Snowshoes - Never thought about them till now

[338winmag]

Last year 3rd Season in Colorado, areas 35 & 36, it snowed big time 4 days into the season. As we are getting a lil older, trudging through a foot and a half to two feet of snow can be challenging and tiring at times. Especially when you don't have snowshoes!!!!

The pros about the snow is it moves the elk off the high altitudes (11,500 - 12,500) down to our camp levels at around 11,000. Also nothing gets more exciting and encouraging in the hunt then seeing fresh tracks all over the place and the ability to track and stalk.

So we chose 2nd Season to get around a pretty good possibility of "no" snow during our hunt. Well, here it is a little less than 2 weeks out from "2nd Season" and guess what. Its snowing here in Colorado Springs and as I look at the mountains, they are covered. (One of the ski areas got 3 feet of fresh snow Thursday night!)

Gonna spend some time looking for a good pair of snowshoes this morning. Anyone else hunting in Area 35-Area 36 or near there?

 

[Guy Miner]

Snowshoes are great! All winter long I'm out on cross-country skis or snowshoes. Now and again I'll hunt from skis or snowshoes, mostly for coyotes.

A decent set of snowshoes will dramatically cut down on the work of simply moving about and increase your mobility, particularly in deep, soft snow. They even work well on older, crusted over snow that would break and send you plunging in up over your knees without snowshoes.

Consider a ski pole, or two, for increased stability. The pole/poles can also work as a rifle rest.

Consider a set of gaiters.

My two pair of snowshoes are very old. One is a set of military surplus shoes, wood with leather lacing, measuring 10" x 56". I bought and refurbished those about 1972 or so. Another is a pair of Sherpa 9x30's, one of the early aluminum frame snowshoes. Sadly Sherpa went out of business a while back. They're good shoes and very maneuverable. Here's my old Sherpas - I've been using them for a lot of years and had to re-lace them about 15 years ago:

Today, the choices of snowshoes are incredible! Many of them have a built in crampon underneath, which is very helpful in icy conditions. Most have a pretty doggone good binding system, unlike the old ones.

Guy

 

[6mm Remington]

I have a pair of the MSR Lightning Ascent and I love them. They have great traction and flotation. I agree with Guy, when you get a pair, buy a nice set of the collapsable snowshoe poles. They really make a difference and help you keep your balance while at the same time take some of the load off your legs. I have the MSR poles also. I bought a pair of poles from another company because they $10.00 less than the MSR's, but I quickly returned them and got the MSR's. The baskets kept coming off if the poles went way down underneath the snow. It was just a lot of fun digging down in four or more feet of snow about every 200 feet or so to retrieve one of the baskets to put back on .

The MSR's and some of the others are expensive, but it's really a one time investment and if you get some great ones first time out, you won't have to buy again. MSR's are made in USA as well!!

 

[6mm Remington]

http://cascadedesigns.com/msr/snowshoes ... nt/product

 

[338winmag]

Great suggestions Guy! Gaitors a good thought too. Also looking at the Ascent's as I type. Thanks 6mm. Looks like I can get a pair for about $210.00 plus tax and shipping. That is for the 30".

Geesh hunting has started to become a very expensive hobby when you live in the city. In my younger days I walked in my backyard, shot my buck or bear, dragged or carried him back to the house, hung him for 3 days and then asked the local store butcher to cut him up for $25.00 and some meat.

With all the gadgets and equipment I keep buying, I am starting to be one of those "city hunters" I used to laugh about when I was young. :grin: Now there is some strong young kid laughing at me. How ironic.

 

[wildgene]

...here's a good place to start, you can browse thru, look @ weight/ length ratios, binding types, etc., poles, gaitors, get a fair idea what you're looking @...

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/produc ... oes%2F%2F2