DIY Deer Cart

[Weldabeast]

I built one like that. The only problem is, you're carrying half the weight of the deer and depending on the deer you shoot, it gets real heavy fast. If you're shooting deer that won't get heavy on the cart, just put it in your back pack and hike out with it.
You're better off getting a cart that carries the deer over the axle so the axle carries all of the deer and all you have to do is pull it.

Unless the ground is sugar sand. Some designs will work better on certain ground/soil than others

 

[Kurt]

My Dad made a stretcher type with a single wheel which worked great when you had two people to stabilize it. Also the center pivot was difficult to maneuver in the woods by yourself. I'd like to see a similar design but with two medium sized wheels 18 inches or so apart for stabilization and the wheels 2/3 of the way back and directly under the load. Oh and the handles should be long enough and should flare so you can get your body between them so you can push it or pull it like a wheeled barrel and a wide strap like a yoke to help get some of the weight off the hands and and onto the shoulders. All built with the lightest strongest material available, and it should fold.

 

[Blacksmith]

I've built a couple carts in the shop but still like my 5' kids sled. Installed ropes on ea. side. Tie deer down and straddle it to slide into SUV or truck. No blood on vehicle. If you quarter you can lay meet right on clean sled for the trip out. No game bags.

 

[ricky racer]

If I was going to build a diy cart I would make this kind of design...

View attachment 29160

I happened to see this one on Craigslist today....

 

[Weldabeast]

I happened to see this one on Craigslist today....

Dang....I never find cool hunting stuff on craigslist.

U should do the standard craigslist reply and ask if u can trade the deer cart for a broken mountain bike and some prechewed gum.....that's pretty much what I get whenever I put anything for sale on there

 

[Weldabeast]

It’s hard to beat that Academy cart.. love mine, going to be rigging up an attachment for my mnt bike before this season.



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[Kurt]

I use a sled now

View attachment 29182

That's a fine looking setup. It looks like a cart design that would work well.

 

[Weldabeast]

I use a sled now

That's a fine looking setup. It looks like a cart design that would work well.

Once its loaded dont get off the bike.....front tire wheelie. I have a sled and the cart and use them together ....drag outta the swamp with sled to the road and load the sled on the cart for the easy pull on the limestone road

 

[Weldabeast]

I will eventually make the cart mount off the axle to keep it from the wheelie....should have done it that way first but went for the quick easy way out

 

[countryboy3006]

I tried making one using old bike parts. First deer hauled on it was going over a side hill and both wheels folded in half. Then we had to drag the deer and the cart back out to the truck. I bought a Cabelas cart after that but the last couple years I have been using a sled.

 

[Nchunter1989]

I will eventually make the cart mount off the axle to keep it from the wheelie....should have done it that way first but went for the quick easy way out

That’s my plan, drop the handle down. Luckily on most of the public land I hunt here in NC, there are decent logging trails to use.


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[Nomad Hunter]

Best design I ever saw for a deer cart was the NXT Versacart (google it). A gentleman in SC was making them for years and stopped a few years back.
The cart design was incredible (light weight, double wheel low center of gravity).
What I wouldn’t give to trade in my current aluminum cart for that incredible design!

 

[boyne bowhunter]

Not a complete DIY deer cart but I added another axle and set of wheels to my old, cheap cart. I had the scavenged the wheel/axle combination from an old scrap lawn mower I had to clean out of my mother's house with this intent but I just finally got around to fitting them on.

 

[seuss79]

Used child bicycle trailer 30-40 dollars. Jet sled on sale for 30 bucks. 1 stick 3/4 conduit under 5 dollars. Bicycle kid trailers come with handles and a front wheel to use as a stroller as well. I think this is the best of both worlds because i can use the sled to pull the deer through the rough stuff. I then put on the trailer for an easy push/ride back.

 

[ricky racer]

Used child bicycle trailer 30-40 dollars. Jet sled on sale for 30 bucks. 1 stick 3/4 conduit under 5 dollars. Bicycle kid trailers come with handles and a front wheel to use as a stroller as well. I think this is the best of both worlds because i can use the sled to pull the deer through the rough stuff. I then put on the trailer for an easy push/ride back.

That's awesome!!!

 

[five]

Used child bicycle trailer 30-40 dollars. Jet sled on sale for 30 bucks. 1 stick 3/4 conduit under 5 dollars. Bicycle kid trailers come with handles and a front wheel to use as a stroller as well. I think this is the best of both worlds because i can use the sled to pull the deer through the rough stuff. I then put on the trailer for an easy push/ride back.

I already have a jet sled and had been envisioning this setup for awhile, once I finally get a bike for hunting. Nice to see it in the wild.

 

[Jason_Haught]

The cart from Academy is hard to beat!

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[Patriot]

Used child bicycle trailer 30-40 dollars. Jet sled on sale for 30 bucks. 1 stick 3/4 conduit under 5 dollars. Bicycle kid trailers come with handles and a front wheel to use as a stroller as well. I think this is the best of both worlds because i can use the sled to pull the deer through the rough stuff. I then put on the trailer for an easy push/ride back.

This right here is money! This is exactly why I started this thread, I knew there was a cheap effective idea out there! Bravo Seuss!!

I bet I find a used kid cart on Craigslist for $10!

 

[PEEJAY]

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I keep one of these in my truck with a ratchet strap. Makes a great low price deer cart I'm my opinion. I did replace the tires with foam filled.

Just pull it behind me

Tried one of these one time. If you are on uneven terrain these DO NOT WORK. It will flip and roll and make you cuss more than one of them hippity hop rappers. For rocky slopes a commercial deer cart or diy of similar design will help so much IMO. I have never been so frustrated in my life. Dragging a big buck through my public land hunting terrain is pretty much a non option if you want to make it out tbe same day. Even a half mile drag with a big 2 wheeled cart still takes us almost 1.5 hrs in the spots we hunt and we are in great shape..it took over twice this with a dolly. Too many fallen trees and steep uneven terrain. I would use one on flat or hilly terrain with trails but just a heads up to people who hunt similar ares as me.

We are allowed unlimited does during archery season in my region of MD but the torture isn't worth the meat after you shoot a couple. The big bucks end up thick in these spots though because most sane hunters don't want to deal with the drag out and they get almost no pressure.

 

[Hardly_Hangin]

If you don't have a bike - In my past lock-on days I would tie my drag rope to the butt area of my harness and pull in four-wheel drive, which was nice because I could grab small trees to help pull myself up hills (mostly hills where I hunt).

If I got a cart I'd probably attach it to my diaper for the same effect. Wouldn't be as easy as a full body harness, those shoulder straps really helped bare weight. But If I was making a special trip back to the truck for the cart I'd put it on. You'd definitely need two wheel cart for that though