Colorado Archery Elk!

[Lien2]

After 4 archery elk hunts over the last 6 years I finally got it done. I didn't see a bull till day 4 but couldn't relocate him after a stalk. I went to the same area on Day 5 and found him again, put on a stalk and got him, found him on Day 6. He was the only bull I saw. Camp was at 10,800' and most of the hunting was at 11,500'. I couldn't be happier.

I paid a heavy price pounding it up and down the mountains, mile after mile in boots that weren't made for my feet. I wore them every day for 3-4 weeks leading up to the hunt and they flet great, but it's tough to simulate hunting and hiking conditions exactly when you live at 900' with not a hill in sight. This was taken the day after I got home. The last 4 days were real gut checkers trying to hoof it 5-10 miles a day and up and down 2500'+ when every single step stung.

But it was well worth it!!!

Lien2

 

[YukonDall]

LIEN.........NICE JOB ON A GOOD BULL, I FEEL FOR YA ON THE BLISTERS. WAY TO STAY AFTER IT....................YD.

 

[trophyhunter]

Congrat's on a nice bull. Take care of those feet/blisters. I would suggest as part of your backpack first aid kit to always carry a couple of packs of lamb skin prep for blister cover or prevention on your next trip.

That bull will make some fine eating...

))))------->

 

[Roy]

All right!! Great bull Lien2. Wear those blisters with pride! Mind telling us which boots you are using?

I just got a new pair and I am having similar concerns. I doubt I will be hiking as much as you did on your hunt, but I still am concerned. I live at about 300 feet here in Texas and there are hardly any hills here either. I may get a chance this weekend to try them out a little, but we will see. Just a little over 2 weeks left - can't wait!

Good job on a great hunt!

HOOK 'EM!
_______________________________________

Since I am frequently asked about my religion on this site and others, I have created a profile that explains my beliefs. If you are interested in finding out more about my faith, please visit the link below:

http://mormon.org/me/6RNQ/

 

[Beaker94]

Awesome bull and adventure! For a 4-point bull that has some great mass.

 

[PaleHorse]

Gross blisters! Cool bull!

 

[TheKnack]

Congratulations! Way to stick in there and get'r done.
Best,
Jerry

 

[eldorado]

Your hard work paid off with a beautiful bull. Way to go.

Eldorado

 

[Photog]

Nice bull, thanks.

 

[HayZeus]

Congrats on a fine bull. Its amazing what we will endure to keep hunting. Good job.

 

[Juan_ID]

LAST EDITED ON Sep-18-12 AT 03:34PM (MST)[p]Nice, congrats on the hard earned bull! Danner Pronghorns be the culprit of those blisters by chance??

 

[Lien2]

Thanks for the kind words.
Guys, I am hesitant to mention what brand boots they were for a couple of reasons. 1.) I believe they may be a sponsor here. 2.) I am not fully convinced it was the boots fault. Like I said, I wore them everyday for 3-4 weeks leading up to my hunt on flat ground and up and down stairs. I did not wear them on on incline or going up a slope, I should have in hindsight but I never have had to with a pair of boots before. With that said, I believe boots fit different feet differently. I could give a buddy those same exact boots and he could probably wear them the same as I did and not have one issue. They were not for me, but that doesn't mean they won't work for others.
I did have gauze, new skin, and duct tape with. Unfortunately when it was noon on Day 1 and I was 3 miles from camp when I could feel the hot spots, by the time I finished hunting that day and made it back to camp, the damage had been done. I tried to doctor them up every morning with duct tape, but it really didn't seem to help.
If you really want to know what boots I used, send a message to my inbox.

Lien2

 

[TheKnack]

I would recommend Lowa's or Asolo's. I used Asolo's this year and they performed great with minimal breakin and actually had better traction than my Lowa's.
You have time to decide whats best for you before next years hunt as you admire your archery bull.
Best,
Jerry

 

[Zeke]

Excellent bow bull!
The only feet and legs I like to look at have a bunch LESS HAIR and are NOT hooked on to a man! LOL
Congrats on a great hunt,
Zeke

 

[HorseCreek]

Looks like the work of some kennetrek's
Congrats on a hard earned bull!


