Muck Boot Company - Girls With Guns Arctic Hunter Boot

By Andrea Haas

It's a new season, and with that, comes new hunting products & apparel for me to test and review for our followers!  This dove season I tried the new Girls With Guns Arctic Hunter Boots by Muck Boot Company. I have always been a big fan of Muck Boots and was excited to put these boots to the test. Below are my results.

Performance In The Field

-WATERPROOF-

Early morning hunts usually involve a lot of dewy grass that can soak through your boots and pants in no time. The Arctic Hunter boots are 100% waterproof and kept my feet nice and dry on dewy mornings and when crossing creeks.

-TRACTION-

The Arctic Hunter Boots have a "slip-resistant rugged outsole", which performed great on our rugged terrain. If you read my previous Muck Boots product review, you've probably learned by now that I am not a very graceful person, so I need all the help I can get in this department, especially with as many flat shelf rocks we have here in the Ozark Mountains. 
 

-COMFORT-

They fit great and were easy to move in. They were extremely comfortable and the insoles were nice and soft, which would make them a great option for spot and stalk hunting. In fact, I think the insoles and comfort level were my favorite feature on these boots and what will probably make them my new favorite pair of Muck's.

-TEMPERATURE REGULATION-

The Arctic Hunter boots have a lining of Neoprene and fleece to keep your feet warm during cold hunts. Their insulation package is rated to -40 degrees. I found they were very warm and I have no doubt they will be my go-to boots this fall and winter once the temperature really starts to drop.

Features 

• 5mm CR Flex-Foam

• Warm Fleece Lining

• Extended Rubber Exterior

• Comfort Insole

• Slip-Resistant Rugged Outsole
•  
• Mossy Oak Break-Up Country camo pattern

Sizing & Fit

In my every day shoes I normally wear a 6.5 to 7. In my other Muck Boots I have always worn a 7 and that is what I ordered in the Girls With Guns Arctic boots. They fit great, are easy to move in, and the insole was very comfortable and wasn't too tight on my feet, even with thicker socks on.

They are available in women's sizes 5 to 11.

Price and Options

You have the option to order a Tall boot for $184.99 or the Mid boot for $174.99. I ordered the Tall.

 

I was very happy with how well these boots performed for me this dove season. They were comfortable, easy to move in, and had great traction control. They are engineered for warmth, with a temperature rating of -40, which will be great for hunting this winter. I highly recommend the Arctic Hunter Boots to any serious female hunter looking to extend her time in the field this season.

For more information, head to www.MuckBootCompany.com 

Muck Boot Company - Women's Pursuit Stealth Boots - Product Review

By Andrea Haas

One of the most important items a hunter should have is a good, quality pair of boots. I can think of a few times that not having the right pair of boots for the hunting conditions sent me home early from a hunt, or at least caused a lot of unnecessary discomfort. Rain, snow, wind, and temperature are all things that we cannot control, but having the right pair of boots can help us deal with these elements and stay in the field longer and more comfortably. 

This turkey season I tried the new Women's Pursuit Stealth Boots by Muck Boot Company. I have always been a big fan of Muck Boots and was excited to put these to the test this spring. Below are my results.

Performance In The Field

-WATERPROOF-

Spring is known for being wet and rainy and this turkey season was no different. The Pursuit Stealth boots are 100% waterproof and kept my feet nice and dry. 

-TRACTION-

The outsole features "agressive gripping" and I could not agree more with those terms. While walking through the woods trying to sneak up on birds, the last thing I need is to slip and fall. I will say, this does happen to me a lot due to the amount of flat shelf rocks we have on our property, and possibly because I'm a little less than graceful. Add some rain into the mix and those rocks can get extremely slick. Thankfully this was not a problem for me this spring.

"Aggressive Gripping" Outsole

-COMFORT-

They fit great and were very comfortable. The angled topline and flexible notches (highlighted in pink) make them easy to move in, which is perfect for spot-and-stalk turkey hunting. I had to crawl on my stomach a couple times to sneak up on a group of turkeys without being seen and these got a big thumbs up from me! 

