I'm amazed as I talk to people how many say, such and such is a great area but the drag is too long for me to hunt there.

So I'm curious, how many folks let the drag affect where you will hunt? This is the frist year I've ever given it ANY consideration only due to my achilles. It probably won't alter my plans i'll just have to call some buds for help if i'm lucky.

I dont really pay any mind to it, I need to make the kill before i can worry about dragging. However the weather will play a big part in how far I hunt, if it is really hot i will try not to walk as far.

Nope.

Ditto. I'd drag all day if it meant getting the deer I wanted. Speaking of which, it would probably be a good idea to do some more running to get the lungs used to working under a heavy load.

The one thing to remember is that some guys could literally have miles of drag while some other guys may max out in their state to only a few hundred yards. Terrain also could vary significantly. I have relatively flat terrain and a mile would really be about my longest drag from anywhere that I hunt, so I can say that it isn't an issue. However, I am not going to dog some guy who says that he won't hunt 5 milesdeep in steep terrain.

Huntingson:

if you're gonna have a multi-mile drag.....why wouldn't you just butcher the animal in the field?

Fair question?

Nope not at all. To me thats part of the hunt.

A lot of states don't allow it. Maybe all of the states with land as big as I am talking about do, but I just don't really know. If I could quarter the deer in the field, then I could honestly say I would not even consider the distance. With that said, carrying 60-70 pounds on your back over uneven terrain is not something that every person can physically do. In fact, the vast majority of people could not for any real amount of distance. I hauled out my and my dad's caribou last week, and let me tell you it is definitely a work out.

Absolutely a fair question.

Doesn't concern me. I don't drag animals out; I field dress, hoist them up, finish the job, and leave the bones, hide, and other junk in the woods for the critters to eat. Buzzards have to eat same as worms

How far I have to drag a deer doesn't even enter my mind its all part of the hunt!