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rondog
08-27-2016, 22:50
I'm looking for advice about deer sleds, or whatever they're called, things to drag a deer out with. I'm not sure I'd be able to pack out quarters on my back, some serious lumbar problems kinda limit my weight carrying abilities.

So, anybody have any experiences? Looks like there's thing's like plastic sheets to slide them on, things to wrap them in, on up to plastic "boats". Looks to me like the boat-like sleds would be a good bet, but I don't know.

And no, please don't even suggest horses or mules, no f'ing way.

Lars
08-28-2016, 00:03
A lot of it depends on the country that you hunt. A sled won't be worth a damn if you have to go up hill, but a wheeled cart is big a bulky, but a little easier to maneuver around rocks and other obstacles. The area we hunt neither one would do much good because of the deadfall and oak brush.

asmo
08-28-2016, 00:06
And no, please don't even suggest horses or mules, no f'ing way.

ATV?

I've used PVC pipe and a yoga mat (with a tarp), to get a nice cow elk out with once. Damn near killed me. Dragging sucks.

Irving
08-28-2016, 05:26
Game cart, but as mentioned, if they fall where there is a lot of dead fall, you'll half kill yourself just getting to where you can use a cart.

buffalobo
08-28-2016, 06:59
Blackmail and bribery or stick to hunting the prairie.

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Great-Kazoo
08-28-2016, 07:17
Depending on your budget, these are the way to go. Colorado company, built for the backwoods.

http://www.quietkat.com/products/quietkat/

https://www.quietkat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/2016QK-transparency.jpg

buffalobo
08-28-2016, 07:37
Your best bet is bribery. Either a friend(who is allowed to accompany you according to permit but not allowed to hunt) or take the rancher up on his offer to assist retrieval. Both cases a thank you gift/bribe offer goes long ways.

Best bet is deal with rancher. He is familiar with terrain, probably has horses or ability to access land with ATV that no else can.

Otherwise a buddy and travois.

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buffalobo
08-28-2016, 07:47
https://goo.gl/images/PsDIuf

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bczandm
08-28-2016, 08:49
The terrain varies so much that you need to be thinking about that and figure out what is going to work best based on the ground in the area you hunt. I've tried a few different things and the comment on the horse/local rancher seems to be the best. ATV's are great but most areas don't allow them off road. Carts are ok but the one time I tried one it was difficult at best as it was tough trying to navigate trees, narrow pathways and other obstacles. The best most versatile option in my opinion is a horse, buy or rent. They can go anywhere but need to be fed, transported and are expensive. You might be able to find an rancher to help out but at least some of them don't like the hunters. If I was going to try that I'd go up a weekend or two early and try to make contact with one or two. Other hunters in the area might help but they are there to hunt and usually don't want to take the time to move someone else's animal.
I've yet to find the perfect solution but will follow the comments to see what others have to say.

rondog
08-28-2016, 09:20
Horses/mules/ATV's are out. I'm NOT going to that expense. I have no place to keep any of them, can't afford them, or the trailers to haul them. And I can't ride horses anyway. The whole idea behind hunting, to me anyway, is to fill the freezer. Spending thousands of $$$$ to do it is kinda pointless.

The property is low rolling hills out east on the plains. It's a creek bottom with lots of cottonwoods and thick, lush grasses. But there is a lot of deadfall, just no boulders and mountainsides. Met the property owner yesterday and he offered to help retrieve, but I'd like to save that as a last resort, don't want to impose.

Reckon I'll get one of those plastic sleds, some rope and a pulley. Lots of trees there to tie off to. We're talking less than 1/2 mile to the truck anyway, likely FAR less.

rondog
08-28-2016, 09:22
https://goo.gl/images/PsDIuf

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Um, no. Put 24" wheels on that, and maybe.

buffalobo
08-28-2016, 10:22
Horses/mules/ATV's are out. I'm NOT going to that expense. I have no place to keep any of them, can't afford them, or the trailers to haul them. And I can't ride horses anyway. The whole idea behind hunting, to me anyway, is to fill the freezer. Spending thousands of $$$$ to do it is kinda pointless.

