Lion hunting in the snow on horses

[Bearkiller]

Would it be problematic to bring a couple horses and drop the trailer with the horses? I have a good spot that's either horse or foot access only but overall the area around there would be a pain to hunt with a horse trailer or horses if that spot didn't work out. For now there are some corrals pretty close but after it snows more they may be difficult to get to. I am just trying to figure out the best plan off attack for this spot. It may not be worth bringing the horses if I had to drag a trailer all day. If you can drop the trailer is it best to use a highline for the horses(there aren't many tree and this may be hard to find a good spot)? Or tie to the trailer? Or leave them in the trailer? I'm just not familiar with the procedure here. They pediodically plow to where the corrals are but there may be days I couldn't get to them............

[Powder River Walker]

I would say if you had a horse that was worth anything I would leave it at home and use the legs god gave you. Not sure what the lions are like in your area but a tied up horse is an easy meal for a cat. Or an easy target for a tree hugger to throw a big fit. There is not manual for this, they are your horses so you do what you want.

[Cold Track]

Use your horse, that's what you have them for is to use them. If the snow is getting over their knees, then that's when I would stop using them and either hoof it yourself or get on a sled (that's what I do anyway). Your odds of a lion coming in and getting them while they're tied are pretty slim. If your using them in the arena, using them everywhere else will only make them better.

[Mike Leonard]

Use your horse where it makes sense. I hunt horseback as much as possible but there are certain areas that arr trecherious at best under dry conditions and can be fool's play when icey and no lion is worth getting you or or friends all busted up or killed and your ponies crippled.

The main benifit of horses is the ability to quickly cover large areas of roadless country and move your dogs over that area to strike a track and get a trail going. When you have good snow by following the principles of lion lore and knowing where lion's generally move , you can save some miles by getting to those travel ways directly and hopefully finding a visable track to get the dogs working on. You can still utilize horses for this and it sure makes the trip more enjoyable and easier on the lungs it is not always the wise thing to do.

JMO

[Gperkins14mms]

"Those who hammer their guns into plows, will plow for those who do not." - Thomas Jefferson

I like that^^^

[super white hunter]

Are you just talking about leaving the trailer at the bottom while you go look for a track. or how long are we talking about here.

[WAcoyotehunter]

Use them- that's why we feed the damn things. A tied horse will be just fine- we leave them tied and hike all over the place without any trouble from hippies or predators.

[mulemanbl]

My horse and mule get used more this time of year than any other. I'd rather hunt off of them than a sled any day. It's slow and you can't hit as many canyons to look for a track, but you can get into country that most guys can't or won't.

[pegleg]

If you can pull a trailer in two whl and there's not a lot of deep drifting your probably more then able to ride in it. Now if the roads are plowed and salted/sanded and your scared to take the trucl off the road you might have a problem. Also if a storm is coming don't leave them
. Most likely they'd be fine but why risk it? And stay off the rocks and on fairly level ground like was said. I've ridden in more snow then I cared for but a horse is pretty handy in most cases so long as its not real wet or deep enough they are really struggling. High cold winds and cold rains are harder on a horse then cold dry weather. Another tip even a gamey hound will quit being so zealous before a horse is in real danger seems to me they run out of energy first. So unless its super hot track look to the dogs.

[catdogs]

Personally, I would never leave horses on a highline unattended. Tie to trailer or a tree.