that Tsavo sole on my Beartooths (and the granites I order yesterday). If I didn't have my Beartooths, I'd likely get a pair of those outlooks for Chukar hunting. I've found it to be decent on slippery rocks in cold creeks while still holding up to lava rock in the hot summer for scouting and Chukar hunting. I've got about 200 miles on my Beartooths and suspect I'll get another ~150 or so before I get them resoled.
Boots are very personal for fit, and Schnees fit me very well. I'm also very fond of the fact that they resole them themselves, and you can call them up and likely Curt will answer the phone. He's the guy that designs their boots and is frequently the guy on his knees fitting people in the store. That's an unusual business model that I have a great deal of respect for.
You'll mostly find synthetic boots in that price range, and they are typically more flexible and forgiving on fit. That can be good for some feet, but you'll likely sacrifice some durability. One thing to watch out for is lots of stitching. They can present failure points in the outer, and sometimes present abrasion points for the waterproof bootie. That's a common reason that cheaper boots will "lose" their waterproofing before the boot wears out. If built properly, that bootie is watertight at manufacture, but with flexing it can be abraded through and cause leaks.
I've seen some full leather Asolos and similar brands at STP and REI on sale in your price range. They seem to sacrifice a lot on interior construction and fit to meet that price point, but if they fit your foot, they'd probably be a good upgrade in durability and support over most synthetic boots.
My advice to you would be to bump your budget a bit and get the Beartooth mids (that's what I have) for the rubber rand and stiffness. I've had plantar fasciitis in the past from roofing for years with unsupportive shoes, and the Beartooths are about as flexible as I'd want to go for heavy packouts in the mountains. I use them all summer backpacking with a 20 lbs pack, so they aren't so stiff as to be clunky to hike 20 mile days in. I prefer the mid height for summer because of temps, but I ordered granites for the extra height crossing creeks in the winter. I also wanted a bit more stiffness for climbing in the winter when kicking footholds, but there have been times I really needed crampons. The insulated Beartooths would be plenty if I were only using them for elk hunting.
