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Ok, Jake bought a super leggy, very fast (yep, fast) 4yo molly mule........ah hem, for me???????? Or, at least that was the story at the time. Bunny's soon to be trained to jump fence so that HE can hunt the dogs off of her!!! Go figure:) Stole my horse....stole my mule....I guess I'm relegated to colts or 4wheelers:)

Michelle

Here in Arizona we do not have to hunt in snow usally melts by the next day. But I did hear that the snow will pack in their hoves and frogs and can cripple a horse, is this a true statement anybody know. I do know that once the snow freezes it sure plays heck with dogs feet worse than these old malpais rocks in the summer.
John

Big John,

I have never had any crippling problems but it dan sure will pack in there till your old pony is standing on snow balls. We use snow pads under the shoes at times to prevent balling. But most of the time I carry my hoof pick and a spray can of PAM. That anti stick spray for cooking. Yep it works just pick them old feet out and give them a good spray of pam. On days when it is what we call good snow ball and snow man making weather it can be a pain in the butt but it is not that big of a deal really. Hel I hate mude worse than anything and when that old ground gets boddy it's hell on a lion track anyway and then when he gets clay and sand on his feet it's a mess. Some days like this it is better to stay in bed.

Thanks Mike. I do carry a hoof pick on my saddle. Never thought about pam. Will try it if it ever snows down here.
John

Worse part of being up on the back of any stock, is when you are working the icey north facing rims...one slip and you will be trusting your life to your steed in a split second. This is the best way to get rolled on and drug to death that a man could ever imagine. I know, been there and done that! I lucked out that day, as I was on my rock solid, atom bomb proof gelding. That horse saved my life and I will be forever grateful the rest of his life. However, more than one man has been killed this way in this country. Do yourself a HUGE favor and carry a handgun on your hip or shoulder... not in your pack, You just might have to shoot your ride to save your own life...wouldn't be the first time and damn sure won't be the last...sure beats the hell out of the alternative.

Big John, yes ice can build up in the sulcus of the foot(crevis alongside the frog) or under the shoe causing pressure on the sole. The sole is not supposed to have continued contact with the ground. What happens when the foot hits the ground the outside edge makes contact first. The sole will drop and the frog exands for cushioning. Under the sole is a bone called the coffin bone which is shaped like a minature hoof. The ball of ice can cause enough pressure to fracture this bone or at the very least a bad bruise on the sole causing a lame horse and a long walk back to the truck. You also have to be careful if you horse is not in shape riding them in snow can cause blown tendons and other lameness the same as riding in sand.

was just wondering how many of you guys use tracks on your 4wheelers and what kind are holding up the best

This is an interesting thread hearing how everyone else gets around. I used to enjoy riding mules when we were bear hunting 20 years ago but here in CO. riding just isn't an option. The country here is way too step, rocky and rugged where we usually hunt. We have very few roads or trails in most of the places I hunt so we always end up on foot but to check roads, I prefer a quad . I run ITP 589 tires on both of my quads then switch to tracks when it gets too deep or drifted later in the season. If you are thinking of tracks, make sure you get ones that can be run in the dirt also. Also have sleds but they are a pain because you have to tow a trailer and are hard to get turned around on a lot of the tighter/steeper trails we're running.

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Dean, SHARP looking setups you've got there..

ski doo tundra and a good pair of snow shoes

Nice one J.C. Been there myself a time or too many to count.

I prefer hunting horseback but with the snow we get that is unproductive alot of the winter. So I had to improvise. Here is my wheeler and a friends japjeep. Tracks are cool, hard on gas though. I like not haveing to pull a snowmobile trailer all the time, it can be a real delema trying to turn one of them around on road that you have decided wouldn't be a good one to drive up after the fact!!

i use a argo with tracks on it. it works well but is kinda on the slow side, but other than that it is very nice.

It mainly depends where I am in the part of the state. Most parts of the state average a 2-8inch snowpack where I hunt so I use my utv.. But if I am hunting in the bigger mountains ranges above 8000ft a snowmobile is required or you will get stuck quick. I also carry a survival pack on all my ohv.

All you need to get around in the snow is a toyota tacoma. If you get the trd package it has a locker and will go anywhere, if you do get in a bind just throw on some chains.