My buddy shot a buck on state land about 1 1/2 miles from the road down a mountain. Not a mountain like out west but down in the Catskill's in NYS. We tied that deer to a pole like a hog and carried it out. Not sure if it was the best method but it seemed to work and neither of us died. As for the guys that drag deer out backwards, you should tie a slip not in your rope and put the loop around the horns or the does head and make sure you get the front feet in the loop. It keeps them from catching as you drag.

Larry Benoit says to use a shorter drag rope as it keeps the deers head and shoulders up better. Tried this once and the tines kept hitting me in the calf.