This is topic I hate crusty snow!!! It Sucks. in forum Member forum at The New Huntmastersbbs!.
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Posted by Locohead (Member # 15) on January 07, 2008, 11:56 AM:
I know, I know, sucks what? Well, it sucks dried blood, scabby , mangy, coyote scrotums.
Man, I hate that stuff!!!
Posted by Krustyklimber (Member # 72) on January 15, 2008, 06:58 PM:
Danny,
What do you do when the snow is crusty and really loud?
Do you bag it, or go calling anyways?
This week is the first time I ever hunted in deep snow (3-4 feet), and needed snowshoes.
Krusty 
Posted by DAA (Member # 11) on January 16, 2008, 04:30 AM:
I hear ya Brother... Crunch-a-matic snow sucks ass.
- DAA
Posted by CindyTraps (Member # 1893) on January 16, 2008, 05:43 AM:
I agree with the description only with mud! ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Posted by Locohead (Member # 15) on January 16, 2008, 12:21 PM:
Dave got it.
Let me clarify. At the St. Francis hunt, Andy and I were into coyote country bigtime. Atleast I believe Andy. You see, I hear about as good as a ...um...a fish. I can't hear coyote howls unless they are very very close. On the Hunt I heard many a coyote barking just as we set up a stand or in many cases the sedcond we finished the first series of distress.
We might walk 100 - 200 yards in the 8"-10" frozen snow. And as Andy put it, your partner could be 150 yards away, walking to the stand location, and you could hear your partner crunching snow like he was right next to you.
I might start the stand with a howl, he would immediatley follow up with another howl, and then we'd hear coyotes barking and yapping non-stop just over the ridge. Man, it was frustrating! I feel like walking into a stand with crunchy snow is about like singing your favorite songs at the top of your lungs on the way to your stand. ![[Mad]](mad.gif)
Posted by Locohead (Member # 15) on January 16, 2008, 12:27 PM:
oops. I forgot to answer Krusty. I wish I knew the answer and maybe some of the really smart guys here have an answer. We continued to hunt because we were in the contest, but after all day of abuse and Saturday morning the same, we called it quits a bit early because we got soooo tired of getting busted.
It really is frustating. Furthermore, we heard (Andy heard) lots and lots of howling going on but nothing wanted to respond those 2 days. Freaky thing really. Its like the coyotes were on a nationally known holiday for coyotes or something. They flat out just had no interest in coming to the call that day.
I suppose some of the better howler guys would have hunted the coyotes differently and may have had some success. But Andy and I just must suck ... poop holes or something! ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Posted by KevinKKaller (Member # 559) on January 16, 2008, 01:29 PM:
Loco did you get the photos?
Gary and I felt your Pain as well We had lots of crunchy snow phesent hunters and hard times as well I was glad that we called 1 Killed 1 in the country we chose to hunt.
Just diddent get the responce we wear hoping for.
But on the bright side Gary shot 100%.
It was still a blast.
I am going to Nev. Fri to hunt the the Nev state Champs with a new frend. I understand the snow is about the same thear as it was in Ks. Just hope we make a desent showing.
Good Hunting Kevin
Posted by Locohead (Member # 15) on January 16, 2008, 04:30 PM:
Kevin,
Didn't you recently coordinate a hunt? How did it go?
I got the photos but I couldn't get imagestation to upload the picts. I'll try another server.
Posted by smithers (Member # 646) on January 16, 2008, 06:08 PM:
Loco, what you need to do to half deal with the crunchy snow is heel toe it, step drag or walk on the outside edges of your boots. Wearing ice skates sometimes helps.
In crunchy snow I use my monopod in sequence with my steps to sound somewhat three legged rather than two. Also, instead of calling one minute after sitting or standing in position I wait five or so and then call.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on January 16, 2008, 06:10 PM:
This seems so obvious. Stay out of the crusty snow.
You are welcome. LB
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on January 16, 2008, 06:43 PM:
Smithers, there was no heal to toe to it. The shit was a foot deep, more or less, in most places and had a two inch crust on top. Most of the time you got about half your weight on it and busted thru to the ground.
It sucked (green donkey dicks).
Posted by smithers (Member # 646) on January 16, 2008, 07:04 PM:
No heel toeing? Geez, you guys must not wear high enough heels then. ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
That scenario certainly sucks several items.
Three ways of going about it.
One: freight train it in.
Two: slow, agonizing and protracted.
Three: stay at the lodge, as LB suggests, and slam some scotch.
Posted by Krustyklimber (Member # 72) on January 16, 2008, 07:44 PM:
Thanks for the answers.
I just "herd of elephants'ed" my way in, and actually called a coyote.
Krusty
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on January 16, 2008, 11:28 PM:
Normally; The best way to deal with the 'crunchy crap' is to change the cadence of your steps, start and stop, & slow down. Try to pass yourself as a deer ambling along. Works best in cover.
Next best option; Walk in busting trail to all of your stands, return to lodge to sip martinies, then come back the next day to hunt.
However, when it's waist deep & crunchy; the best thing to do would be to fly into McNeil InterNational Airport, have the Limo Service drop you off at Tim's place and beg him to take you hunting.
Posted by albert (Member # 98) on January 17, 2008, 05:56 AM:
if the snow is a foot thick,with two inches of crust. snow shoes is the answer. Then you won't bust through. Use wooden ones as the metal ones made from tube have a ring to them.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on January 17, 2008, 10:05 AM:
Well, I already told danny what I would do, and have done, but you need a california rig.
