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Getting your harvest out

mattsteg said:
The problem with deboning is that I'd end up losing many of my favorite cuts. No shanks, ribs, whole hams, crown roast/rack of venison, etc. I kinda like leaving the shoulders bone in too, but that's mostly down to laziness to be honest. I imagine deboning the neck would be a bit of a pain in the field too. Something's gotta give if you're deep in, but wherever possible I'm keeping everything short of the head, tail, spine, lower legs for food purposes.
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This is true. You lose meat in exchange for convenience. If I'm hunting closer in or at my lease, I will drag one to the skinning shed occasionally for ribs, neck, tenders, etc. But I've put three deer and a pig, plus oodles of small game, in the chest freezer this year. That's just a lot of butchering.

Most of my deer gets cooked as steaks, or cut into chunks for stew, grinding, or BBQ. Fancy I ain't. Cut that booger up and go kill another one is my modus operandi.
 
Nutterbuster said:
This is true. You lose meat in exchange for convenience. If I'm hunting closer in or at my lease, I will drag one to the skinning shed occasionally for ribs, neck, tenders, etc. But I've put three deer and a pig, plus oodles of small game, in the chest freezer this year. That's just a lot of butchering.

Most of my deer gets cooked as steaks, or cut into chunks for stew, grinding, or BBQ. Fancy I ain't. Cut that booger up and go kill another one is my modus operandi.
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We pretty much just do whole tenderloins, steaks, burger, & stew meat too. Should make butchering up easy if it comes to that.
 
Noisiest game cart in my state. Nicknamed it “the war wagon”
 
Nutterbuster said:
This is true. You lose meat in exchange for convenience. If I'm hunting closer in or at my lease, I will drag one to the skinning shed occasionally for ribs, neck, tenders, etc. But I've put three deer and a pig, plus oodles of small game, in the chest freezer this year. That's just a lot of butchering.

Most of my deer gets cooked as steaks, or cut into chunks for stew, grinding, or BBQ. Fancy I ain't. Cut that booger up and go kill another one is my modus operandi.
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I hear you on the butchering...I have 2.5 deer in the freezer from this past season, with a few cuts still in holding pattern...

I pretty much fully deboned one (other than shanks) due to time, space, and season constraints, and did more bone-in stuff with the other 2.

The problem I have is that I really enjoy hunting, butchering (which takes me way too long depending on the cuts I'm going for), and cooking, and don't really have nearly enough time for all 3.

The only cuts that I make that are not really compatible with quartering are e.g. standing rib roasts, and I really only need a couple of those a year. Depending on pack distance/terrain and resolve it's easy enough to pack out ribs, neck meat, bone-in quarters, etc.
 
Thanks for the responses guys. I’m gonna give this a try tomorrow. I drug all my old tree gear out this morning & am gonna work on silencing the saddle as much as possible today with electric tape & bike tire tubes. I wanted to give it a shot before making the investment. Plus, a Krestel probably wouldn’t be here before season ends anyway. All of our stands on the family property are permanently in their spots & I don’t wanna mess the property up by looking for a place to saddle hunt this close to season ending. I know I can’t use my spikes on the public land I’m going to, so I’m just gonna have to use an old set of steel tree sticks for now. This setups gonna be heavy unfortunately. That’s kinda why I was wondering what to do with a deer if I get lucky enough to add that weight. Guess I’ll go to the truck & drop my gear off then go back & deal with the deer. I’ve spent many hours in this harness & know it won’t be as comfortable as a saddle designed for hunting, but it should give me an idea of how it’ll be.
BFBA276E-5F06-4C5F-869A-C94FF324C5B6.jpeg
 
patriotoutlaw said:
Jet Sled normally. Deboned, in pack if necessary. Canoe if lucky.
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Canoes are awesome.
c55f8d5e3b64774abc8be7c5791a9cd8.jpg


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Unless i am 100 yards or less from truck, quarter and debone every time. I will never drag another deer.


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spear0 said:
Jet Sled!! I've successfully drug out 4 deer and a hog this year with ease through the thick brush downed trees and swamp. I simply modified the rope to make it longer. It will even pull behind a bike. best $40 ive spent so far. View attachment 9240
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My jet sled just got delivered.

