I'm interested in people's opinions about drag sleds such as the Dead Sled or Deer Sleigh'r, or even about homemade sleds. My particular interest is in sleds that work reliably in snow and in cold weather.

I should mention that I am not a hunter. My interest in drag sleds is for rescuing injured backcountry skiers. I'd like to learn from hunters' experience with drag sleds. I hope that's OK to use this discussion forum for this purpose. I figure that the same information would also be useful for people who hunt in snow and cold weather, too.

This past March, I was part of a successful backcountry rescue in Vermont. I was the injured skier. Because of what I would later learn was a broken leg, I could not walk. My skiing buddies put together a makeshift "sled" using stuff that people happened to have with them: a foam pad, some straps, and somehow they used my backpack as a harness. They successfully dragged me almost a half a mile to the nearest snowmobile trail, where the EMTs could get to me with their snowmobile-based rescue equipment.

The backcountry skiing organization involved (Vermont's Catamount Trail Association) is using this as a learning experience to be better prepared for future rescues. (The rescue this past March was the first one in the 25 year history of this organization.)

I saw the Dead Sled in the Sportsman's Guide mail-order catalog, and, when I read the consumer reviews online at cabelas.com, I learned about the Deer Sleigh'r. I started an email discussion with some of my fellow skiers about whether we could use such products - putting aside the funny product names - to rescue living human beings. Or, at least, learn what works and what doesn't work. I figure that there is more actual real world experience with drag sleds as used by hunters than there is from rescuing injured humans. (I guess that's a good thing that there are more successful hunters than there are injured skiers.) So I'd like to learn from that experience.

There were some reports, in the consumer reviews at cabelas.com, of product failures in cold weather. Some people said that the tie-down straps on the Dead Sled broke off from the sled in cold weather. Some people said that the plastic in the sled (I think this may have been both for the Dead Sled and the Deer Sleigh'r) could get brittle and break in cold weather.

So that's my question: what works (or doesn't work) in cold weather and snow?

Thanks very much.

You should look into the SKED stretcher. Much more durable than a drag sled for deer.

Definitely looks very durable, but it looks like something that you wouldn't be able to pack "just in case". You'd have to keep it in the car, and go back and get it if it were needed.

I've had / used the Deer Sleigh'r for many years. On snow, mud, wet leaves, etc. it works great. It's lightweight and easily packable. However, if traversing rocky trails, creek beds (or the like) it may be a bit "bruising" to the passenger as it's relatively thin plastic. Hope this helps.

I used a black plastic sled for a few years until I lost it.The sled measured approx 6' long and 3' wide.It worked great even on dry land it made the dragging easier.It had grommets in each corner and along the sides,for tying the deer on.It was lightweight and could be packed in easily.
I would only use it on deer though because the plastic is thin.A person would feel every rock or stick he got dragged over.

I had a deer sleigher, mag size as I recall, that worked well for dragging out deer whole and elk quarters. The problem with using this setup for a live human is the haul rope must be tied directly to the object being dragged. Tying direct to the deer sleigher with the haul rope won't work as the plastic, as rugged as it is, will fail where the haul rope is tied to it.

The deer sleigher would need to be tied onto the human, and the haul rope tied directly to the human, not the deer sleigher. If you are not already injured, you soon will be as you get dragged by your neck or ankle across deadfall, rocks and brush.

You likely will need to look at something with some structure, such as a toboggan, to haul a live human.

I use the Jet Sled. Works great , I have the 54 x24. I've spoke to a bow tech who liked my sled and said he tried the Dead sled(If that's the one that rolls up). He said it was horrible, flipped over, took a long time to unroll and attatch the deer etc. It may be nice to have one to pack in not knowing if you'll need it but if you know you have a body to drag out your bettwer off with the Jet Sled. Also you can haul supplies in or use it as a tobogan if need be. Thick enough to last many trips over rocks. Also you can buy some kind of slats to protect the bottom.
http://www.shappell.com/imagelibrary.html

http://www.shappell.com/images/JetsledsTopView.pdf

The Rapid Deployment Craft is simply the best, fast-response, rescue sled available at any price. The craft surrounds one or more rescuers in an ultra buoyant and protective inflated perimeter. The rescuer or rescue team can easily carry the 50-pound RDC and attach the rescue sled tow harness to a snowmobile, personal water craft, boat or other tow-in vehicle.

The RDC tows and tracks well on water and is easier to pull than hard hull rescue sleds or rescue platforms. It is self righting in the event of a capsize and will paddle easily by one or two rescue team members.

The RDC tows incredibly well behind a snowmobile when used for patient transport or equipment hauling. Its 48 inch wide track area allows the RDC to float extremely high on the snow, creating substantially less drag for the snowmobile than the more typical "hard" sleds weighing 250 or more pounds that ski on narrow runners and dig deep tracks into the snow. The RDC is an excellent choice for avalanche rescues or cold weather search teams working on snow or ice.

The RDC is perfect as rapid response rescue equipment and should be part of every rescue responder kit. Here's why:
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