Snow Shoes for Predators???

[littletoes]

Any of you guys snow-shoe for 'yotes or bobcats?? How 'bout carrying a pack, along with that rifle?

What kinds, types, styles do you like as compared to others, and why??

Thanks Folks!

[boneaddict]

Cabelas Atlas...largest size they have...I'm a big fellar.  eberlstock pack    Why do I like them...they work and are affordable...at least the snowshoes.

[high country]

I have the same shoes as bone as well as a pair of tubbs, I prefer the atlas'. there are nicer and lighter ones out but you will pay a lot more for a little more.

[Ray]

For snowshoes I have MSR Denalis in black color. Never went out after any critters with them but have them available and used them for years.

http://www.msrcorp.com/snow/denali.asp

[jackelope]

i also have the msr's with tails added for my 230 lbs. they seem to work well, but i haven't used them in a hunting situation.

[boneaddict]

I kind of wimped out a bit when I was up with Booner the other day.  There were a couple buck up on the ridge that I wanted to get closer too, but 3 feet of powder and snowshoes equals alot of sweat.  I decided to take the gentlemans way out, you know, so not to diturb the deer, and watch them from afar.

[Ray]

In that much powder you'd be better off with a hot air balloon.

[Guy]

Snowshoes are simply outstanding for opening up the winter wilderness to outdoorsmen. I prefer cross-country skis when the terrain permits, but snowshoes are superb for a hunter/rifleman. I've backpacked in for days on snowshoes, camping wherever I ended up. Trained on them at the USMC Mountain Warfare school, but was well versed on snowshoe use long before that.

Yes, they can be used with pacs. Some snow pacs have a built in ledge above the heel, specifically for a snowshoe binding strap. They also work pretty well with standard hiking boots, Danners or other decent boots. A firmer boot works better, because there's something solid for the binding to cinch down upon. Squishy boots may cause a need for frequent tightening/adjusting of the bindings. Gaiters are nice to have in soft snow.

My shoes are ancient. My most modern pair is a set of some of the earliest "high tech" aluminum frame snowshoes - a pair of 9x30 Sherpas that I bought when my buddies and I were scaling the peaks of the Sierras and the Cascades in the mid/late 1970's. Like most modern shoes they have an andodized aluminum frame, and a synthetic (neoprene) base & lacing. They also have a good pivoting toe piece with a modest crampon/spikes below. The 9x30 size is plenty in all but the softest snow while carrying the heaviest loads. Understand that I bought these shoes about 30 years ago and have re-laced 'em once. They were literally cutting-edge in the mid-late 1970's but have been overcome by the newer brands. Still, they function very well. I was out coyote hunting on them several times last winter.

My oldest set though, is a set of 10x56 wood frame, rawhide laced, military surplus shoes that I bought in about 1972 or so, heavily used. I have re-laced them a bit, and re-varnished them several times. They are great in gentle terrain, but too long for easy in forest or heavy brush. They do allow a guy to carry a heavy pack in relatively soft snow without sinking out of site - but yes - they're antiques. Beautiful in a way, functional in the right conditions and still very useful.

These days there are all sorts of better/newer shoes available. The smaller ones are very easy to use and will support an average sized guy nicely on all but the softest snow.

Look for something that is relatively narrow (say 8" or 9" wide) and you'll find something that is pretty easy to use.

A ski pole (or two) is a very nice addition to the ensemble and very functional. It can also serve as a monopod for the rifle, and works well from a quickly assumed kneeling or sitting position. It's very quick to drop to kneeling and rest the rifle on your support side hand, which is braced on the ski pole.

Good stuff. I like snowshoes. Don't like 'em? Try walking in deep, soft snow without 'em... X-C skis are even better, but snowshoes are a LOT easier to master and work better in seriously tough terrain.

Regards, Guy

[littletoes]

Guy-Excellant Post!

Think I'll write a few of these ideas down, so as not to forget when I get out and look at a few.

This past Saturday, out elk hunting in over two feet of snow convinced me, and I like to get out for some 'yotes and other predators, and snowshoes sure would help getting to the untraveled spots. Last year I had a few spots that I couldn't get to because of too deep snow.

[Ray]

I never liked anything but the MSR injected molded plastic design which is pretty much one unit for floatation and one unit for traction and boot attachment.

When I used Tubbs and a few others I never liked the lace up system. It's kind of like shoe laces. The elastic straps on the MSR snowshoes is very simple and more durable over time. Although anything can break under abuse I have seen those laces freeze up and watch partners try to tie them after spending a few days out in the woods. Tubbs (and almost everyone else who had the lace system) seems to have switched to some sort of strap attachment design since then. Additionally I have seen the flotation material seperate from the outer frame. With the MSR Denali that's pretty hard to do because it does not have that design. In addition the MSR Denalis have the tail extensions which jackelope spoke briefly about earlier.

Traction - the MSR Denalis have side to side traction bars which can be helpful when sidehilling up or down. Some... if not most other companies don't have this. Also they have traction bars built into their flotation mold.

I would never snowhoe without at least one ski pole... unless it was completely flat.

I've skied for years and still do. When travelling in the backcountry I never prefer skis unless I am out to ski or in a big hurry to get somewhere. Snowshoes are lighter and less cumbersome by far. That includes on the wallet. However skis can be a lot faster.

[ICEMAN]

We snowshoed St Helens this Saturday. Three feet of powder, a real mutha' to make any headway. Snow was six feet deep, and you would have hit the bottom without the shoes.

I have the biggest snowshoe available, since I am over 300lbs. Load me up with gear, and tie a sled to my back, 350+. Atlas 36" shoes, used them for years, no breaks. Wife has some fancy schmancy powdercoated, female bent, hi-tech, purple snowshoes from REI, nice... Kids have the Cabelas' Guide series, real nice. I will replace my atlas with Cabelas, if they ever break.

We did see some belly drags and tracks from cats. A bit of recent snow had diluted the details, but good deep belly drag....

[ICEMAN]

Oops, forgot to mention, goodluck on predator hunting from shoes! Not "sneaking" atleast, one very noisy pastime. I have yet to find the right condition to sneak at all on snow. I could see (and have) shoed in a ways to good areas and binocularized my way along, even sat and called, but it is so damned noisy, you feel like you can be heard into the next county....

[MikeWalking]

Hey Iceman how do you like the Atlas ?

I've been using the MSR Denalis for years and am very happy with them, to a point. I'm pushing 240lb these days and they're great for daytrips etc. But put a 3-4 day pack on and forget it.

Any sled/harness recomendations?

The antiques the Army gave us in Alaska (late 70's) worked pretty good, if you could walk like a 2$ hooker

[ICEMAN]

Atlas shoes have worked great for me so far. I am really surprised I have not broken any binding parts to date.... The cleats are inferior to most other brands i have seen, simple bent alum claw....

Are you talking about the plastic deck Denali? If so, I have seen them, never tried them though. They looked a bit short for supporting the weight, a bit boxy (sp). I wonder how the square inches compares... for the 250-300lb shoe...

I heard those metal and cable military shoes were sort of goofy.....

[Krusty]

Littletoes,

I'm up here in Newport, hunting predators on snowshoes, this week.

+1 on the MSR's with tails, incredible traction... and it's way too steep for skis (and my best rifle) where I've been.

Krusty