How do you do it

[RedCloud]

I'm sitting here trying to figure out my best options to get deer out of the field and into the bed of the truck. I've racked my brain trying to come up with a solution that doesn't kill me in the process.

Here's the scenario for today's conditions: Not enough snow for a sled to be helpful, too much mud to drive the truck through the field, your by yourself and need to move the deer a minimum of 600 yards through a muddy field. Once you get it out you have to pick this thing up and get it into the bed of the truck all by yourself.

I've done deer carts in the past and during conditions like described above it can be a battle. The skinny Wheels sink in the mud and your slipping/falling trying to pull it. Early season you have crops you have to deal with. In my younger days I just drug them out and I just delt with it and my body hurt for a day or two and was back to normal. If I do this NOW I'd be feeling it for a week and probably not getting it picked up and in the back of the truck after getting it out. The only way I can think to do this now would be to quarter it and pack it out.

So, what do you do?

Feel free to add your scenarios and maybe we can help each other out with ideas or tips and tricks to get deer home.

 

[Bluefinn]

Plastic sled.

 

[Gern186]

Why not call a buddy or 2 for help to drag it out? Gut it and leave it lay so it cools off until help arrives.

 

[Tipmoose]

Agree with the idea of a plastic sled to get it out. Once at the truck, consider a hitch hauler.

Other than that, can you back into a ditch, open the tailgate, and haul the deer over from the far side of the ditch?

 

[giles]

Break it down and pack it out. Can buy a backpack frame pretty cheap. Game sacks are cheap. Some rope and one or two trips and you're done.

 

[Hedgelj]

Either

Plastic sled.

This, imo best and easiest option and can use sled to lift into truck depending on quality of sled

or

Break it down and pack it out. Can buy a backpack frame pretty cheap. Game sacks are cheap. Some rope and one or two trips and you're done.

 

[RedCloud]

Why not call a buddy or 2 for help to drag it out? Gut it and leave it lay so it cools off until help arrives.

I have nobody to help. I have 2 friends locally I could call but both work days so that's not an option.

 

[giles]

Look up "Alice packs with shelf" or something of the like. I used to sell the shit out of them for this. If you think a deer from 600 yards is bad...drop a moose in a swamp

 

[RedCloud]

How well does a plastic sled work in the mud?

 

[the Lackster]

Look up "Alice packs with shelf" or something of the like. I used to sell the shit out of them for this. If you think a deer from 600 yards is bad...drop a moose in a swamp

I hunt the mountains a lot and I still remember the first animal I packed out. That was the day I determined I would never drag a dang deer again!

 

[RedCloud]

Look up "Alice packs with shelf" or something of the like. I used to sell the shit out of them for this. If you think a deer from 600 yards is bad...drop a moose in a swamp

Big game like moose and elk your only getting it out if you break it down and make multiple trips. Unless you have pack mules and even then your breaking it down into multiple loads and going to need 3 to 4 mules to get it out lol.

I'll check the back packs out. God knows I'm not getting any younger and my body reminds me daily lol.

 

[RedCloud]

Agree with the idea of a plastic sled to get it out. Once at the truck, consider a hitch hauler.

Other than that, can you back into a ditch, open the tailgate, and haul the deer over from the far side of the ditch?

Only a shallow ditch so it would offer little help. Good option if available. I've loaded mowers and quads that way lol.

 

[Tipmoose]

Only a shallow ditch so it would offer little help. Good option if available. I've loaded mowers and quads that way lol.

I suppose you could use ratchet straps and plywood like this. Never tried that way myself.

 

[Boarhead]

 

[giles]

I hunt the mountains a lot and I still remember the first animal I packed out. That was the day I determined I would never drag a dang deer again!

I have no idea why people in Ohio don't do it. I think it could only be from years of having to take the entire animal to a check station. Now that we don't have to, this is a non-issue. Don't even have to gut the deer to do this either!

 

[Gern186]

So are you telling us you killed a deer?

 

[Big_Holla]

How well does a plastic sled work in the mud?

Years ago I shot 2 does back on the corner of a muddy field. My buddy took a jet sled and I took my game cart. He was able to get back to the road way faster and I had to contend with the cart wheels sinking in the mud and constantly fighting to get where I needed to go. Not to mention the cart kept tipping when one wheel would sink deeper than the other. I always said I should design a game cart that had big wheels and the weight distribution much lower than the cart I had. Perhaps using a sled with fat wheels in the back end would work too LOL!

 

[RedCloud]

View attachment 190404

I've looked at those before and I'll probably end up with one. I'd use it for hunting as well as a few other things at my mom's place. Do you use one?

My local TSC's don't carry any sleds like this in store anymore and you have to order ship to store. At that point you might as well shop Amazon and have it sent to your house lol.

 

[Jackalope]

After helping Danman and us deciding to pull the front shoulder and backstraps after yotes ate the ass end out of his deer; I don't know if I'll ever drag another one more than a hundred yards to the truck. I've always been a hang, skin, and then saw the pelvis in half guy. This last deer I went hunting for the hip joint. Super damn easy. I can't see a reason to drag them more than a hundred yards.

 

[Boarhead]

I've looked at those before and I'll probably end up with one. I'd use it for hunting as well as a few other things at my mom's place. Do you use one?

My local TSC's don't carry any sleds like this in store anymore and you have to order ship to store. At that point you might as well shop Amazon and have it sent to your house lol.

My buddy has one we have used several times when the corn was up and couldn't get a quad back plus have used it hauling gear back to hang some stands in the summer where we couldnt drive back without damaging crops.Works great.