The property is low rolling hills out east on the plains. It's a creek bottom with lots of cottonwoods and thick, lush grasses. But there is a lot of deadfall, just no boulders and mountainsides. Met the property owner yesterday and he offered to help retrieve, but I'd like to save that as a last resort, don't want to impose.

Reckon I'll get one of those plastic sleds, some rope and a pulley. Lots of trees there to tie off to. We're talking less than 1/2 mile to the truck anyway, likely FAR less.
How is it expensive if rancher rides over on horse or ATV and assist dragging/carrying out animal? I didn't mention spending any money. Bribe/gift for assistance with animal is typically an offer of a portion of said animal or maybe a little labor for some sort of improvement to the place.

I can understand not wanting to impose but the man offered. Ranchers/land owners do not make such offers frivolously. I would jump all over such an offer, could lead to a great friendship.

Good luck, looks like a good spot for prairie hunt.

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Irving
08-28-2016, 11:46
So did you put in for white tail then?

rondog
08-28-2016, 13:14
So did you put in for white tail then?

No, applied for mulies. But my license just says "deer, female". So I don't know if that means either species or what. Gotta find out.

I bought a leftover tag last year, and it definitely specified "whitetail only".

rondog
08-28-2016, 13:19
How is it expensive if rancher rides over on horse or ATV and assist dragging/carrying out animal? I didn't mention spending any money. Bribe/gift for assistance with animal is typically an offer of a portion of said animal or maybe a little labor for some sort of improvement to the place.

I can understand not wanting to impose but the man offered. Ranchers/land owners do not make such offers frivolously. I would jump all over such an offer, could lead to a great friendship.

Good luck, looks like a good spot for prairie hunt.

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Oh I'll definitely take him up on his offer, if I need to! I'll do my best, but it ain't worth injuries.

Irving
08-28-2016, 14:57
No, applied for mulies. But my license just says "deer, female". So I don't know if that means either species or what. Gotta find out.

I bought a leftover tag last year, and it definitely specified "whitetail only".

Well, I remembered last year when you found out that your white tail tag was pretty much in a private property only area. I thought since you were from the midwest you were used to hunting whitetail, and the area you described sounds like whitetail habitat. If you applied for mulie, your only looking for mulies. Good luck this year. At least if you get something down, a female mulie won't weigh as much as a buck, or God forbid a bull elk or something.

rondog
08-28-2016, 17:14
Well, I remembered last year when you found out that your white tail tag was pretty much in a private property only area. I thought since you were from the midwest you were used to hunting whitetail, and the area you described sounds like whitetail habitat. If you applied for mulie, your only looking for mulies. Good luck this year. At least if you get something down, a female mulie won't weigh as much as a buck, or God forbid a bull elk or something.

Actually, no, this will be my first time actually going out hunting for deer. I've taken one before, but that wasn't really a "hunt".

FWIW - I'm kinda interested in this product, would love to hear any experiences with it!

http://www.deadsled.com/index.php?route=common/home

Irving
08-28-2016, 17:21
EDIT so I'm more clear.

That's probably the best bet for you given the distance and the terrain. While it is compact, I wouldn't carry it with me on the hunt, I'd probably leave it in the truck, especially if you're a mile or less away. Good luck, I hope you get on this year!

encorehunter
08-28-2016, 21:26
We use something like this to get people out of confined spaces and such, but it is called a SKED. They work very well for obstacles. In our training last week, we pulled a 180lb dummy through several obstacles including tight 90 degree corners and it works great. Even pulling the dummy through wire boxes was fairly easy. Being able to stand up and pull, pick your paths and it should be fairly easy, unless you are goong uphill.

Irving
08-28-2016, 22:29
When you get your dead sled in, check the strap it comes with and buy an extra one, just in case. Keep it rolled up with the sled, then if someone else shows up and is willing to help, you can hand him a strap as well.

rondog
08-28-2016, 22:32
I'm also thinking that rather than try to climb up hills and such while pulling it.....it might work well to tie an extension rope on it, climb first, then pull it up after. Also a lot of trees to tie a snatch block to.