-TEMPERATURE REGULATION-

The Pursuit Stealth boots have a lining of Neoprene and fleece to keep your feet warm during cold hunts, but I found they worked great to keep my feet cool in the warmer weather too, thanks to the ETC Sockliner that reduces heat buildup. 

Features 

• Insulation: 5mm of Neoprene with Fleece Lining

• Upper: Spandura® with Optimal Flex Points highlighted in Pink

• Camo: Realtree® APG

• Outsole: Aggressive Gripping

• Insole: Etc® Sockliner

• Height 12”

• Weight 4 lbs

Sizing & Fit

In my every day shoes I normally wear a 6.5 to 7. In my other Muck Boots I have always worn a 7 and that is what I ordered in the Pursuit Stealth boots. They fit great and I actually preferred how these boots fit compared to my other Muck Boots, the Woody Max. While I love my Woody Max boots as well, I liked the fit of the Pursuit Stealth boots better because they were not as tight on the tops of my feet, making them more comfortable and easy to move in. 

Price and Options

The Pursuit Stealth boots retail for $209.99 and are available in women's sizes 5 to 11.

They are available in Realtree APG and Realtree APC (pink)

Overall I was very happy with how well these boots performed. They were comfortable, easy to move in, and had great traction and thermal regulation, which is exactly what I needed for spring turkey hunting. They are engineered for warmth as well, which will be great for deer hunting this fall and winter. I highly recommend the Pursuit Stealth boots to any female hunter, as they were a game changer for me. Like I said before, we can't control the elements, but having the right hunting gear can help us withstand them.

For more information, head to www.MuckBootCompany.com 

Turkey Hunting Gear & Apparel for Women

By Andrea Haas
Revised 3/01/16

Photo of Huntress View team member Samantha Andrews

Turkey season is fast approaching so if you haven't begun shopping for your turkey hunting gear, now's a great time! The following is gear & apparel that I have used & recommend for spring turkey hunting. I don't feel you need to run out & buy each item on this list, but at the very least I recommend a turkey vest, something to cover your face (whether it be paint or a face mask), and some camo pants & top so you don't get busted!


1) Headwear

-Prois Cap-

-Elastic Hairbands-

by EvoOutdoors 

These work great as headbands to keep your hair out of your face, or can double as a hair-tie to pull your hair back into a ponytail. I carry these in my hunting pack year round.

2) Face Paint

-Fire-Field Face Paint-

Easy to apply, easy to remove and NO glare. It's a great alternative to a face mask, that tends to just get in the way.

Photo courtesy of Hunters Crate

3) Shirts & Jackets

-Prois Ultra Backcountry Long Sleeve Shirt-

Made of polyester wicking fabric & has pockets on the back of the shirt across the lumbar 

region that are perfect for holding calls, gloves & other hunting gear!

               

Front

Back

-Prois Galleann Rain Jacket-

It always rains on me in turkey season. Never fails! The new Galleann Rain gear from Prois is waterproof, breathable AND it packs down into its own pack, so it's very easy to haul it around with you in case it rains. Below is a picture of the jacket, but they also have Galleann Rain Pants. 

4) Vest

-RedHead For Her Camo Turkey Vest-

available at Bass Pro

This vest fits me perfectly & has all the same features as a men's turkey vest. There's lots of pockets & compartment space to hold a variety of calls. It has a fold-out seat built into it. Just fold the seat out & use the back of the vest as support for your back. 

The back has plenty of room to carry your decoys.

Front

Back

5) Pants

-Prois Pro-Edition Pants-

Light weight & easy to move in. Knee pleats added to enhance movement & comfort while sitting, squatting or stalking. 

Waistline has elastic stretch to the sides & also includes beling & tab buckles so you get a perfect fit.

6) Footwear

-Mountain Athlete Crew Sock by FirstLite-

available at EvoOutdoors 

Midweight

Made of Merino Wool, featuring nylon/spandex on the outside

-SHE Outdoor Avila Mid Rubber Hunting Boot-

available at Bass Pro $79.99

100% Waterproof with vulcanized rubber construction

These boots are very comfortable & easy to move in. I've found them great for active hunts.

