Carrying a rifle on a snowmobile

[bearhunter99]

Anyone have a way to mount a rifle on a snowmobile?  Tried a couple different ways but have not found a good way to mount a case or scabbard on a snowmobile.  Has anyone had any luck with this?
Thanks

[KFhunter]

I use an eberlestock back pack, since I'm used to snowmobiling with backpacks on it works well for me.  I also got the gun boot to keep falling snow off the tree branches from going down the top of my pack and filling up the gun boot inside the backpack. 

It doesn't fit my AR, so I carry a compact .243 but I'd like to come up with a better gun in 22 cal (for cougar) that has a fairly short overall length.  It won't be long range, most of my predator hunting is inside 50 yards but occasionally I'll get in a open area and stretch it out a ways. 


What kind of snowmobile?  Some guys cut their cowling and put a gun boot in above the clutch but that's for older model sleds with the big hoods.  Doesn't work on modern sleds.

[CP]

I just lash the case to the footboard.

[KFhunter]

There's also after market seats that are elevated, that would leave room under the seat and you could poke the barrel under the seat and lash the case on top the tunnel.

again, what snowmobile?

[White Pass Outfitters]

Im still working on that one also. I guess I could just put my saddle on my sled, I have no problem putting my rifle on that.

[jackelope]

I use an eberlestock back pack, since I'm used to snowmobiling with backpacks on it works well for me.  I also got the gun boot to keep falling snow off the tree branches from going down the top of my pack and filling up the gun boot inside the backpack. 

It doesn't fit my AR, so I carry a compact .243 but I'd like to come up with a better gun in 22 cal (for cougar) that has a fairly short overall length.  It won't be long range, most of my predator hunting is inside 50 yards but occasionally I'll get in a open area and stretch it out a ways. 


What kind of snowmobile?  Some guys cut their cowling and put a gun boot in above the clutch but that's for older model sleds with the big hoods.  Doesn't work on modern sleds.

Doesn't the barrel hanging out the bottom of your pack bother you? I assume you have to kick the barrel end off to the side so you can sit down?

[KFhunter]

No, I'm using a short seat so the barrel is beyond the seat back

[pianoman9701]

Have any of you tried handlebar mounts for bicycles?

http://www.cabelas.com/product/ATV-TEK-Gun-Racks-V-Grip/847409.uts?productVariantId=1662602&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=03028025&rid=20&gclid=Cj0KCQiAkNfSBRCSARIsAL-u3X-qTjQYTG1o1hFyJZ8OhiNdNQ-vHcnCDbwas4sF7IRMKLzU90Gv980aAo60EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

[jackelope]

Have any of you tried handlebar mounts for bicycles?

http://www.cabelas.com/product/ATV-TEK-Gun-Racks-V-Grip/847409.uts?productVariantId=1662602&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=03028025&rid=20&gclid=Cj0KCQiAkNfSBRCSARIsAL-u3X-qTjQYTG1o1hFyJZ8OhiNdNQ-vHcnCDbwas4sF7IRMKLzU90Gv980aAo60EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I feel like the windshield might get in the way.

[pianoman9701]

Have any of you tried handlebar mounts for bicycles?

http://www.cabelas.com/product/ATV-TEK-Gun-Racks-V-Grip/847409.uts?productVariantId=1662602&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=03028025&rid=20&gclid=Cj0KCQiAkNfSBRCSARIsAL-u3X-qTjQYTG1o1hFyJZ8OhiNdNQ-vHcnCDbwas4sF7IRMKLzU90Gv980aAo60EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I feel like the windshield might get in the way.

Your habit of injecting logic into a discussion is really getting to me! 

[CP]

Have any of you tried handlebar mounts for bicycles?

http://www.cabelas.com/product/ATV-TEK-Gun-Racks-V-Grip/847409.uts?productVariantId=1662602&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=03028025&rid=20&gclid=Cj0KCQiAkNfSBRCSARIsAL-u3X-qTjQYTG1o1hFyJZ8OhiNdNQ-vHcnCDbwas4sF7IRMKLzU90Gv980aAo60EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I feel like the windshield might get in the way.

Your habit of injecting logic into a discussion is really getting to me! 

You could put that type of mount on the footboard

[Bofire]

If you use a saddle type scabbard tie it in the case, if your shotgun falls out in the snow its very hard to find ,
Carl

[KFhunter]

mounting it on the foot board wouldn't work, for me at least as I use the whole thing.  I'm not on a groomed trail where I just sit there, I'm in untracked snow and I'm all over the machine, or worse I'm fighting frozen ruts left by 4x4s 

[bearhunter99]

I recently picked up  a 98 Ski Doo MXZ 670.  The previous owner elevated the seat with 2x4s because he was a tall dude.  I never even thought about trying to put something under there...  I'll have to check that out.

[KFhunter]

Here is what I was talking about putting it through the cowling or hood and mounting it to your clutch cover





Took this pics off Trapperman

[Boss .300 winmag]

Everybody I’ve seen just slings them on thier back. How fast could you be riding if your trapping, or predator hunting. 

[KFhunter]

Everybody I’ve seen just slings them on thier back. How fast could you be riding if your trapping, or predator hunting. 

Fast as you dare     

I don't hunt from the sled only use it to access areas otherwise inaccessible.   I strap snowshoes to the back and walk in the final distance, usually a mile'ish

[bearpaw]

I recently picked up  a 98 Ski Doo MXZ 670.  The previous owner elevated the seat with 2x4s because he was a tall dude.  I never even thought about trying to put something under there...  I'll have to check that out.

