Thread: John Bull crows for hunting

Has anyone here used the John Bull crow boots for hunting? They have a zip on the side. I have wanted these boots forever and finally got a pair. I originally wanted them because I could change into them easily at the vet clinic but now I’m no longer working at the vets I thought I could use them for hunting boots, just wondering if anyone else has used them and how well they lasted and how comfortable they were. Iv bought a cleaning kit and some leather conditioner and waterproofer so they don’t get stuffed zips or cracked leather.

I doubt the zips will be waterproof so river crossings and prolonged walking through wet grass is likely to give wet socks. Other than that if they fit and are comfortable go. On the milford track years ago I was in a group with a guy in his late 60s doing it in redbands he had worn them all his life and boots felt wrong. He was one of the first out the door every morning and laughed at the "young-uns" putting their boots on and complaining how they rubbed here and there and made their feet ache.

Did he carry an umbrella to keep the rain from going down the tops

The safety toe might give you grief. Wear socks thick enough to minimise chafing across top of your toes

Be generous treating/spraying the zip. Even a silicone type spray on the zip fabric might help....

Neatsfoot oil will be your most cost effective leather conditioner and waterproofer.

I have a pair i use on the farm and wont be buying another pair. I find when you tighten the laces so your feet are firm inside the boot you can un zip them but need to undo the laces to put them back on and not that comfy on the hills. Also already finding the zips arent going to last. Only reason i went steel caps is in the yards and fencing etc.
And farmlands range of boots isn't that great.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

I doubt the zips will be waterproof so river crossings and prolonged walking through wet grass is likely to give wet socks. Other than that if they fit and are comfortable go. On the milford track years ago I was in a group with a guy in his late 60s doing it in redbands he had worn them all his life and boots felt wrong. He was one of the first out the door every morning and laughed at the "young-uns" putting their boots on and complaining how they rubbed here and there and made their feet ache.

funny you say that i find i can walk for days in mine as well not the trendiest but works for me

steel caps and long walks dont mix. especially when doing hill work

most of my hunting is done in redbands.
almost anything is better than them

take a second pair of socks and wear them wet on a non hunting day and they will mold to your feet quicker
also take a second pair of boots if possible on a long hunt, incase they start rubbing somewhere

I’m an engineer and I wear these boots everyday, comfyest boots out of the box I’ve ever tried. On my 3rd pair now. Get about 18months per pair.

In saying that, I recently got a new job and have to do occasional farm work as well as engineering and I wore my old pair in wet grass and got wet feet real quick, and the leather side of the boot separated from the sole and now they are fucked, I don’t know if that was cps they were a year old then got wet or they just arnt made for the outdoor environment.

Just my experience with them.

Originally Posted by gonetropo

steel caps and long walks dont mix. especially when doing hill work

I wear steel caps everywhere and my feet are pretty used to them. I have two pairs of hunting boots depending on where I am going. A Pair of Blundstones 997 https://www.blundstone.co.nz/mens-or...oots-style-997. I suspect by your description they are very similar to the Crow.

I use some Talans as my other pair that I got from @Sarvo on here.

After a few days on the steep stuff the Blundstones have given my little toes a hard time, but I dont mind as my feet were still comfortable.

john bull ANGUS boots are quite good for hunting boots...dont hurt the wallet too badly . the whole zip down the side thing makes me laugh.....it shows just how P.C. the modern world has become.
back when men were men and sheep were scared you laced your boots up in circular motion so all your laces were straight across boot and were proud of eyelets...if you got shot in leg or other injury that required your boot to be removed in a hurry,you slid knife down laces and they popped one by one easy peasy.....but now you arent supposed to carry a knife...
I heard there was a thing with the laces too...something about commandos identifying fried from foe by it??? Gurkas I believe it was???

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

john bull ANGUS boots are quite good for hunting boots...dont hurt the wallet too badly . the whole zip down the side thing makes me laugh.....it shows just how P.C. the modern world has become.
back when men were men and sheep were scared you laced your boots up in circular motion so all your laces were straight across boot and were proud of eyelets...if you got shot in leg or other injury that required your boot to be removed in a hurry,you slid knife down laces and they popped one by one easy peasy.....but now you arent supposed to carry a knife...
I heard there was a thing with the laces too...something about commandos identifying fried from foe by it??? Gurkas I believe it was???

I find the zip quite useful. Sometimes if I want a bit of relief from sore feet undoing the zip for the socks to breathe a little can help while I rest. If I remove the feet from the boots, I need to undo the laces and retie them with the zip done up. But when I get back t the hut / car absolutely beggared, I can slip out of them quickly and put on something else. (I dont like driving while wearing hunting boots- lack of feel on pedals)

For emergencies, I would still cut the laces. Undoing the zip is not a magic boot off technique.

Dont get much water through them, but they are not as waterproof as non zipped boots.