going on a horse packing hunt... water will have 2-4 inches of ice on .... what's a good way to get through the ice? i was thinking axe.. but wanted to see what you guys use? the lighter the better

Folding ice auger would make a nice round hole without risk of flying shards of ice, but it won't be a multi-use tool like a hatchet or axe.

Works slick.

WS

We take a decent little chainsaw. Ecspecially with the horses and mules. I don't know where you are going, but handling dead fall is easier with a little saw, and when you get back in, chopping through Ice can get a little wet. I take my little MS 170 now that I put a real adjustable carb on. Taking a saw from 5000 feet to 9000, they need tunning abit.
I am curious about that ice saw whopper has put up?

This looks cool. You really use one?

An ice spud

2-4", just let the fat guy go first and you should have all the water you want.

You no doubt will have a camp axe or hatchet with you on a hunt like that. With that little ice, dont worry about bringing anything else.

going into the Badlands... so there's basically big puddles for water sources... max 2 feet deep. i think a hatchet or shorter axe should work . no deadfall.... or any live trees so no need for a chainsaw. does chipping ice dull the crap out of an axe blade? i guess if it does, it can be designated the "ice chipping axe"

Few pics of the countryside we will be hunting

I do a lot of ice fishing. From 2" to 14" cutting a hole is child's play. Ice like you are talking about you can easily chip a hole with the tip and then cut any design you wish.

I helped a neighbor last year who does some beaver trapping and he was very impressed with it. They aren't necessarily cheap, about $125 but they pack very well.

WS

Snot sure what job you want the tool to do. That said I have two ice spuds. One is heavy and about 5 feet long for chopping holes. The other is a gem I found at a rummage sale. The gem is about 1 foot long and used to chop out fishing tip-ups after a day of freezing in the lake ice surface.

T-N-T
Dennis

2 to 4 inces of ice. Chainswaw? Ice saw? Bring an extra tool(spud)? Really guys. 2 to 4 inches of ice. Med Lake, use your camp axe. No need to pack in anything extra.

As the fat guy I can tell you 2 inches of ice is plenty to hold me and 4 is enough to jump on.

Yes, absolutely. I am assuming you will just be cutting enough ice to get water for the camp and horses.

Best thing for chopping any ice--- a partner,and it is even more helpful,if they aren't to bright.
Tom

Don't you have to have a hole to get that Ice saw started?

Depends😜

The tip of the ice saw easily pierces through 4" of ice to start. After that a chisel would work better to punch the hole.


WS

spud

Here in SC we just drop a donut on it for round holes.

Don't you have some striping paint to sniff?

One more week. If we can tough it out... snowed 3 inches here today and looks subfreezing next week.

Kinda like trappin, the longer you push it the harder it gets.

I use a heavy ice spud with a rubberized upper handle that I can scrap the ice off easy and a better grip and warmer. Planning to get a lighter one for checking as ice is not nearly as thick then. This is for rats and thus holes are not nearly as large as for beaver etc.

Bryce

I use a heavy ice spud with a rubberized upper handle that I can scrap the ice off easy and a better grip and warmer. Planning to get a lighter one for checking as ice is not nearly as thick then. This is for rats and thus holes are not nearly as large as for beaver etc.

Bryce

Fiskars limbing axe. Hardened head, sharp with a good angle and overall light weight. Wear glasses as chips really fly.

I hate to give too much credit to a guy from Minnesota but Boggy has this one figured out.

Zim

For 2" of ice a hatchet works fine.

Ouch

WS

Use a little cooking oil instead of bar oil in a light chainsaw, the livestock will appreciate it.

Stihl or Homelite