Rabbit hunting on snow shoes

[Brian41]

Anybody do it and how does it work out for you? I love bunny hunting but the snow is too deep to do much walking and I'm thinking a pair of snow shoes would be ideal for that. I have a set from Cabelas on order and should be here any time now.
Do you try and use ski poles with them or can you walk okay in deep snow without them and keep a long gun in your hands? I only used a pair once and that was mostly on groomed snow mobile trails up north but remember being able to walk on deep snow pretty well too.
Any tips appreciated as it's uncharted territory for me.

 

[RaceBannon]

I don't know much about hunting, but modern snow shoes make a fair amount of noise. The traditional wood and rawhide ones don't provide the traction of the modern ones, but they're quieter.

 

[jimmib]

I don't hunt but I do snow shoe...the snow conditions dictate whether you need poles or not...fresh deep snow you usually need them, but once it consolidates you can go without....I usually always bring mine and if I don't need them I strap them to my pack...I use the telescoping type poles...hope this helps you...good hunting

 

[arjay]

I do it a fair amount.The solid deck shoes are noisy,the fabric type are pretty quiet.Collapsable ski poles are the handiest,just strap them to your pack when you don't need them.Atlas makes a cam lock type for under $40,the twist lock poles tend to fail pretty fast.

 

[Mule Packer]

Anybody do it and how does it work out for you?
Do you try and use ski poles with them or can you walk okay in deep snow without them and keep a long gun in your hands?

I have a couple of pairs that I've had for about 40 years and they're still going strong. One is a pair of bearpaws and the other is the Maine style. Both pairs are the old wood and babiche style, so I have to treat the leather and varnish the wood after each season.

I very seldom use poles and have found that I can walk okay and keep a long gun in my hands. However, if you haven't been on snowshoes for awhile, I suggest that you do several walks on them to get re-accustomed to walking with them. It can be real easy to take a tumble if you aren't used to being on snowshoes...and that's not especially fun with a rifle or shotgun in your hands.

 

[Coldshooter]

If you have a sling stud on the front you could make a harness to clip in. There are businesses who make custom dog harnesses use a biathlon harness as a patteren find one by googling biathlon harness. The whole design is to allow secure carry with easy shouldering. Should be able to do onefor shotguns witth a loop around the barrel

 

[arjay]

The shoe on the right works well for climbing in crusty conditions,the middle shoe is a good compromise for snow that varies between soft and hard.

This type of shoe offers much better traction than the tube frame types or the old bear paws

 

[adktim]

I hunt snowshoe hare and grouse a lot up here in the Adirondacks and snowshoes are the only way to walk the woods in winter. I don't use poles. The only limitation is the lack of movement you have with "shoes". Remember your feet are planted and don't have much flexibility when in snow. So if your tracking a running rabbit you will be turning from the waist not the feet. Not a big deal but you might loose a few bunnies. You will fall, Just part of the game. BUT make sure to check the muzzle of your shotgun and remove any snow that will be in there.
Other the that have fun.

 

[arjay]

I use a handgun for this kind of hunting.It allows you to carry a pack and use poles if you need them.Whichever way you go,it is a hoot

 

[Brian41]

Thanks for all the good advice and it's helpful as I knew some here would know. I had my second back surgery last year and retired but can walk okay just not so well in the deep snow. I do like bunny hunting but normally we don't have the foot plus we have on the ground now and figured snow shoes would help.
I figure too I'd start out with a shotgun but maybe graduate to my S&W Model 17 as I love shooting that thing.
I hadn't thought about strapping poles to my back and that's a good idea if I needed them. I have the ones for my cross country skis but ones that collapse sound ideal.
High winds the next few days and shoes haven't arrived here yet but plan on doing some hunting next week.
Thanks again.

 

[arjay]

I'd get some poles if your back is screwy (mine is too) falling is almost inevitable in the deep stuff

 

[Brian41]

I'd get some poles if your back is screwy (mine is too) falling is almost inevitable in the deep stuff

Maybe a cleaning rod would be advised then along with those poles. I can be a klutz just walking across my living room.

 

[Cyrano]

When I was hunting while stationed in Alaska, I put a piece of tape across the muzzle of my rifle. It doesn't affect accuracy or pressure and keeps snow out of the muzzle.

 

[perrazi]

doesn't anyone use a 22 handgun when hunting rabbits anymore?

 

[arjay]

I do,in fact I'm heading out tomorrow to give my 5 screw CM a turn as a bunny gun :-D

 

[Brian41]

Nice gun Arjay. I plan on trying my pre-model 17 on rabbits as I've never hunted them with handguns before. I've been shooting it quite a bit lately and should be able to hit something with it I'd think.
I only have ten acres but have a pretty good population of bunnies and pheasants as I've put in habitat for them and am surrounded by farmland.
Now I just have to wait on the snow shoes getting here as UPS got delayed because of circumstances beyond their control whatever that means. Roads are clear but had high winds or maybe their truck broke down as it was supposed to be loaded for delivery Friday.
Now I just need to dig through my holster box and find my 4 inch K frame one.

 

[Ten X]

Used to hunt them on bear paws with model 18 sometimes on bushwhacker x country skis. Sure miss them days.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[mtgianni]

I shot a lot of fox and coyotes off of X-country skis.

 

[Brian41]

UPS just delivered the snow shoes and plan on giving it a try tomorrow morning as the weather looks to be good for bunny hunting.
Wish me luck and likely will be sitting on my butt a few times too.

 

[arjay]

I was up yesterday around 10,000' 90 minute drive to get up there and the forecast was for 10 mph winds.It was gusting 35 down low and over 50 up on the ridge :-O .The rabbits were smarter than me and stayed in lol.I did get in a nice trek and some plinking practice.Im always amazed at how accurate that little 22 is.Have fun!