7) Turkey Calls

-Huntress View Pink Laminate Pot Call-

by Solo Mountain Game Calls

Slate Over Glass

or

Glass Over Glass

Glass Over Glass

Slate Over Glass

-Push Button Cedar Box Call-
by Adventure Game Calls

If you're looking for a call that's easy to master, you have found it right here! It's so easy to use & it sounds great. The design allows it to easily be mounted to any shotgun, which is great to minimize movement. 

Photo courtesy of Hunters Crate

8) Decoys

-Avian X LCD Decoys-

available at Bass Pro

We highly recommend any of the Avian Decoys. They are the most realistic looking decoy, in my opinion. They body of the decoys collapse so they are easy to carry in your vest, but are also easy to re-inflate quickly to set them up. Team member Heidi Swonger had great luck with them this past spring!

Prois Ultra Backcountry and Ultra Long Sleeve Shirt Review

Prois Ultra Long Sleeve Shirt #EvoOutdoors

When purchasing hunting clothing, instead of buying multiple items that I may only wear a few times I try to get a couple staple items that can be worn all season long and on multiple types of hunts. Early season hunting and spring turkey hunting is usually pretty warm. During that time a light weight, moisture wicking top is my go-to piece. Carrying that same top into late season as a layering piece is a good way to get the most out of your gear.

The Prois Ultra Long Sleeve Shirt and Prois Ultra Backcountry Shirt are both great options to wear alone during the warmer, early season hunts and are great layering pieces for when the weather turns cold. Both of these tops are constructed of 100% polyester fabric that wicks moisture away from the skin, keeping you cool when it’s hot and warm when it’s cold. They are both athletic cut and also have thumbholes at the cuff line for added warmth and camo coverage. 

Prois Ultra Long Sleeve Shirt
#EvoOutdoors

While the Ultra Long Sleeve shirt has more of a mock turtleneck, the Ultra Backcountry shirt has a neck zipper to allow venting in warmer weather. It also has a 3 compartment lumbar pocket system that is perfect for holding game calls, gloves, hand warmers and other hunting gear!  

Prois Ultra Backcountry Shirt
#EvoOutdoors

I keep both of these tops in my gear bag year round as they are quiet, comfortable, easy to move in, and lightweight, making them a great stand-alone top or a non-bulky layering piece. They are perfect for archery season, rifle season, turkey hunting and upland hunting. Both are available in Realtree AP, Realtree Max-1 camo paterns, and Black; sizes XS, SM, Med, LG and XL.

-Andrea Haas

Know Your Gear

By Andrea Haas

Whether you hunt with a bow, rifle, muzzle loader, crossbow, or shotgun, it is important to know your gear. When I first started rifle hunting I started by getting familiar with handling, loading and shooting the rifle I knew I would be hunting with. Safety is the most important thing in hunting and being comfortable with your gun is half the battle. Second, to me, is being confident that I can make as clean of a kill as possible. That is why practicing is so important.

Although you definitely need to practice shooting your rifle, once I started bow hunting I found that rifle hunting did not require quite as much effort. I put in countless hours of shooting practice for months before deer season even starts and am now even more comfortable with a bow than any other weapon.

No matter what weapon I am hunting with, I make sure that what I practice with is what I hunt with. I don’t mean that I go bow hunting with my field tips. I mean once I have sighted in my weapon & know what I will be hunting with, I start practicing with that! There is no way that I would replace my field tips with broad heads & go hunting the next day. You have to shoot them first, find out how they fly, and sight in accordingly.

It is also important that all of my equipment is the same. My bow is sighted in using a 100 grain broad head, all the same brand. All of my arrows are the same brand and weight and the fletchings are all the same on each arrow. I want to know that no matter what arrow I use in my quiver, each one is going to shoot the same way.

No matter what type of weapon you use, practice with the gear you know you will be hunting with and make yourself familiar with it. Hunting is already a huge challenge, even when using gear that you have practiced with thousands of times!