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A_D take it from an old infantryman, you do need to take your boots off at night and keep them in your fart sack (sleeping bag) so that your body heat will help them to dry. I used to make my living by being cold, wet, tired, hungry and miserable.

This is unless you expect enemy contact. In a civilian camping environment, I'd say go ahead and let your feet rest. If you like and if you're sure there are no PFC NoShoulders (snakes) around, you can unzip your sleeping bag and let Clyde cuddle in for mutual warmth. You'll probably get many licks in thanks. I would also invest in a nylon camoflage poncho liner. Very lightweight but it can keep you extra warm if it suddenly turns real cold in the woods. Use it to line your sleeping bag. OR use it as a real poncho liner in a cold rain. You do change your socks frequently (twice a day at least) right? And use foot powder between changes?

If you have a US Army style poncho and some nylone parachute cord and a couple of straight sticks, it's easy to rig up a field expedient shelter to keep the rain, snow or early morning dew off you and yours.

If you're really worried about some form of hostile contact, rig up some early warning devices with the para-cord. Clyde may be growling at four legged critters, so an early warning system will both alert you to the presence of someone or something near your site and if the intruder is human the noise will likely send him packing because he'll know he's been "made." Either that or he'll open fire. If you've rigged your sleep site with some local camoflage, you'll have the upper hand.