Traditional >>>------->

 

[Gazelle]

Nice work my friend! Nothin like the 1st one. You"ll think about that day everyday till next Sept. You must be one tough SOB to keep hunting with that Mess on your feet. WTG

 

[DougW]

Lien2- great bull.

You weren't by any chance wearing cotton socks, were you??

 

[mightyhunter]

I agree with HorseCreek, it looks like a pair of Kenetreks.

 

[zekers]

Great bull and adventure!
I disagree with the Kenetrek's. I love mine. You said it though, each foot is different. It looks mostly like the work of cotton socks and a loose fitting boot. Anyway, great hunt! If it was easy, everyone would do it!

 

[monstermuleyman]

LAST EDITED ON Sep-18-12 AT 04:52PM (MST)[p]I would have to agree with the others guess on Kenetrek...
After years of wanting a pair, I FINALLY got one in 2011 and low and behold, I am now having to take preventative measures to keep from getting blisters in those exact spots. I have hunted for over a decade now and NEVER had this issue with other boots. For some reason, they don't seem to work well with my feet. They are a D@mn nice pair of boots, but I cant get them to stop giving me blisters. After this years arch elk hunt in CO I am seriously considering selling them and trying another brand...

More importantly.. CONGRATS on a great CO back country bull. I have been at it for weeks without seeing more than a few cows and distant bugles. That is a true trophy.

 

[Kentuck]

Congrats on your bull!

As far as the blisters go, I read an article by Cameron Haines this summer and he said as he gets near hunting season he starts running without socks on. He went on to say that ever since he started doing that, he has never gotten a blister while hunting.

 

[BradN]

Blisters

If you don't have moleskin, duct tape is an excellent substitute. You can wrap the tape around a water bottle, trekking pole, tent pole, etc. so it doesn't take up much space.

Man, blisters like that alone would be a gut check.

 

[Zilla34]

No doubt that you earned it. Looks like you were sitting on a skateboard going down the hill and trying to stop without shoes on. Congrats on the bull.

 

[Lien2]

Hahaha......some good stuff.
All my socks are Smartwool, no cotton anything.
My point is proven in some of the posts, a couple guys say it looks like Kenetrek's, another says he didn't have a problem with his at all. ???
I paid $400 for these boots and it is really frustrating to have them eat your feet this bad.
I wore 5 different peices of footwear on a 6 day hunt. Even wore running shoes and my buddies size 12 boots which are two sizes too big for me. It relieved some of the pressure on the blisters, but after a few days of walking in boots that didn't fit properly and like a penguin I started having heel, ankle and hip issues. By day 5 I was in survival mode.

 

[DougW]

I'd guess this is something anomalous about your feet....alignment, pronation,etc. You might want to go to one of those running/hiking footwear stores that videotape your feet as you walk/run on a treadmill. Boulder Running Co. etc. (i suppose there are 1 or 2 good things about that city ) Those guys can pinpoint hotspots in a jiffy. I had 4 knee/ankle surgeries over the years and there is nothing symmetric about my feet and their alignment as I run. Within seconds the shop had pinpointed the problem and recommended a shoe that worked better. Not cheap though. Orthotic soles designed for your feet could be a solution in the end.

also those thin anti-blister liner socks, primarily for runners but the same concept applies to vertical hiking, can do wonders. They're polyester/polypro/etc. and reduce friction even when wet. I have to wear them under wool in my boots.

Bottom line: no doubt a boot can work perfect for 1 guy but be a disaster for the next.

Good luck-

Doug

 

[tracker12]

Congrats on the Bull.

Got to go with Doug on this one. Most blisters come from not wearing the proper socks. Buy the best liner and outer socks you can get.

 

[redelkarcher]

Congrats and thanks for sharing.....
redelkarcher>>>--------------->