What’s your best way to drag a deer?
 

There is a lot of very heavy brush with some major gullys and inclines where I hunt. This can make getting a deer out of the woods a challenge. After seeing someone market a “ski rope” set up for $$ I decided to make my own.

It’s very simple. Just double up your line and use the loop end to either go around the neck or antlers. Make sure you get the forelegs in there as well. Then cut a 3’ piece of wood from a sapling, maybe 1 ½’ diameter for a pull handle. Attach both ends of the line to the wood with clove hitches. Make sure the knots attach to the handle from different sides (see pic), this stops the handle from wanting to turn. Now you are good to go.


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You adjust the length of the line to make sure the head of the deer is off the ground so it doesn’t snag on brush, particularly if you have a buck with antlers.


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Using a ski tow like this give you a lot of torque to muscle the load around and over brush. When you get to an area where you just need to pull, just hold the handle behind you with both hands like you are water skiing backwards and git to it.

Nicely done, yes indeed! My style is similar, but not as well done as yours!

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This is what I used this year---no use of hands required. Works great.



https://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/s...yABEgLHO_D_BwE

I used to use both methods above when I was younger and hunted way back along the ridges with roughly a mile drag. The deer aren't back in there now and I'm hunting on private land no more than 300 yds from my truck.

I got smart an use a deer cart now, much easier on the ole bod...:happy0157:

I second the deer cart. But I've dragged a fair few deer and bear at the end of a rope just as shown.


I suppose it won't be long now till folks are using their drones. :happy0157:

The deer probably aren't back in there because they are where you find 'em, right? :biggrin:

Right on that account, but I believe its largely due to an older national forest with less acorns and plenty of private lands below with corn fields, beans, grass, etc.

Not to mention a new three day bear rifle season this year before the muzzle loader season, bear hound chase season before that in Sept. to boot. I have seen bear dogs chase deer, regardless what their owners say. Its in a dogs DNA to chase deer. So if I was a deer I would get out of there too...

Hi everyone. I watch and read something about drones used in deer scouting. What do you think about it? Does anyone have any experience with it, good or bad?

i usually only hand drag for a short ways but i do basically the same thing .. i carry a 1/2" rope about 30" long w/ an eye tied on ea. end .. but a bush hog doubles as a very nice deer cart

I don't have a problem with scouting that way as long as it stays just scouting! I'd say its not gonna be easy keeping the drone above ground in a wooded forest tho....

On someone elses back:D :D :D

Check your state laws. Some have already addressed drones and hunting.

I've used drags like described in the first couple posts and also a two wheeled cart to get my deer out. But for the terrain you described I'd likely go with a sled like this.

I have used a rolled up plastic sheet about the same, but heavier. I wore several holes in it due to rocks an briers, etc. I don't see the above sled doing any better on such rough ground probably Ok on leaves/grass tho...

I hunt smaller areas and strips of timber. When I get a deer, will drag or load it on the 4 wheeler rack and homeward bound. A larger 2 wheels dump type yard cart would work too.

I hunt atop of bluffs. All I need do is get the critter to the ridge-top and start down. With the leaves and slope the animal generally beats me down.

Bone it where it its the ground and bring it out in a packframe. I wouldn't drag a deer 10 feet.

Here in Vermont we have to present the field dressed deer carcass to an official check station within 48 hours of a kill. Our whitetail bucks generally average 120 to 200 pounds or more. ATV's aren't allowed on state lands during hunting season so dragging is the option we have. I tie the front legs up over the antlers and then run a rope to a drag bar or connect to a commercial deer drag harness which goes across my chest. This eliminates a lot of the snags. Slow and steady or go out and get help. Often when there is snow I use a kids plastic sled.