Good hunting. LB
Posted by Locohead (Member # 15) on January 17, 2008, 11:53 AM:
Leon',
I would love to try that sometime. Sure wish I had an opportunity to try it sometime. If I only had someone willing to teach me, hands on. Heck, if I had one and knew how to use it, I'm sure I would use it all the time.
I've learned over the years that if you hint at wanting something over the internet, you sometimes get what you want...You know like a child spying the other little kid with a lollipop and saying, "Oooo that sure looks yummy!!!" I'm shameless; I know. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
[ January 17, 2008, 11:55 AM: Message edited by: Locohead ]
Posted by NASA (Member # 177) on January 17, 2008, 01:33 PM:
Danny, do you know anyone with a California rigged turret?
Posted by KevinKKaller (Member # 559) on January 17, 2008, 02:02 PM:
Loco I put on the Id state Champs this last weekend. Had a great time. I did not get to hunt just had to much to do.
We paid 3 plases First had 9 coyotes 2nd and 3rd had 5 coyotes each 2nd beat 3rd by 3 lbs.
I gave away lots of door prizes and a nef 204 to one lucky winner.
well I am leaving for Nv tomarrow am to hunt thear state champ I will let you know how well we do. I have never hunted in the area my new pard is taking me too and have never hunted with Matt so it should be a fun weekend.
Good Hunting Kevin
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on January 17, 2008, 03:52 PM:
We tried snowshoes, those busted thru enough of the time to make it even harder...
It was just a bitch (wolf) all the way around.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on January 17, 2008, 04:14 PM:
Andy, you need to have Danny break trail in front of you. Why should you do all the hard work? It's always easier and quieter to have two people tandem on crusty snow.
Posted by 3 Toes (Member # 1327) on January 17, 2008, 05:49 PM:
Never tried them hunting, but I wonder if cross country skis would work?
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on January 17, 2008, 05:54 PM:
We talked about it later. The only thing I could think of that may have picked up a couple coyotes, and I do mean just a couple, would have been if after we quit calling, one got up and left and the other stayed and waited quietly. There were a couple of times Im sure coyotes came in after they heard us crunch our butts out of there. There were just too many screw you barks and howls going on.
That is unless they can count too...
Posted by Locohead (Member # 15) on January 17, 2008, 06:28 PM:
LOL It seems like a lot of work but cross country skis just might work! LOL
Posted by Krustyklimber (Member # 72) on January 18, 2008, 02:36 PM:
It's too steep where I'm at, for cross country skis, in fact it's too steep for most traditional snowshoes.
The ones I use are the plastic MSR mountaineering type, and as loud as walking on plastic lids from five gallon buckets.
Despite that fact I called a coyote not very many minutes after sitting down, this morning.
I'm stepping over the top wire of the barb wire fences (sometimes just the top of the posts), on a thin crust on top. I made the mistake of stepping out to get my e-caller speaker today, from the spot I stomped down to sit in, and sunk up to my hip.
My shooting skills need some serious improvement, but I am having the best calling days of my life!
I'll be back, with stories, in a day or three.
Krusty
Posted by KevinKKaller (Member # 559) on January 21, 2008, 01:40 PM:
I made it home from Nav about midnight last night. The snow was crunchy man it was bad!
We found some great country BIG OPEN!
in 1 1/2 days of hunting we sow or called 34 coyotes. We got busted on most of our stands the coyotes would start in we would wach thim rool in from a mile or more away. we had a slight breeze both days but always changing. 1 set we had 9 coyotes coming to the call wind changed and thay hung up No rang finder with us on the second stand of the day. as thay started to leave I gesed the distance at 350 yards so I barked the leed dog to a stop broad side I shot and missed My 35 grn Berger sent up a puff of snof at its feet. I missed judged the distence terably!LOL It was still a fantastic 10 min. waching the coyotes coming acros the flat.
Matt and I did not place in the hunt to many screwups manly we wear not carying guns that would ancor dogs at 400 plus yards we hit many rolled them but then thay would get up and run like Heck Next year I will be carying a 240 weth. or a 6-284 to get the job done.
Matt and I did kill the larjest femail so we made back our intry fee and side bet money
I got to hunt with a new and vary good hunter that I think we will be doing a lot more hunting together
I dont live vary far from Nav and I will be hunting it some more in the futcher Learned a lot about the country so next year we will be abole to avoid a lot of the little things that we dident know the first time around
Good Hunting Kevin
Posted by Locohead (Member # 15) on January 21, 2008, 06:52 PM:
AHHH that snow!
How cool to see 9 coyotes come to a stand. Sounds like a great time Kevin! I'd love to hunt Nevada sometime. Beautiful country!!!
Posted by RedRabbit (Member # 796) on January 31, 2008, 06:01 PM:
Im with 3 toes on the cross country skies they would be a little quieter and if you can keep from bangin things around I think you would do better than snow shoes.
I have a pair of MSR Evo Accends snow shoes and I can create alot of racket when Im trying not to so the X country skies are going to be my bet atleast getting me from point A to B better....
Posted by RedRabbit (Member # 796) on January 31, 2008, 06:09 PM:
OOOPS! heres a tip wait till it snows a light powder on top of the loud frozen layer below. It helps a bit to quiet your steps. I move like a sloth when I get close and 500 yrds is close...
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