Senior Hunter's
 

Realizing your approaching senior hunting stadus.
But you still love to make that trip up to the Adirondack s
For the N.Z. big game season.
But you know you can't make that 400 yd. Drag with a 170 lb.buck
Back to the truck/camp.and your by your self.
Your old hunting buddy just can't make the trip any more
Or has passed away.
What would you due, any senior s out there with any
Pointers . Or tips.

For hunting alone I found a farm where the farmer has a front loader tractor. He dumps the deer in the car's trunk for me!

buy a Kawasaki terry-x, I do not drag deer anymore
RR

Where I hunt in northern MI I can't get to where I hunt other than by foot and the cart I have isn't good in 95% of the area because of several hundred yards of swamp to get through where a cart won't go. I started in my early 60s quartering/boning them them out and backpacking them out just like we do deer and elk out in Wyoming and I'm still doing that at 67. If you have physical disabilities that prevent you from doing that, I guess you either need to find a younger hunting buddy that can help you or hunt where you can access a deer with a quad like RR mentioned. I'm not a quad guy myself, have never had or needed one, and hope I never do. They can be real handy though if used responsibly.

Theirs the wheeled deer carts. Like this one.
http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/produ...4&type=product

Define "senior"....... :eek2:

I'm 59 and hunt the Uwharrie Mountains here in the Piedmont of North Carolina, have since the mid-80s...

I hunt alone and I don't drag deer...I punch the tag, call them in with my cell...I then use a rachet pulley and get them hung in a tree...To do this, I have to gut them, pull them to a good tree, I like to find 2 trees about 6 feet apart...I either screw in an eye bolt or tie a rope around the tree about 7 feet up...I then pull the deer up with the rachet pulley...Once I can't pull anymore, I tie the rope to another tree with the rope about 3 feet off the ground...Then by walking up the rope I can pull the deer the rest of the way up...

I then bone it out, put the meat in garbage bags, cut the antlers off with a small saw and come out with it...

Here is one I killed a couple of years back...




Here he is hung, ready to skin...

I am 64, hunt where I want and use a deer cart to get my deer out. If I can not get it out I have friends that will come help me.

Thanks for the replys. Down home I use a quad.
But up in the Adirondacks mtns. Its for ever wild
And that means no motorized vehicles aloud.
All most 20 yrs.ago when I used to hunt up north
I built a buck cart. And took my gear back in with
That. They work pretty good but you need some kind
Of trail to follow.
I have been looking at the folding meat/ bone cutting
Saws. I think that is going to be my only way to pack
One out.
Me and my uncle hunted up north for many yrs. But that
Trip is out for him now at 87 yrs Young. he can still
Get around pretty good. He still can get on his old oliver 550
Tractor and brush hog a field. God bless um.
I haven't hunted up north in many yrs. I went up last
Yr. As a test on my own. And now I have the bug.again
I just want to be set up for hunting alone in the mtns.
Sorry for this long post. Thanks again.

Nchawkeye. Senior is when your not over the hill yet
But you have one h-ll of view from were your standing

As mentioned by RR A 4 wheeler is a blessing if you can use one where you're hunting. NY State can be a PIA when it comes to motorized vehicles on public land.
The "game cart" that Bbj mention works well, I've used them.

A wile back I had this thing that rolled up like a sleeping bag
It was made out of some kind of plastic and you raped the deer up
In it and slid him out on that. I don't think I ever used it.
I sure it got tossed out yrs. Ago.
I mite look for another one like that, even if I use it too bring
Out the nine quarter s. Then drag some more out.

I am going to try to post some pic. From my trip last yr
So you can see some of the landscape. Later today.
The place I tryed to reach I never got too. Because of all the
Blow down trees. There was all kinds of deer signs.in there
But I was afraid of twisting a ankle or leg trying to get over and under all that mess.

Trying to fig. Out how to post att.

This is what you should get if you want a good quality saw that breaks down and is easy to carry . The handle is very ergonomic and I've used mine to not only do deer, but also elk. It's sturdy enough to cut leg bones, open up the chest cavity of a bull, etc. and also comes with a wood cutting blade. I bought mine with a leather case, but even though they mention it in the write up it appears all they offer now is the black synthetic, but the price is very good. I also have a one piece that I bought years before this one and each side of the handle folds down onto the blade. It's okay for deer, but it strains my hand compared to this one that breaks apart and goes together like a hacksaw.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Wyomi...h-All+Products

In 1996 I shot this buck on top of Great North Mountain which separates va/wv, dragged him 1.6 miles to the road, promised myself that day I would never do that to myself, shot the buck at 9:20, loaded him at 5:05.

I then made this

dragged many of deer out on it, and one 200# bear, my hunting area was .9 miles from my truck, took an hour to get the bear out, worked like a charm. that was when most of my hunting was NF and no ATV's allowed, now I hunt all private land so this is the way to go
RR

That's a lot like the rig I was talking about.
I am going to look in my stuff and see if I can find that rig.
P.s. nice bucks. And rifle s

If can't find it here's one from cabelas, and Amazon

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Deer-...led/713332.uts
http://www.amazon.com/Unknown-27375-.../dp/B000V6NAIC

You guys are great. Thanks so much
I can't wait for the NZ to open now.

