We put bearpaws on everything, all year round. They keep the skids from sinking in mud, snow, muskeg, etc, keeping the tailrotor outta the weeds, etc.
I've never used the full-length skis, even for winter ops in the mountains or in the arctic. If the snow is shallow enough to be secure once your settling check is done you're good, and if it's real deep just plant it real good and set it on the belly. This works better on Bells than A-Stars since the composite belly panels will crack. Also, one way or another you're gonna take any antennas off the belly.
The one set of skis we have is from a 212 that worked in antarctica for the last twenty years, but we've never used them.