hunting on skis and snowshoes

[Thankful Otter]

It's always a balance though... How big a shoe? How much floatation is really needed? Etc...

Guy

EXACTLY !

Guy, you and Earle nailed it, I have a dozen different sizes and they all work in different situations --However, I did recommend to April, to get the young lady some MSR.s, as they are very good snow shoes and she will never be in as much snow as I live in. She may run into a time where larger ones would be helpful but on balance a good pair of MSR;s is all she will ever need.

 

[35 Whelen]

Guy,
Those 1974 pictures show a very " lean mean machine" ready to take on
the toughest conditions, it's always neat to look back, and reflect on old memory's!
You done good olde boy!

 

[Anonymous]

Lots of great discussion.... snowshoes have much in common with skis in that type and size are pretty depending on snow conditions.

I'd agree with Earle- most of the weight ratings on modern shoes tend toward the optimistic side. In big powder those giant 10x72 "Alaskas" are awesome. I tried some once, but in my area we seldom have more than a foot or so in the lowlands and maneuvering such a big shoe in the trees was not much fun. In some areas we either have drifts or ice as the wind here doesn't leave snow laying around for long.

If I lived in an area that had more big standing powder areas, those are tough to beat.

If I'm not worried about much ice, I'm generally on skis.

 

[Europe]

, Earle,, Hodgeman, Guy

Cheyenne also recommended I get her either a 800 RMK Assault 155 or a 800 SKS 155, if I was undecided in which snow shoe to get her--you have to love her

 

[Guy Miner]

Well ya, that 800 RMK will get it done, no doubt! :grin:

 

[Guy Miner]

On the "flotation" issue...

Last year I was on my new 9x25 MSR shoes which were doing splendidly on firm snow & ice... Heck, they might even be 8x25's...

I happened to step off, into the woods, where the snow was soft. Immediately sank a couple of feet, despite wearing snowshoes!

Ya - I could have used those old 10x56's of mine right then...

Guy

 

[jason miller]

I've never hunted on them, but I've used snowshoes several times while hiking in CO. Ive used Atlas, which were ok. I own some Tubbs, which again, are ok. But I'll add yet another input that MSR snowshoes really are the gold standard among serious back country hikers. Some people really prefer the ones with the flip-up heel bars for going uphill, fwiw. I have Tubbs because they were cheap and 36" and I always ended up carrying a load on top of being 190 lbs myself, but I always wished I had MSR's. The narrower profile alone would be nice, and they have better bindings and traction, too boot.