Getting the deer out of the woods??
 

I am just wondering how you guys get your deer out of the woods. I usually have or get my ATV, and am out of there in no time. I don' t even gut the deer. I just take it home, hang it by the skidsteer, and in five minutes, its hanging in the barn.

The reason I ask is because i shot a mule deer this year 2 miles from the truck. My friend, who supposly knows what he is doing, suggested we cut the deer in half, and each carry out a different part. This worked, but not very well. I was beat carrying the front half over my shoulders. Boy am i glad it was a small one.

I am going to post in the " west" forum, but i was just currious how you guys do it.

RE: Getting the deer out of the woods??
 

Well, I hunt small patches mainly on the East Coast. Rarely is it to far a drag. I' ve had a many though, mainly in NY, that were borderline-to-dang-far(about a mile). In my younger days we just grabbed a horn and started slow and easy. As I aged even slow wasn' t easy. I' d drag the deer 30 or 40 yards, carry my gear 30 or 40 yards further and lay it down, go back and drag the deer to the gear, move the gear(this gave you a breather) etc etc. Still, some of them took a long time and beat you up. Then I bought a deer cart.... better,.... but still with problems. The main one being you had to walk out to get it, walk back in and then they' re awkward on uneven ground. Then a couple years ago I picked up one of these roll up " Deer Sleighs). It straps right on my day pack, only weighs a few pounds and is slicker than grease at skidding out a deer. The ATV would be nice, except a lot of the places I hunt they' re not allowed. If I were going out West and was going to be miles off the road, I' d bone it on the spot and backpack it out. In some places that' s illegal. You have to bring out the whole animal. No way would I carry the front end(or the back) of a deer on my shoulders as you did. That' s an invitation to get shot.

RE: Getting the deer out of the woods??
 

The deer around here don' t get very big. I just use my safety harness as a deer drag which keeps my hands free.

RE: Getting the deer out of the woods??
 

what is the realy name of this product (Deer Sleighs)? sounds like the shiznit


Is this the one you have?

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...ite=DDI%20link

RE: Getting the deer out of the woods??
 

I also hunt in the east and it is always grab and go. I did start hanging them with the quad though. Just tie it on and pull it up. No more hugging the carcass.

Greg

RE: Getting the deer out of the woods??
 

I shot a big mule deer last year in the wilds of Idaho, 5.5 hours later I was still dragging it. That was the first whole animal the the Idahoians that I was hunting with had ever seen come out of the Selway Bitteroot Wilderness. Next time its skin, debone and pack out. Dont have to many alternatives, unless you can get a horse to it.

RE: Getting the deer out of the woods??
 

I just shoot the 40 or 50 pounders and throw them over my shoulder.[:o][:-]:)

RE: Getting the deer out of the woods??
 

benhuntin,you do that up here and you will be getting drug out.Up around here its down if it is brown. I get a neighbor or friend to get mine out.Which aint ever to far

RE: Getting the deer out of the woods??
 

I' ve used both davidmil' s and jeremyk' s methods. The best way for me now-since I use hunt solo--is to attach the deer to my safety harness which keeps my hands from wearing out and becoming the weak link in my drag method.

RE: Getting the deer out of the woods??
 

I went to the local department store and bought a childrens plastic toboggan. Its about 6 ft long made out of black moulded plastic and costs about $14.00 US. It slides over anything and lasts about two seasons with heavy use. I practice dragging my wife around, who weighs a bit less than the deer we have around here (or so I tell her).

RE: Getting the deer out of the woods??
 

I just wound the animal then ride him out of there...

RE: Getting the deer out of the woods??
 

couldn' t do it without my Big-Bear-:D

RE: Getting the deer out of the woods??
 

If I' m hunting with a buddy, we cut a pole and tie his legs around it like the natives did and carry him out with the pole and deer on our shoulders. It' s a fairly easy tote that way. If I' m not hunting with a buddy and it' s a long drag, I go get a buddy.:D

RE: Getting the deer out of the woods??
 

You stab it

You tag it

You grab it

You drag it

:D

RE: Getting the deer out of the woods??
 

Podtine: That' s it. I bought the magnum just for the extra room. I also cut some tie down ropes that were a little heavier braided twine and longer. I took a couple old barrells from some duck and grunt tubes and put the pull rope through them and use them for handles. I found the dang deer wants to tip over on it' s side if you tie it the way they suggest. It' s best to just go ahead and lay it on it' s side and tie the legs in tight to the belly. Slick as greased lighting. I mean, it is NO EFFORT at all to drag with this puppy. The thing I like about it over the kids sled deal is I can just roll this thing up, hold it in place with a strip of duct tape and tie it on my backpack. I also tie all the strings and handles in a bundle and attache them to an old safety belt I had and run it through the rolled up tube and use it like a sling to throw over my shoulder(one arm through, over the head and let it hang across my back or pack. The first one I had self destructed going over some blowdowns but Cabelas replaced it free. I now just don' t put it over stumps and to many downed pine trees with stubs sticking out. It was still usable but had some little slits in it.

RE: Getting the deer out of the woods??
 

yeah, i agree....shoot the little one' s and carry them out. lol

RE: Getting the deer out of the woods??
 

I have a Deer-sleigher (what PodTine referenced). I' ve had it for several years now and it works great. On snow it' s a no-brainer as to how easy they drag. But on dry ground it really works good too. The one I have is pretty scared up from dragging numerous deer. One that comes to mind was a 210# (dressed) bruiser that my buddies and I dragged out " BEFORE" we field dressed it. (A good spot and wanted to hunt it more over the next few days) No snow and it was a good hike. It made that particular job much easier.

Many times I get back in an area by myself and I always keep it in the back of my truck.

RE: Getting the deer out of the woods??
 

Thanks David, I think I' ll have to try one of those deer sleigh' rs. Most of the time I hunt with a buddy, so dragging is never a real problem. But for the times I do hunt by myself, dragging does get a little teedious.

RE: Getting the deer out of the woods??
 

I had to laugh when I read this! I will tell you what, if you through an average size doe in Va. over your shoulder and went on down the road with her I would never say a cross word to you!

I use a hand truck with inflatable tires, or I drag them out with a strap, all depends on the size of the deer and how far the drag.

RE: Getting the deer out of the woods??
 

I just call the wife and kid, he' s 3, and have them drag it out while I go back and pop a cool one and watch the game. :D It helps the wife keep that youthful figure, don' t cha know?;)[&:]

RE: Getting the deer out of the woods??
 

If I' m hunting with my cousin, we' ll end up getting it out with his ATV. If I' m a lone, it' s gruntin' power all the way!!;)

RE: Getting the deer out of the woods??
 

I call my husband, he gets the ATV, mission accomplished.

A friend uses the deer buggy that has wheels and is very happy with it.