Hummer
08-28-2016, 23:41
Key to dragging a deer any distance is to always go downhill. Even the strongest most fit hunter will have difficulty going upslope beyond a few hundred yards. The plastic sleds will slick the movement especially over snow or smooth grass but dragging a whole animal is a major heave even downhill. I've dragged many deer and pronghorn up to 2 miles myself but wouldn't attempt it uphill. So, I tend to hunt uphill from my camp or truck so I can pack out downhill.

For packing animals from below camp or beyond dragging distance the best option is to cut it up and pack it out, by horse, atv or backpack. A 140-200 lb. deer will bone out to 35-45 lbs. of meat. That's easily doable in two trips, maybe one. I've packed several sectioned elk in three trips, but I wouldn't recommend it, and won't do it again. Like Rondog, I have lumbar issues, probably from dragging and carrying big game. :>) I've packed maybe 250+ deer, pronghorn and elk, including about 80 of my own.

Deer and pronghorn are fairly small animals. The process of butchering into meat for the feezer involves reducing big pieces into small pieces. Go prepared to do that in the field, cleanly and efficiently. You'll reduce the carry weight 75% by skinning and deboning before transport. Hunt light and carry sharp knives and game bags for the first trip out.

Depending upon circumstances, carrying could be much easier than dragging but you'll have to invest the time and effort butchering in the field. All that will pay off in fine meals over the next year.

meatman
08-29-2016, 07:10
Pulled a mulie doe out with a dead sled a couple of years ago. When it was on snow, it was great, but on dirt/track some rocks punctured through the bottom and caused a bit of drag. I had a buddy help me drag it out just over a mile. It was a good way to get out of there quickly since we wanted to get back to catch some of the Broncos game. I threw that one away but would probably get another if I was hunting that area again.

rondog
08-29-2016, 08:31
This is private property that I'd like to hunt again. I don't think leaving more than a gut pile would be appreciated.

TRnCO
08-29-2016, 09:10
a few years ago I drew a special elk tag, which meant I would be hunting alone. I quartered the elk up and hauled the first load/quarter down(key word here is DOWN) on my pack/back that I carried every where while hunting. Once I got the first load back to camp(which was about 1.2 miles), I grabbed my kiddie sled, which was a plastic sled that kids use to sled in the snow, and my shoulder harness with a D-ring in the back that I took back up to the elk and then was able to haul another hind quarter down along with one other bag of meat, and then finished the job with one more load. Mostly downhill to camp and it worked really well EXCEPT over dry grass on the flat. Over rocky terrain and over pine needles it worked really well. The bottom of the sled almost had a few wholes worn all the way through by the time I was done, but dang, for a $10. piece of kiddie sled, it worked a lot better than me carrying all the loads down on my back.
If it were me, I'd plan on quartering the deer right where it drops. Do the gutless method. You can probably carry the whole deer in two easy loads on your back, especially if you take a little extra time and de-bone from shoulders. The only bone I ever carry out is the femur in the hind legs.
Don't worry about leaving a bone pile/gut pile. Coyotes out in that country will have it cleaned up pretty quick to the point that you won't even be able to find where the deer laid. Mother nature is good at clean up. As Clint Eastwood would say, "buzzards and worms gotta eat too", or something like that.

rondog
08-29-2016, 10:48
Good point, I'll ask the landowner what he prefers. He may not care at all. He did mention that he'd like to thin 'em out some, I told him I'd be happy to help!

Irving
09-18-2016, 16:49
This is the game cart we used this year on a cow elk.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/hunting/after-the-shot/game-carts-carriers%7C/pc/104791680/c/104689980/sc/104353380/cabela-s-deluxe-game-cart/1870761.uts?destination=%2Fcategory%2FGame-Carts-Carriers%2F104353380.uts

It balanced very well, and the cart itself was very sturdy. It states a weight capacity of 500lbs. My dressed out cow weighed out at 300lbs exactly in the condition in which we carried it out. The wheels on the cart were terrible and it was a race between enough spokes falling out that the wheels collapsed, or the wheels breaking off completely at the axles. Each time a spoke would work loose, it would wrap itself around the axle and create extra drag, just like having a brake on the whole time. While it DID get the elk the three miles back to the truck, we had to go extremely slow to make it back at all. With wheels that weren't garbage, it would have been much more easy. All that said, if this were a deer, this would be a one man job and you'd be whistling a happy tune the whole time. We had four men getting this elk out and it was a very rough, very long ordeal. Make sure a cart has good wheels, and I highly recommend one. This one is going back to Cabelas for sure.