Bbj, those from cabelas work well but rocks shred them, that's why I went the barrel route
RR

I never used them, I just use a Allen deer dragged rope. The last couple I didn't have to drag to far to dad got their on his atv. Yes that barrel looks like it would hold up really better then those I mentioned. I just show them when I was at cabelas back in January. I have and old plastic sled from when I was little that is made of thick plastic I just don't want to drag it with me. Dad has a one wheeled deer cart he bought problem 25 years ago when he bow hunted a reservoir MD, but never used it. It was to cumbersome to take with you and time you co to get it you could about had the deer out.

the hinges and brackets were for takedown, loosen two wingnuts pull two pins, lay 1/2 in the other and use the bolts/wingnuts to hold it togather, drag it with you opening morn, hide it, when you killed something drag it out, take it back the next trip, surprised me,over rocks and leaves even loaded dragging was almost effortless, on sand and grass ya had to pull a bit.
RR

You need to learn to bone a deer in the field, then you won't have to cut through the bones and not need a saw...No need to carry bones out, just added weight...

I do carry a blade for a sawzall with a handle so I can cut off the antlers if need be...

Hunting like this, you learn to cut way back and just carry what is absolutely necessary...I also have a low beach chair hidden in a lap that I retrieve to hunt out of...I'm not carrying a climber that far into the woods...

Find a youngster and teach him your tips and tricks. Taking a young bull to hunt along with you helps us geezers hunt longer. And it helps sustain our hunting future!

JW

until about 6 years ago you had to take the deer to check station whole here, its since changed.
RR

Since i am now a true " Senior Hunter",i have a life time lic.now. I sure want to be able to use it for more than a couple of times!!!!!! I put this plan together:
1 If you can't see your car you went in to far.
2 Don't shoot down hill.
And
3 Make sure you sons are with you.
I no longer meat hunt? I don't care about shooting a baldy. I will only shoot at a deer,with antlers and i must be able to see them at 75 yards with out a scope!
To drag a darn deer cart around you must really be sure your going to get one?

Yep, I understand in some states the laws are different, thankfully here in NC you just have to call them in and get an authorization number...

Most deer hunters should learn to bone deer anyway...It sure make it much easier to process...

I don't look back
 

Something might be gaining on me.

And if you read too much on the internet, it will.

Well Mounting Man I like your plan . But just to give you a idea
If I am a true senior , my first car you put the key in the dashboard to start the car
Then you pulled the choke cable out of the dash , then you pushed
The starter button. And if you wanted to put your high beams
On for the head lights you stepped on a button on the floor.and it didn't
Have power steering or automatic transmission.
No CD player or tape deck just am radio. That took a wile to come on
After you turned it on Cuz. It had tubes in side that had to warm up, before it would play..
So I mite be all most a true senior buck hunter.
I hope a lot more old timers jump on this post .
And give us there take on hunting as we get along in yrs. But still
Have a few good hunts in us.

don't count on those older you than jumpin on this post, they are about all dead, them that ain't ain't jumpin, I remember all the stuff in your post but I was a kid then, mom had a car you could crank start if the battery went dead.
RR

They ain't all dead. My uncle is 87. Still can get up in that tractor seat on his oliver 550
Or his farm all C. And disk the garden.
No computer though. But he loves to sit out behind the barn on opening morning
And take his old marlin 30/30 that he traded his 37 ford for when he came back from Korea, and he needed a deer rifle.

So is there information on here about deboneing
Meat/ in case I want to give that a try.
And about how much longer or quicker is it to
Get your game out of the woods by deboneing.
And I will most likely be by my self.
Thanks for any help.

Newcomb,you foregot that the windsield wipers quit working going up hill,remember that?Also,in cold weather the darn tires would go bump bump bump,for a few miles! Four wheel drive was in your trunk called tie chains?

remember the old willy's jeeps, had a handle on the wiper in case your vacume ran low and ya needed it bad, that way you had the transmission gear lever to operate, transfer case had 2 levers, and run the wiper, all while driving with no power steering
RR

When I was a kid we had a '37 Ford. The trunk floor was rusted from hauling ice home for the cooler. We got our first tractor in '47 or so, it had petcocks to open before you turned the flywheel to start it.

About five years ago I came down with heel spurs after deer hunting season. I decided that walking over rough ground was going to have to stop. I also was passing up shots at deer if they were too far from the truck. I found a good used 4-wheeler and bought it. Later I bought a small trailer to haul it on and to pull behind it if need be. I hunt on private land so all is OK with the rules. I find that I enjoy riding the 4-wheeler more than hunting from a blind. I hunt with sons and a grandson, I have them in blinds and I put on about 10 miles a day slowly creeping around. This tends to move the deer so they sometimes go past one of the blinds. I carry a rifle with me and could have shot deer from the 4-wheeler but have not. If walking or dragging a deer a long way is a problem then an ATV is a great thing--if they are legal where you hunt.

I left that stuff out just to get someone to post about it
Thanks guys.
What about the door in the firewall you opened up to get
Heat from the motor compartment.

Have a 78 Chevy c20 that has those doors that opens to get heat from engine. It is also full time 4 wheel drive gets about 2 miles to the gallon but would climb a wall but body is about gone. Also have 51 and 53 ford f2. Booth ran about 5 or 6 years ago. They where my grandfather farm trucks. His first car is still at the farm but just a rusty shell it's a 30 couple ford. Still have the 47 Ford 8n tractor it runs but don't use it anymore.

Well I got a tip for ya if ya drive out across the field
In your car too pick up that white tail you shot and get stuck
Just pull out your bumper jack and jack up that tire that's spinning
As high it will go , and then push the car off the jack to the side
And you will be on fresh ground , now you can go pickup
That deer.
I have to stop talking like this or people will think I am older than dirt.

Just came back from a little gun show picked up my bone saw
Its a Gerber two fold. I have had good luck with there
Multy tools, and knifes. Now I need my sled.

If you owned the farm and had to straighten up the mess made by idiots getting stuck in fields then you wouldn't do that... :(