Maybe something like this would fit under your seat?
http://www.cabelas.com/product/shooting/gun-storage/atv-utv-gun-storage-mounts/pc/104792580/c/104730480/sc/104194980/kolpin-gunboot-l/2365964.uts?slotId=13

I'm trying to come up with something good for my skidoo too. I like that this has a removable liner.

[ghosthunter]

Why not just pull a sled with gun and other gear in it.?

[KFhunter]

Why not just pull a sled with gun and other gear in it.?

I got a nice sled set up, took me a while to figure out how to secure it to the plastic bumper of an arctic cat M8,  typical hinges for trailers won't bolt on.   I finally replaced the back half of the tunnel with a van amburg setup  (thanks to my son for rear ending me    )

I went to north 40 outfitters and got some round baler belting and I use a chunk of that to pull my sled, if the sled gets hung up it should rip the belt instead of my new bumper

The biggest downfall to the sled is getting around in tight trees and when you hit the end of a road you have to disconnect and reconnect after you drag the sled around but not that big of a deal, and it's harder to get a snowmobile and toboggan in the back of a pickup.  Toboggans are nice when you have an established trail and took the time to brush it out. 

I intend to do a trap line with it once I get more traps built.

[bearhunter99]

Tried carrying it on my back before, never works.  Sled kicks up too much snow and it ends up caking the gun in snow unless the snow is really wet.

Most of the time i do quick runs to where I want to hunt and hike in, although sometimes I catch them out in the open on the way.  Almost exclusively use it in the areas behind our house that butts up against forest circus land.  I pack light and a trailer would just be cumbersome.

Maybe I just need to put tracks on my side by side...

[KFhunter]

My sled pretty much looks just like this, but black.  Same after market seat, and same aftermarket rear bumper. 

[KFhunter]

Now that I think about it I also just bungee the whole backpack with the gun in it right to the back of the sled if it's not on my back

[KFhunter]

^^

that's what I did this morning, busted out a good 10 miles of trail with a lot of branches and stuff I had to knock snow off to get under.  I strapped the backpack with the gun inside to the back of the sled and it stay'd put since I was on and off the sled a lot.  Also had snowshoes and shooting sticks.  I got snow everywhere, the pack was buried in wet heavy snow. I never had opportunity to take the gun out, when I got back home it was dry.  Everything in the backpack was still dry.  Had the foxpro + decoy and some other predator stuff in the backpack and a savage .17 HMR heavy barrel

It's a heavy gun for a 17 hmr, wouldn't mind a lighter one

[KFhunter]

Now, since I don't ride the mountains too much anymore I'm thinking about mounting a rifle scabbard one one side and a chainsaw on the other side with my back pack in the middle.  I'd also like to fabricate a better trailer towing bracket in case I want to tow a toboggan.

Might gear down the sled a little more too, already did the clutch so it's butter smooth not like a race clutch at all.  Very smooth engagement.

[KFhunter]

So I got a byte tyte chainsaw scabbard

https://bytetyte.com/

I'm going to have an aluminium box built for the back of the sled, the chain saw scabbard will be rivited to one side, and a rifle on the other side with my hunting stuff inside the tunnel box.

Since it's going on the side of an aluminum box, I got the low profile one.  This one is a medium profile so it stands off the mounting surface some.



Kinda like so


I'll sew up a cover for the powerhead with a draw string, if I don't it'll just be a big snowball 
Maybe a helmet bag will work? 

[NOCK NOCK]

I carried my compound on the back of my sled years ago. If your just putting along ( not haulin and kickin up a bunch of snow) it worked good.

I just made a plywood platform that ziptied to the tunnel behind the seat. To this I mounted a couple of "Pack Rat" type rubberized gun holders. The pic should give ya an idea.

PS; that doe was nearly frozen solid after a 12 mile drag back to the truck, also lost all hair on drag points and freezer burnt the outer 1/2 inch of meat on those spots. 

[KFhunter]

That's a cool pic 

Thanks for sharing.

[The scout]

I use an eberlestock pack on the sled. The weight of the pack is mostly on the seat anyway and you can keep your gun snow free. I see you said you won’t be haulin butt but you will need to be moving quick enough for your sled not to over heat witch usually means it will be throwing some snow weather you like it or not. Here’s a pic from this years late hunt.

[KFhunter]

pee break 

Love the setup, looks just like mine, even the green nalgene bottle.   

Wish I knew more guys around here that could ride and hunt like this.  Sure is fun.   I have to figure out a chainsaw mount because I've went from open trails to older stuff and I often come across logs across the road and can't get around

[bearpaw]

I use an eberlestock pack on the sled. The weight of the pack is mostly on the seat anyway and you can keep your gun snow free. I see you said you won’t be haulin butt but you will need to be moving quick enough for your sled not to over heat witch usually means it will be throwing some snow weather you like it or not. Here’s a pic from this years late hunt.

If you have a fan cooled sled speed doesn't matter, most of our sleds are fan cooled that we use hunting.

[Calvin Rayborn]

Kolpin Gun Boot - Don't see why you couldn't adapt to a sno-mo.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/shooting/gun-storage/atv-utv-gun-storage-mounts/pc/104792580/c/104730480/sc/104194980/kolpin-reg-stronghold-atv-gun-boot/2130822.uts?slotId=5