Newfoundland boots

[TXHunt]

Doing a backcountry moose hunt in Newfoundland next year where we will be covering 8 to 10 miles a day. It seems everyone wears rubber mud boots for Newfoundland…..am I crazy for taking my leather waterproof hunting boots with good knee high gators? I just don’t see how hiking that much in rubber boots can be comfortable at all.

 

[ChasnDreams]

In speaking with the outfitter that I have booked for this fall, most of their guides are using leather boots with gaiters. We will be hunting the Northern Peninsula, so am not sure if that applies to other areas of Newfoundland.

 

[Don406]

I hunted the last fall and wore rubber boots so did guide and hunting partner. I wish I would have done something different a high end boot with gators? Where I was was either rock or like walking on a wet mattress if had had room take both The guides boots were lighter they were uninsulated

 

[noKnees]

I have done both. Where I have been hunting (east of grand lake) its wet and there is likely no non-rubber boot going to keep you dry for 6-7 days of walking. However wet and otherwise comfortable isnt too bad.

Most of my Newfoundland hunts have been fly-ins and typically you get to bring 70lbs or so ( that doesn't include what your wearing) so you can bring two sets of boots if you pack wisely.

Make sure the rubber boots you bring are comfortable, take them on long walks on rough country before you go.. NFLD is wet, soft and often hilly, your foot is going to move around lot more in the boot than its might at home walking in a few hundred yards to a whitetail stand. My first NFLD hunt I wore the rubber boots I wore with comfort whitetail hunting and I rubbed the skin of both my heels. I have since found a boot that fits me much better.

As for rubber boots I prefer a fitted, un-insulated rubber boot. Considering what a NFLD hunt costs, buying-really testing out a couple of rubber boots to find one thats going to work for you is cheap insurance for a good hunt.

One advantage of also bringing a second set of non-rubber boots is that if you start to rub or bruise in the rubber boots you can switch out to a boot that will impact your feet in a different place.

 

[Quandary]

I've been twice. Never saw a hunter or guide in anything other than rubber boots. I used Alpha Burly's, never had a problem.

If you wanted to use a more sturdy boot solution look as wading hikers such as the Orvis Pro Wading boots combined with something like the Chota Hippies (they don't appear to make these any more). I used this combo hunting in the Alaska tundra north of the Brooks Range. Buddy of mine did leather boots with gaiters taped to seal water at the top. Didn't work, the guy was miserable all week. Where we hunted in Newfoundland generally is not as wet as the Alaska tundra but there were spots that were. Plus a lot of 1 to 2 foot creek crossing in Newfoundland.

 

[Hickory1991]

Am booked this fall for moose in Newfoundland. Going to be running some Lacrosse Alpha Agility non insulated. Also taking my Schnee’s beartooth’s with my Yukon gaiters. Will see what type of terrain it is when we get there and adjust as needed.