Best powersaw to take on a horse hunt

[vip_ruger]

What does every body use for cutting brush and trees well on a horse back hunt saws axe or chainsaw and what type ?

[ruger#1]

On my quad I carry a can saw. Works good on 10" logs, Anything bigger then it is a two people operation. And the can saw fits in your pocket.

[Sofa King]

for on horseback?
i'd guess a good ol' swede-saw.

[Bear Chaser]

What does every body use for cutting brush and trees well on a horse back hunt saws axe or chainsaw and what type ?

Every saddle horse should have an axe.
We also pack one of the smallest Stihls availble broken down in a pannier for when we get to camp and decide to risk firing it up.
Bruce is threatening to pack a swede saw this year as well for the young fella to use around camp.

[dakoda62]

Collapsible swede saw and an axe plus machete

[vip_ruger]

so nobody takes a small chainsaw .i was going to pick up the smallest husky they make to take but i might change my mind after all your input

[Bigbullsh$tter]

I made a platform that sits on the hooks of my arches on the pack saddle. I slide the bar into the platform that surrounds the chain so it can't get hooked up on anything, then just use a bungy to hold it in. I use a Stihl 170 which is nice and light, and cheap ($300)......but i think the best saw would be a pro grade tree toppers saw.

[BromBones]

Husky 240 (38cc) 16'' bar is a good little saw. Only bad thing is a chainsaw is only as good as the amount of fuel you can bring.

For an axe - Iltis OxHead 24'' or 30''. They usually go for around $100 or so. Put a good edge on these axes and it takes a pretty big tree before you'll wish you had a chainsaw. They cut really well and hold an edge forever with a convex grind.

For clearing willow/alder/green vegetation - any machete like the Ontario Knife models or a Latin style machete. I have a 12'' and 18'' Ontario, and a 21'' Latin style machete. I like the 12'' the most - you can swing it all day without tiring, and it works good in dense brush because you don't need much room to swing it. I like the thin, flexible blades over the heavier ones.

[Sofa King]

what's wrong with a little manual labour.
packing a chainsaw and oil and gas on a horse trip seems pretty darn lazy.
and a big waste of valuable space as well.

[Bigbullsh$tter]

what's wrong with a little manual labour.
packing a chainsaw and oil and gas on a horse trip seems pretty darn lazy.
and a big waste of valuable space as well.

Lazy??? If you got the energy to cut a week's worth of firewood fly at er'.....i'll save mine for hiking the mountains. If you hunt with horses and find yourself not having enough space for a saw and couple litres of fuel/oil you better get another horse.

[GoatGuy]

Have a little stihl 170 we take sometimes. Can lock it in under lash ropes or bunjy it down. Not built for abuse but it works.

Also a handsaw and an axe.

[horshur]

spilled fuel can burn a horse..you want to be careful and keep it in a secure container my problem with the saw is avoiding contamination of food stuffs ect......as for the saw it depends what you were gonna use it for.....if you are bucking trail in heavy blowdown I sure would want a bigger saw..

[GoatGuy]

Duallie, if you want to spend a couple days on the end of an axe I'll can send you some co-ordinates. Sure glad we had the power saw that trip. Big slide in the EK this spring. Pile of snow and a creek raging under there somewhere.

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/crop3.jpg

[blackbart]

Unless you are riding very well used trails (insert outfitter main trails here) you will want a decent sized saw. A couple of two to three foot blowdown spruce will not be fun with a mini saw or an axe. If you have horses and are worried about the weight of a proper sized saw and gas you need another horse.

Heck, with a good saw and enough fuel you might even be able to buck open the trails that the outfitter is not using anymore.... Think about the possibilities then!

[hitch]

Lazy to top pack a small chain saw, NOT! Stupid to not bring one!

[gcreek]

Don't forget da kubasa.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

I've seen some pretty over-whelming blowdown on horsetrails. Who would wand to spend a entire month with an axe in your hand?? Sure the heck not me.

