I live in MT and have 400 and uninsulated Mountain Extremes, Hardscrabbles, and Corries. I'm actually on my second pair of uninsulated MEs (after about 8 seasons with the first pair). I wear the uninsulated MEs about 95% of the time for hunting because my feet sweat too much in the insulated...
I got a 622 tag in 2017, I had 11 points. It was an awesome hunt and I shot a nice bull, a 340-ish 8x6. I'd do it again for sure, but probably never will because I quit putting in for rifle tags after that.
I lived in GF for a couple years in the early 2000's. It was run down and there was crime, it was really cold for extended periods and windy, and it isn't the most beautiful place in MT...BUT...the hunting and fishing were great and still are. I've also lived in Bozeman, Livingston, and Dillon...
My best advice is don't overthink it, just go explore and have fun. Pick a yellow or blue polygon on a map with a red line either going through or touching it and then find a good vantage to glass from or get the wind right and creep through it. If you don't find deer, pick another polygon to...
LOL! Like I said they are great for around town and I have them on right now, but I would rather wear Merrells hunting, they still soak through but at least there is some protection in the form of a liner. I have 3 pairs of Kenetreks that I use for hunting and backpacking, those are great boots...
So i'm not reading through 5 pages of replies to see if this was addressed, but the very first thing I'd replace are those boots. I have owned them as my around town shoes for a couple years and they are great for that, but they are definitely NOT hunting boots unless you are in a desert. If...
Thankfully it is not, I think that would be a deal breaker for me, but I have wondered about the meaning of that sticker. When I first saw your post I wondered if "beautiful disaster" was a thing that I wasn't hip enough to get, which is getting to be a more common scenario as I approach the...
Those Hushin guys are pretty badazz hunters, Muley Freak, the BRO bros, Elk Shape, soooo many to choose from....
But seriously, Shockey seems like a solid nomination.
When I use them, which is pretty much limited to snow, creek crossings, and talus, I use the Black Diamond ones and they've been great, although a little noisy.