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How do you get your deer out. What kind of terrain?

Outdoorsman33 said:
I was gifted a gorilla cart last year and have been using it for duck decoy hauling mostly. But my original purpose was for hauling pigs and deer out of public land. The area I hunt your not suppose to even gut an animal on the refuge. But what I hunt is a lot of boggy flat ground pow meadow infested stuff. I find that a good wagon with a wide set of tires even though heavy mostly works good for me in boggy condition.
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good to know. I was looking at a gorilla cart for the same purpose
 
An Otter sled is much better than a Jet Sled because it has much thicker plastic and won't get holes in the corners after a few recoveries. I wore out 3 Jet Sleds before buying an Otter and because I drive and hunt out of a mini van and put my deer in the back, I can't have an inferior Jet Sled that leaks the blood onto my carpet because there are holes wore in each of the back corners. As far as dragging deer out, I use the Otter if there is snow on the ground or across weeds fields, but if going through the woods, a Versa Cart is by far the best cart ever made and like a bunch of the stuff I've owned and used for years, I don't know if they are still made. The Versa Cart has angled wheels for going over deadfalls and side hills and the deer's body carcass rides right on top of the axle so it's body weight is always wanting to bring the cart back down. I've owned a lot of carts in which the carcass laid on a platform of some kind of platform which was above the tire height and the tires were straight up and down. Every time I would go on a side hill or one tire would go over the end of a log, the weight of the deer being so high would want to tip the cart over.

I've attached a picture of a deer going into my van via the last Jet Sled I ever owned, a pic of a buck being taken out on a Versa Cart, a seriously old method of dragging and a deer being taken out over the snow in an Otter sled. Once a deer is brought out on my Versa Cart, I tip it over into the Otter sled and then put up my homemade ramp and slide them into the mini van.
 

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John Eberhart said:
An Otter sled is much better than a Jet Sled because it has much thicker plastic and won't get holes in the corners after a few recoveries. I wore out 3 Jet Sleds before buying an Otter and because I drive and hunt out of a mini van and put my deer in the back, I can't have an inferior Jet Sled that leaks the blood onto my carpet because there are holes wore in each of the back corners. As far as dragging deer out, I use the Otter if there is snow on the ground or across weeds fields, but if going through the woods, a Versa Cart is by far the best cart ever made and like a bunch of the stuff I've owned and used for years, I don't know if they are still made. The Versa Cart has angled wheels for going over deadfalls and side hills and the deer's body carcass rides right on top of the axle so it's body weight is always wanting to bring the cart back down. I've owned a lot of carts in which the carcass laid on a platform of some kind of platform which was above the tire height and the tires were straight up and down. Every time I would go on a side hill or one tire would go over the end of a log, the weight of the deer being so high would want to tip the cart over.

I've attached a picture of a deer going into my van via the last Jet Sled I ever owned, a pic of a buck being taken out on a Versa Cart, a seriously old method of dragging and a deer being taken out over the snow in an Otter sled. Once a deer is brought out on my Versa Cart, I tip it over into the Otter sled and then put up my homemade ramp and slide them into the mini van.
Click to expand...

I saw your youtube video with your mini killing van. pretty rad set up. im sure the otter sled would be the best option. its big and heavy duty, low to the ground but im trying to get the wife onboard with the gorilla cart because it will double as a wheel barrow for yard work. one day when im old and grey, and the kids are out of the house, ill have a vehicle designated to hunting like your van. those are some dandy bucks there john. where they all public land bucks?
 
I dragged my share of deer, now they allow you to quarter them out.

Guys would come up and hunt by me and I would let them drag their own.
They would say, aren't you going to help me? I would say nope! There ain't no one here to help me drag mine and I was born alone too. I didn't come out holding nobody's hand!
Yeah, the good old days!
 
I have the one wheel rackpacker. You hold around 40-50% of the weight on your hands but you can go side hill with it. It would be very hard to do with the two wheel carts. The felt weight is reduced more if you use the shoulder/neck strap. This cart is not the most comfortable to use but it is a very good solution in nasty uneven terrain. Much better than caveman dragging anyday. I also have my Dad's old 90's US made two wheel super cart from cabelas back in the day. It holds 500 pounds and can be atv towed. We still use it some. Its a better cart to use if the terrain allows, but it's bulky and heavy. The rackpacker is farily lightweight and folds down to backpacking size. Glad I have both.
 