Hummer
09-18-2021, 13:12
This was a good discussion so I thought I'd revive it to see if anyone has had additional experience with particular game carts or sleds. With both pronghorn and deer hunts coming up I've been concerned about how I'm going to get any animals out, especially since I hunt solo. My days of dragging them over the ground are over and I'm not keen about deboning in the field and carrying the weight on my back.

Three years ago with help from six friends we packed a bull moose off of Pawnee Pass with three sleds over 8" of snow. https://www.rei.com/product/162103/paris-company-pro-expedition-sled The sleds are narrow at 20.5" wide which made it possible to get around rocks and logs along the narrow trail. A wider sled would have been near impossible to use. So, two years ago I used one of the sleds to haul a pronghorn a mile and a half over the NW prairie. It worked okay downhill and over good grass but uphill and over rocky terrain was a slog with too much friction. The sled needed wheels.

Cabela's in GJ has only the cheapest $99 game cart in stock so I did a little web searching and pulled the trigger on a Hawk crawler game cart. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1019987761?pid=506815
It's heavy compared to other carts but has four heavy duty wheels. Wheels seem to be the weak link in many game carts. This model might also be useful for pulling firewood logs from the forest.

87618

Irving
09-18-2021, 14:46
After using a game cart two years in a row, I vowed to never use one again and quickly learned how to just quarter the animal.

To be fair to game carts, and those who can't carry stuff out, I think in hind sight, I'd still prefer to quarter, but then just pack the quarters onto the cart. We just threw a whole elk on there, and it was brutal. Part of having a cart is more capacity, so for something large enough where you want to keep the ribs and neck and everything, I'd just make more, easy, trips with the cart/sled.

Hummer
09-18-2021, 20:24
I can hardly imagine a whole elk on a single sled. Seems half an elk on a sled could be manageable by two men if the terrain allows.

For elk, I usually hire an outfitter friend to pack the meat but I always have it "quartered" and often in game bags ready to pack on the horses or mules. Since I worked for the outfitter, (actually his grandfather), I'm accustomed to cutting elk into pieces for their preferred packing arrangement in panniers. The quartering is done in seven sections; the four legs, the front and back sections of the spine cut between the 4th and 5th ribs, and the head and neck including any antlers. If the head will be mounted then the hide is caped in the field if time allows. This is also a good way to quarter for backpacking.

But my upcoming pronghorn and deer hunts are solo affairs where I couldn't justifiably afford to hire an outfitter even if one was nearby. Thus the game cart search. I did find one interesting carry system, the motorized ePack Wheel. https://www.packwheel.com/
It's pretty pricey at around $2300 and looking at videos and I wonder how well it could be managed by a 70 yr. old in typical Colorado mountain terrain. I like the idea but not the prospect of getting it back up if it tips over and down a slope.

Irving
09-18-2021, 20:38
I had an idea like that when we were using the game cart. I feel like you might run into trouble using that in a walk in only section, but maybe not since they recently allowed e-bikes in more places.

When are your seasons?

Hummer
09-18-2021, 20:58
My pronghorn buck hunt begins Oct. 2, up near Craig. Bull and cow elk, and bear begin Oct. 30, in the Flat Tops near Buford. Buck deer begins Nov. 13, in area 21, a trophy managed area south of Rangely and west to the Utah border. Took 7 years to draw that tag. It will be a challenge because I don't know the area.

Gonna be busy driving back and forth between east & west slopes. I just hope Glenwood Canyon doesn't get closed again.