Needed it badly a month ago when I killed 2 bucks that were walking in a group of 4. Fire cuts were all freshly disked/churned up and unwalkable or unable to use a game cart.

Took 5hrs to get them out whole(regulation on this FL wma)from a little over 1.5 miles back.

This sled would’ve helped greatly.

Got 2 more quota hunts still so hope to put the sled to use.


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I used a sled for the last few years, this year I bought a used versacart... it's big, but i have enough room in the minivan... Now the only way i'll use a sled is if I'm hunting in a swamp or the snow is deep..... I'm not even sure it's legal to quarter a deer in the woods here in MD, I'll have to look into that...
 
realtown12 said:
I used a sled for the last few years, this year I bought a used versacart... it's big, but i have enough room in the minivan... Now the only way i'll use a sled is if I'm hunting in a swamp or the snow is deep..... I'm not even sure it's legal to quarter a deer in the woods here in MD, I'll have to look into that...
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I just spoke to Maryland DNR a couple weeks ago and asked that question. I called the Baltimore office and was told that as long as you quarter the deer where it falls it is legal. You're not allowed to move the deer and then quarter it. For instance you cannot drag it to the parking lot and cut it up there.

I was also able to confirm that screw in steps and Spurs are legal on Maryland public land. The regulations just state that everything has to be removed from the tree when you leave.
 
GCTerpfan said:
I just spoke to Maryland DNR a couple weeks ago and asked that question. I called the Baltimore office and was told that as long as you quarter the deer where it falls it is legal. You're not allowed to move the deer and then quarter it. For instance you cannot drag it to the parking lot and cut it up there.

I was also able to confirm that screw in steps and Spurs are legal on Maryland public land. The regulations just state that everything has to be removed from the tree when you leave.
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Good to see your state has some common sense. That's exactly how the rules should read. Don't throw guts off bridges or to the side of parking lots, and take your junk with you when you leave.

It's not that hard.
 
spear0 said:
Jet Sled!! I've successfully drug out 4 deer and a hog this year with ease through the thick brush downed trees and swamp. I simply modified the rope to make it longer. It will even pull behind a bike. best $40 ive spent so far. View attachment 9240
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I bone mine out, but that JetSled has piqued my interest....how sturdy is it? Obviously it’s pretty stout if it will hold up to dragging through the woods with the weight of a deer in it. I’m thinking about getting one to use as a decoy sled.
 
Nutterbuster said:
Good to see your state has some common sense. That's exactly how the rules should read. Don't throw guts off bridges or to the side of parking lots, and take your junk with you when you leave.

It's not that hard.
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The State of Maryland gets the majority of itwrong but, I agree this one they got right. Hopefully it's a while before the legislation realizes they got it right and therefore votes to make it wrong but, it's only a matter of time.

Edit: to be fair, I am generally happy with the Maryland DNR and their regulations. It's the state legislation I tend to have "different opinions" than.
 
I will never drag out another again. I debone using the gutless method and pack out every one on my back. My Cabellas pack works perfect and fits a deer nicely with the head strapped on the outside.
 
dalton916 said:
I bone mine out, but that JetSled has piqued my interest....how sturdy is it? Obviously it’s pretty stout if it will hold up to dragging through the woods with the weight of a deer in it. I’m thinking about getting one to use as a decoy sled.
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Pretty stout. There is a better sled out there but they wanted 179 for shipping alone so that’s a hard no. I could buy 4 jet sleds for that price. It’s held up great after 5 trips ranging 1/2 to 1 mile trips with loads. The last one was on gravel and had no issues or noticeable wear. That YouTube video of Greg and Ernie visiting John he talks about the sleds and his van.


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GCTerpfan said:
I just spoke to Maryland DNR a couple weeks ago and asked that question. I called the Baltimore office and was told that as long as you quarter the deer where it falls it is legal. You're not allowed to move the deer and then quarter it. For instance you cannot drag it to the parking lot and cut it up there.

I was also able to confirm that screw in steps and Spurs are legal on Maryland public land. The regulations just state that everything has to be removed from the tree when you leave.
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What if it runs to the parking lot and dies?
 
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