SSS

[waynorth]

I pack a eastwing for trail and saddle not the best for splitting firewood but awsome on the trail and hard to break. as for chainsaw husky235 bar slid under diamond rope and bungy cord down easy access not the best for big trees but u can go around most of those.would not go without one.

[daycort]

Every saddle horse should have an axe.
We also pack one of the smallest Stihls availble broken down in a pannier for when we get to camp and decide to risk firing it up.
Bruce is threatening to pack a swede saw this year as well for the young fella to use around camp.

We all carry axes some better then others. You will hate your axe if you buy the Walmart special. Spend some money get one that will last. I like my axe to handle with one hand but not a hatchet and I also don't like a 5 lb splitting axe either. I also carry a take down swede saw that proved its value last year. Plus the chainsaw is there for any big trees.

[BCKyle]

i think the best saw would be a pro grade tree toppers saw.


You said it man. For a small package that still has the power to handle lots of cutting and be burly enough to take some abuse and heavy use, you'll have a hard time beating a good topping saw. The problem with lots of the smallest saws Stihl and Husky make is they aren't as solid as the pro grade stuff; and a saw that breaks is no good to anyone.

But an axe and a swede saw will get a lot of work done if all you need is firewood! Burn small fires that do what you need done; if you're horse hunting you don't need to have giant pallet bonfires.

[Singleshotneeded]

Swede saw and can saw...with pack horses you can bring in the mini Stihl and some fuel...in small saws I trust Stihl...

[RiverOtter]

Not a horse guy, but I have cut a couple few trees up and down. When I'm not cutting for money, I run a Stihl MS260(Now known as an MS261), its the smallest proffessional saw Stihl makes and will cut way more than a little saw should. It uses .325 chain which is a far superior to what the little "Barbie" saws run, especially when binding in tensioned wood. They run about $600, but will pay you back several times in both lifespan and wood cut.

Arborist saws are nice and compact too, but they transfer a lot more vibration to the user and by design don't allow you to stand a little further back on loaded(tensioned) trees.

[hellojello74]

used to use a small homelite gas chain saw for trail cutting, had a scabbard that you could either bungy it to top pack or had a loop to throw over saddle horn. Was light enough that riding with it there was not bad (only on trail cutting or when there was lots). We would also have a bigger one for the jobs but took longer to get it out.

2x on the axe,first year while guiding I did a grocery run to another camp, 3hrs each way, on the way back a small tree came down in the middle of a burn and there was no way around, under it or over it. Ended up having to use my knife to hack through it like machete till I could break it. Never again, learned my lesson. There have been times where it has been a safety issue to free horses in a hurry. Always an axe when out, especially if you have a scabbard, there really is no excuse.

[Good2bCanadian]

I know nothing of pack horses, but when I hike, I bring a Fiskars hollow hatchette, and a can saw that folds out into an H shape.
We can buck up alot of wood with this set up.
Also spare blade for the can saw.

i wouldn't want to be cutting thru the blowdown slide that Goat guy picture.

[4570]

Where can a guy buy a swede saw?

[RiverOtter]

Hardware store....

[Alpine Addict]

I pack a small crappy tire saw, similar size to a small Stihl, take a piece of plywood, cut notches in the end/corners for your lash rope to fit and attach 2 ratchet straps to the plywood to cinch down your saw. Then you can take your saw off to cut without pulling off your lash rope. Works well

[dakoda62]

http://www.custompackrigging.com/index.php?id=14
This fella has everything required for horse packing, decent prices to

[frenchbar]

http://www.custompackrigging.com/index.php?id=14
This fella has everything required for horse packing, decent prices to

Kellys great to do buisness with !

[boxhitch]

Fiskars and Corona make good d-handle pruning saws in the 18-20" range , easier to pack than a swede or take-down saw.
These rank in usability between a good axe and a gasser

[paw325]

Husquavarna 357 pro with a 16 inch bar....

note the one in the pic is an older 55...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v682/peter338/DSCN1238.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/peter338/media/DSCN1238.jpg.html)

[Clint_S]

I think this topic has been covered in another post somewhere but..

