Packing a deer out

[Creamer]

I'm curious if anyone has or is doing this here in Ohio. Unless I read the regs incorrectly, once you check in a deer electronically, you can quarter and pack a deer out. Last season, I bought a deer cart, and used it on both deer I killed. On the private land deer, with easier access to the deer, the cart was great. The public land deer, due to where I killed it, getting the cart all the way to the deer wasn't an option. Doing some quick research online, you can grab a cheap framed pack from a place like Sportsman's Guide (military surplus) that I think would be big enough to pack out a deer. Has anyone been doing this, packing a deer out? I wouldn't be going nuts with a high-end frame pack like a Kifaru for something I'd likely need one time a year (maybe) but I could see it being a viable option to more easily get a deer out from deep in the woods.

Curious to hear what you folks have done or any opinions you'd have on it.

 

[jagermeister]

Yes, perfectly legal to do so. I have a couple buddies that have done it a time or two with success. I would do it, but only if it was my last resort... at least for the first time. I should probably just try it and see how it goes. Who knows, might be really slick. There's been more than a time or two that my public land sets have been so far back that I've passed up does because I thought it was too much work getting one out.

 

[Dustinb80]

I havent humped A.L.I.C.E. in a long long time.

 

[Creamer]

Yes, perfectly legal to do so. I have a couple buddies that have done it a time or two with success. I would do it, but only if it was my last resort... at least for the first time. I should probably just try it and see how it goes. Who knows, might be really slick. There's been more than a time or two that my public land sets have been so far back that I've passed up does because I thought it was too much work getting one out.

This is exactly what I am thinking. I'm not the type to pass up an easy shot at a juicy doe. It goes against my nature. I know guys out west are packing out mule deer, and that has to be a heavier load than a midwestern whitetail doe. A large buck would be a different story, probably.

 

[brock ratcliff]

This is exactly what I am thinking. I'm not the type to pass up an easy shot at a juicy doe. It goes against my nature. I know guys out west are packing out mule deer, and that has to be a heavier load than a midwestern whitetail doe. A large buck would be a different story, probably.

If you debone in the field, you’re only looking at about 50% of the field dressed weight An adult whitetail would only be 50-60 lbs of pack weight. Much easier than dragging.

 

[giles]

I’ve never packed a deer out, but I’ve done many other animals. If solo hunting, I wouldn’t think twice about packing one out. I’ve had great success hunting next to roads the last couple of years. Otherwise, you probably would’ve seen this done already.

 

[OhioWhiteTails]

Definitely something I might try out.

 

[5Cent]

Did it 3x's in PA and 1x in Athens, but only because I needed to. I always kept the head and hide in tact and wrapped the meat with it.

Athens: Super hot on early season on public land (Waterloo/Zaleski) area and way back after the shot. I shot her at first light, tracked her up and over 3 ridges/valley and made it back to my Jeep around 9:30pm. No way I would have gotten any meat out of that trip if I had to drag it or come back in the AM.

PA: 45min hike back logging road 251 in the AM to "the rock" or 60mins to "the point" is a 4-5hr drag out on a good day, when there is snow, if they don't die at the bottom. There were 3yrs in a row where there was no snow. I was in highschool, in shape at the time.

I never owned a deer cart but they became infamous the last few years hunting in PA. Get it to the ridge/logging road and you were in business.

 

[Creamer]

Did it 3x's in PA and 1x in Athens, but only because I needed to. I always kept the head and hide in tact and wrapped the meat with it.

Athens: Super hot on early season on public land (Waterloo/Zaleski) area and way back after the shot. I shot her at first light, tracked her up and over 3 ridges/valley and made it back to my Jeep around 9:30pm. No way I would have gotten any meat out of that trip if I had to drag it or come back in the AM.

PA: 45min hike back logging road 251 in the AM to "the rock" or 60mins to "the point" is a 4-5hr drag out on a good day, when there is snow, if they don't die at the bottom. There were 3yrs in a row where there was no snow. I was in highschool, in shape at the time.

I never owned a deer cart but they became infamous the last few years hunting in PA. Get it to the ridge/logging road and you were in business.

I've fished in around Zaleski, those hills are no joke.

 

[switchhitter]

I have packed out a couple mule deer. We used the gutless method but did not bone out the meat because there where 2 of use. In Ohio a few years back, I could not drag a deer out by myself so I called it in the split at the hips drug the hind quarters then the front. the drag was only 4-500 yards but all up hill and I just could not drag the deer.

 

[Creamer]

I went ahead and ordered a military surplus pack with frame that I think will do the job. It's an ACU pack, 4860 cubic inches. More than likely I put it on the frame wrong, but it is holding and seems pretty secure. Mapping another new spot on public earlier this spring pretty much sealed the deal on wanting to try packing a deer out. Another secluded spot, just under a mile from where I'd park.

 

[giles]

Use electrical tape to tie up all those long ends. Roll them against itself and then tape them at your desired spot.

 

[Creamer]

Use electrical tape to tie up all those long ends. Roll them against itself and then tape them at your desired spot.

Good idea, will do.

 

[rooster85]

I’ve packed out deer, elk, bear and even hogs. I used to backpack hunt quite often, I’d never really heard of folks dragging deer out until I moved to Ohio. The public land I hunt in SE Ohio I always pack out deer, it’s faster and easier and it’s what I know lol. I run a Mystery Ranch and my badlands depending on where I’m hunting.
A comfortable and light pack is priceless.


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[giles]

I also prefer the tall skinny frames. I look forward to seeing how this works out. Might want to throw a ratchet strap or two in that pack. Be able to hold that meat in the middle a little easier.

 

[cspot]

I went ahead and ordered a military surplus pack with frame that I think will do the job. It's an ACU pack, 4860 cubic inches. More than likely I put it on the frame wrong, but it is holding and seems pretty secure. Mapping another new spot on public earlier this spring pretty much sealed the deal on wanting to try packing a deer out. Another secluded spot, just under a mile from where I'd park.

I bought the same pack from Ebay as they are pretty cheap on there used. I used mine to haul some stuff when doing some work at camp. Seemed to work well. Haven't had a chance to use it on a deer yet.

 

[Creamer]

I also prefer the tall skinny frames. I look forward to seeing how this works out. Might want to throw a ratchet strap or two in that pack. Be able to hold that meat in the middle a little easier.

It’s got several compression straps so I should be able to cinch them down once I get it loaded. I’ll find something, maybe my kid, to stick in there and test it.

Just kidding. I wouldn’t do that to my kid. Probably.

 

["J"]

I’ve packed out deer, elk, bear and even hogs. I used to backpack hunt quite often, I’d never really heard of folks dragging deer out until I moved to Ohio. The public land I hunt in SE Ohio I always pack out deer, it’s faster and easier and it’s what I know lol. I run a Mystery Ranch and my badlands depending on where I’m hunting.
A comfortable and light pack is priceless.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

At one point in Ohio’s deer hunting regulations it was illegal too quarter out a deer. Had to bring it whole to the check station to get it registered. Luckily, that went too the wayside....

 

[giles]

It’s got several compression straps so I should be able to cinch them down once I get it loaded. I’ll find something, maybe my kid, to stick in there and test it.

Just kidding. I wouldn’t do that to my kid. Probably.

Maybe try getting 20 or so cats in it?

 

["J"]

Maybe try getting 20 or so cats in it?

Or a dozen lab puppies....