Tricks to Cleaning Hunter Boots

Hunting boots are an essential part of any hunting trip. The hunter's boot is a unique item that has the traction of a hiking shoe and the warmth necessary for extended stays in the woods or fields. Cleaning your hunting boots will ensure a successful hunt by minimizing your scent to the wildlife and keeping your boots usable for a long time to come. Whether you are about to embark on your first trip of the season or your last, you can employ several tips to clean your boots that will help make your hunting trip a success.

  1. Time Frame

    • While hunting, you may encounter a variety of terrain, including swampland and rocky, muddy soil; therefore, you should clean your boots as soon as you get back from a hunting trip, which will prevent dirt and mud from completely drying on the boot, making it more difficult to remove later. If you wear a rubber boot, you can wipe the boot down with a damp, wet cloth. If your hunting boots are leather, wipe off any dirt with a dry cloth and then apply a leather cleaning/conditioning product. Be careful about applying water or any other liquid not approved for use with leather boots as this may cause permanent damage to the boot. If necessary, use a brush to clean between the boot's crevices and folds.

    Air Out Hunting Boots

    • Even if you have cleaned the outside of your hunting boots, the inside still needs time to breathe, or air out. Airing the boot will help to remove any lingering scents like foot and animal odor. Experts recommend your letting the boots sit outside for a few days rather than in an enclosed room such as a garage or an indoor room. In addition, you may want to consider using a deodorizer in your boots. You can make a deodorizer from ingredients in your kitchen pantry by mixing 2 teaspoons of baking soda with 2 teaspoons of corn starch for each shoe. Simply leave the mixture in the shoe overnight, and dump out any remaining mixture in the morning.

    Storing Boots

    • After you have finished cleaning your hunting boots, store them in a clean, dry space. If you have rubber boots, store the boots in an airtight plastic container to prevent additional scents and dirt from accumulating on the boot. Storing a leather hunting boot on a shoe tree can help a boot keep its shape. Do not store your hunting boots in a plastic bag with your other hunting gear. In addition, storing hunting boots inside, in your bedroom or hall closet, can impart your scent on the boot, making your scent harder to mask when you are hunting.

    Scent Control

    • Apply a scent control product to your hunting boots before your next hunting trip, so that when you are out in the fields hunting, the animals will not smell your human scent from far away. In addition, using a fresh rubber-type shoe instead of leather will help control the scent. Spray your hunting boots on both the inside and outside.