I've never used a sled but I've used my share of carts and bought the hawk crawler last year. Best decision ever. The cart is so easy to pull and goes over pretty much anything with easy. Just need to add an electric motor for hills and I'm set!
 
Off trail a few miles in the more rugged areas of WV, it is nearly impossible for 1 average man to drag a deer out going up and down hills and (small) mountains. If you do it, then unless you are very young, you will likely end up needing physical therapy. So, I quarter and pack out unless I am close, have a lot of help, or it is all downhill. Once I tag the deer, I take everything back to the truck and retrieve my kill pack (hauler frame with tarp, led hang lights, gloves, bags, bone saw, and tie downs) and then go back in.

It looks like Sportsman's Warehouse discontinued the Rustic Ridge freighter frame, which I have and is very nice for the money. This seems like the same thing but rebranded.

north40.com

Timber Ridge Icon Frame Pack

This frame pack features an adjustable upper frame design with a durable pin/split ring feature and an adjustable shelf via web side supports.
north40.com north40.com

or this

also price on this one is nice, if it works

www.sportsmans.com

Fieldline 31.5 inch Haul Frame

Fieldline 31.5 inch Haul Frame - This haul frame was designed to carry heavy loads with comfortably. Great to carry firewood, trolling motor, chain saws and wild game.
www.sportsmans.com www.sportsmans.com
 
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raisins said:
Off trail a few miles in the more rugged areas of WV, it is nearly impossible for 1 average man to drag a deer out going up and down hills and (small) mountains. If you do it, then unless you are very young, you will likely end up needing physical therapy. So, I quarter and pack out unless I am close, have a lot of help, or it is all downhill. Once I tag the deer, I take everything back to the truck and retrieve my kill pack (hauler frame with tarp, led hang lights, gloves, bags, bone saw, and tie downs) and then go back in.
Click to expand...

Our mountains here in Xtreme North Georgia are probably similar in topography to what you guys deal with in WV. Last year I started hunting out of the JX 3 hybrid, and it will legitimately carry some real weight. I have my small kill kit with gloves, a couple of knives, and a few game bags with me on every hunt so I’m hoping not to have to make two round trips to the truck. A lot of times I am a Solid 45 min hike one way from the truck so doing that twice can make for a long night since I mainly hunt afternoons until dark. Meat spoilage is also a real concern during early bow season, so trying to get everything out in one trip has some real benefits.
 
Kyhunter1 said:
I have the one wheel rackpacker. You hold around 40-50% of the weight on your hands but you can go side hill with it. It would be very hard to do with the two wheel carts. The felt weight is reduced more if you use the shoulder/neck strap. This cart is not the most comfortable to use but it is a very good solution in nasty uneven terrain. Much better than caveman dragging anyday. I also have my Dad's old 90's US made two wheel super cart from cabelas back in the day. It holds 500 pounds and can be atv towed. We still use it some. Its a better cart to use if the terrain allows, but it's bulky and heavy. The rackpacker is farily lightweight and folds down to backpacking size. Glad I have both.
Click to expand...

I use a rackpacker also. It works pretty well when pulling them out of the thick stuff...
 
Packing out is the way to go if you can. I had to drag out 7 deer in one weekend on a draw hunt last year, and that gets old quick. Sleds and carts don't ride well over hurricane-downed trees and cypress knees. Does aren't that bad to drag if they're under 100lbs and you gut them. But dragging a buck...whew.
 
Blinginpse said:
Always pack out with my exo

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Click to expand...

How do you like your Exo? I've only seen one of them in the wild and never got a chance to try it out. I currently use a Kifaru but I've heard good stuff about Exo too
 
jspradley said:
How do you like your Exo? I've only seen one of them in the wild and never got a chance to try it out. I currently use a Kifaru but I've heard good stuff about Exo too
Click to expand...
I love it. I was between kifaru and exo and I called elknut and talked with him for about a hour on them and he sold me. It packs great carries great when just hiking with small things and cinches down small. Frame dont seem to have much twist or huge either. I been considering selling it and upgrading to a newer and bigger pack. I have the 3500. A buddy ordered the 5500 last year. Ive been eyeing the 4800s

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129f44d1d6e6a07cbf47a78a9afe7db5.jpg

Packing unless it’s real close then I’ll take them for a sled ride.


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Hawk Crawler for around the camp and on the lease.
Break them down, bag’em and pack’em out in a MR popup 28 on public.
 
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