Tips for walking noisy gravel roads?

S

Slideshow 86

New member
A lot of the roads used to travel between stands are covered in ridged crushed rock. I try to walk in the ditch or in the grass as much as possible but there are a lot of times you MUST walk on the gravel. I have tried all 3 pairs of boots I own to see which ones are the most quiet but I still get a terrible "crunch" with every footstep.

Trying to be "extra" stealth and walking supper slow takes hours between stands. Plus I always feel I am making too much noise.

How do you stealthy walk on gravel?
 
Thanks, I was sort of thinking of somthing like this.

I was thinking of either making some sort of elastic "bootie" that I could slip on and off. But I'm worried about it snagging in sticks and the like.

Anyone ever tried those felt soled fishing boots? I know there made to wear over chest waiders so they would probably be verry uncomfortable to walk in.
 
Have you considered a mountain bike? First of all, you can cover ground a lot faster but secondly, they make an entirely different sound than walking. During the summer when I ride up in the mountains, I frequently ride right into elk herds, turkey, etc- stuff that I could never walk into.

Otherwise, an elastic bootie thing would help. Take 'em off when you head into brush, put 'em on when you hit gravel. I use the heavy sock trick when bowhunting.
 
I used to use a mountain bike riding a closed gravel road at my Uncle's place in MS. Deer would hear me coming but just stand there trying to figure out what was coming.
 
Heck I bought some little booties at Sportsmens that are in the bow hunters section that have fur on the bottom and are designed to go over you shoes. They work great too. I have seen people on hunting shows take their boots off and go bare foot.
 
Hunt naked.
smirk.gif
 
I've seen those furry things. I used them once on an elk hunt a few years back. Someone was calling them "sneaky feet". They actually worked pretty good, but it was more for walking on the dried leaves and twigs. One thing that I do when trying to keep the noise down is place my foot on the ground so that the whole thing touches the ground at the same time instead of a heel/toe motion. Just my 2 cents.
 
fart while you take a step that makes a interesting sound... Might even attract a nasty yote, but cover your butt don't wanna get butt raped by a song dong lol.

Jk... I wouldn't worry about it for yotes and calling,if sneaking up to an animal then I always throw socks over my boots... wears them out fast though.
 
I would just walk and not worry about it too much. Unless your actually tying to stalk an animal you've already spotted.
 
Originally Posted By: BMoeI would just walk and not worry about it too much. Unless your actually tying to stalk an animal you've already spotted.

Amen!

Tony
 
If it is noisy walking I buy some rags or cloth towels at the Walmart and ducktape them around my boots and it pretty quiet or atleast quieter than it was even on gravel. We have a lot of horse trails around where I live and a lot of gravel on them. It might be worth a try for a cheap price. Works for me.
 
Cut some old carpet in the shape of your boot soles. Poke holes in the edges, and use an old boot lace to tie it on like a snowshoe. It works pretty good, and its cheap!
 
Thanks for the tips guys.

Obviously if walking "off" the gravel was an option I would do it. The only reason im paying that much attn to the noise I make just walking to a stand is that the "crunch" noise seems to ecco through the woods/trees and If im not thinking about how much noise im making I can hear deer/ elk / birds ect leaving the area. If I stalk in, I can get within yards of animals. I figured I would atleast try to not let ye old yote here me before im in the area.

I have yet to call one in or even take a shot at one. Just trying to cover all bases.
 
When I'm changing stands or still hunting, I try very hard not to walk with a usual human gate or cadance. Stop frequently take several irregularly timed steps and look at the ground for large rocks or roots, or anything that you can step on to change the sound of your gate. In my younger days, I would actually jog to my next stand, you would be amaized to see that I became the observed and game the became the observers.
I have shot probly as many deer between stands as I have on stand.
So rather than just getting from A to B, I like to turn my travel time into hunting time.
 
Well I was at the thrift store looking for somthing to wrap my feet with.

I left with,
-2 large thick wool beanies in brown
-pair of lether shoe laces.

When I got to the gate this morning I put the beanies on my feet and tiem them in place. I cant believe how silent it is. I walked right on on an elk and he snorted at me.

No yotes or cats though.. Nice day.
 
good thread , i started scouting areas north of seattle and was wandering the same thing , i am not sure i could ride my bike on the road , rocks a bit too big.
 
Back
Top