I can't recommend this little saw highly enough. It's a Husky 335xpt top handle arborists saw.
It's not cheap but you may be able to find a used one like I did. Not sure of similar models from other manufacturers.
The top handle is important because you can use it with one hand while carrying your lead rope or holding back what you may be cutting.
Don't be fooled by it's small size, it's got lots of jam and chain speed.
The bar isn't long but I have ringed some pretty big logs especially if there is any rot in the center.

http://i677.photobucket.com/albums/vv133/Stubby_01/misc/ChainsawScabbard_zpsebeab0df.jpg

[buckhunter]

husky 357XPG ( if you can still find one ), 18 inch bar. awesome little saw. don't forget a plug wrench,extra chain and tip.

[358mag]

Fanno D-Handle #22 or #24 hand saw and a Husky 550XP Chain saw with 16-20" bar

[boxhitch]

http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y475/boxhitch/1cde724e-1458-4afc-ab68-b561aadc6721_zps4dc5cce4.jpg~original (http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/boxhitch/media/1cde724e-1458-4afc-ab68-b561aadc6721_zps4dc5cce4.jpg.html)

[boxhitch]

better than hanging off of a saddle

http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y475/boxhitch/8b670e72-d64e-469f-970f-561663f74e61_zps492edb7a.jpg~original (http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/boxhitch/media/8b670e72-d64e-469f-970f-561663f74e61_zps492edb7a.jpg.html)

[saddlemaker]

Best power saw to take on a power trip is one that works..... First hour in camp skid a few trees into camp and have enough wood for a week cut and stacked. then hunt hard. Looking after 6-8 or more horse is a lot of work without having to cut wood by hand.. yes I guess I am a little lazy:)

[REMINGTON JIM]

Stihl MS192T with 14" bar ! :wink: RJ

[Alpine Addict]

better than hanging off of a saddle

http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y475/boxhitch/8b670e72-d64e-469f-970f-561663f74e61_zps492edb7a.jpg~original (http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/boxhitch/media/8b670e72-d64e-469f-970f-561663f74e61_zps492edb7a.jpg.html)
This is the best way. Hanging it from your saddle is a good way to sore a horse in a hurry

[boxhitch]

I know it gets done lots , by lots of people that should know better , and maybe it is ok for a while , but I don't .
I've carried one in a day pack and strapped behind the cantle , but prefer the extra horse . Lots of room for gas/oil , tools and lunch
Made this top tray from scraps as a prototype and it is still in use. Two bungies and the saw is out.

[Bear Chaser]

Looks good to me too boxhitch.

[yama49]

Couple bunjees, holds the 170 in placehttp://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq79/JEARL49/c8db34aacca21c6939623a4c1af1ee74.jpg

[GoatGuy]

I know it gets done lots , by lots of people that should know better , and maybe it is ok for a while , but I don't .
I've carried one in a day pack and strapped behind the cantle , but prefer the extra horse . Lots of room for gas/oil , tools and lunch
Made this top tray from scraps as a prototype and it is still in use. Two bungies and the saw is out.

Buddy built a wood holder for his that works well. Has a couple hooks on it and slides in and out nicely.

Usually just slide it under the rope and bungy down but that's with a big bag on top.

If hunting in a couple of the gypsy's area usually stuff it in my day pack where the scabbard is to save time.

[RiverOtter]

Not sure if it's been mentioned, but the BEST saw is one that STARTS and RUNS reliably, otherwise it's just dead weight and a piss off.........

[Squamch]

I'm a bit late to the party here, but....
stihl ms200T.
It's not a big saw, but they're screamers, and I can keep up with dad's 041 farmboss cutting firewood with mine. Plus it's light! I always keep an eye out for em on the used sites, craigslist, etc. Prices are usually from $150 (cheapest I've gotten one) to $350 (most I've sold one for).