RE: How do you load a deer in the truck yourself?
Oh sorry Stubblejumper - I actually thought the tailgate idea was good (I'd never thought of it before). I was just throwing my suggestion out to the original poster. A couple 2X6's and/or plywood would be easy enough to just lay in the bed of the truck though.
By the way, just to add to my thoughts - the rope comealong is often handier than the little spooled cable type. It's more versitile with longer reach if needed.
This whole discussion made me think of a couple guys I know getting acaribou into the back of a 70s eraBronco - through the back window because the tail gate wouldn't drop. There is NO graceful way of doing this and a comealong won't help.