Just think if I had the time to hunt multiple states. I'd have to buy a new truck. Hmmm....

Hummer
09-18-2021, 21:05
I've thought about riding my mountain bike in after harvesting an antelope or deer, strapping it over the center bar and walking it out....

Irving
09-18-2021, 21:44
Same seasons as me. I might be around for the November stuff, but I'll have been away from home for two months by then, so might not fly with the wife if I peel off to help pack.

Hummer
09-18-2021, 22:35
I appreciate the thought. I expect to manage just fine. Are you hunting 34 again? Maybe we can get together for an after hunt supper some evening. You could visit or I could drive up the road. My wife packs good dinners.... It's maybe a half hour drive apart from 23/24 to 34. But then, hunting from dark to dark we're all tired after a long day in the woods.

Irving
09-18-2021, 23:14
Yeah that's the plan. That's my big group hunt with the guys you met.

whitewalrus
09-18-2021, 23:38
I have the hawk you bought. Only used on fairly flat ground on the plains. Should would pretty good for your pronghorn on the plains, but I wouldn?t pull it up into elk country. I?ve seen videos of people pulling it up mountain trails, but as you already found out the cart is quite heavy.


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Hummer
09-19-2021, 00:08
Thank you for your comments! I haven't seen or used one yet but hope it arrives before pronghorn season. I figured it would have very limited use in my elk hunting area. Just too steep and too much dead fall to go very far.

whitewalrus
09-19-2021, 08:49
If you hunt back off a trail, you can use the cart to get it down the trail. I wouldn?t take it off road where there is a lot of deadfall or it?s steep. This at least gets you part of the way with ease.

I would recommend rigging some type of harness with it so you can pull it without using your hands. This would make it much easier. Still thinking on what I would do to make this. Maybe even just run some straps around the handle and lash onto a pack?


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Irving
09-19-2021, 08:57
I used a strap tied into my belt so I could move the weight with my legs, then steer and stabilize with my arms. That actually worked best getting the cart in, when it was empty.

Hummer
09-19-2021, 09:22
I have some semi rigid pex tubing I can use as a handle and run a rope through it back to the cart handles, kind of like a water ski tow rope in reverse.

Having never used a game cart before this will be a game changer. :)


If only there was a video of Irving and buds wrestling a cart along the trail with a whole elk on it. At least someone shot it beforehand.

Irving
09-19-2021, 10:01
Imagine moving a gun safe on a furniture dolly with bicycle wheels through the woods for 2 miles. Shot elk at 8am ish. Returned to truck at 5pm ish. Two guys taking turns on game cart, two guys dragging a calf. Dropped the calf off halfway and went back with empty cart to retrieve it after getting mom into bed of truck.

rondog
09-19-2021, 11:01
I dragged this beeotch (and all my gear) a good 800 yards through hilly pasture and sagebrush to a spot where I could get to with my truck. Thought I was gonna die!

Luckily, two CPW lady Rangers came along to ask me if I'd seen any suspicious activity (poachers), and they helped me get the doe in my truck.

One of them politely pointed out I didn't SIGN the tag in the doe's ear, and both were impressed with all the preparations I'd made to deal with a dead deer all by myself.

87623

Hummer
09-19-2021, 19:31
That looks like a pretty good method for snow covered ground but something with wheels will move easier on dry ground. ( How come we have to relearn this the hard way?) I'd like to build a convertible wheel base for my snow sled.

In 2013, I hunted pronghorn in NW CO. I took a buck on a snowy morning with 4" of snow on the ground. It started as an easy drag but the snow melted quickly and ground turned to mud making the drag into a high friction slog. It became a major heave with every step. At that point I should have cut the animal up and carried it the last 1/2 mile in 2 or 3 sections. A CPW officer showed up and helped with the last 300 yards. What a hero in service!

Five hours later I got home, quartered the carcass and got it all in the refrig. I began to shower and realized I was having a stroke. Must have had some clot kick loose in all the heaving. Took two aspirin and went to bed. All is well and I'm little worse for the wear. Lesson learned though. Exercise vigorously but don't push it to the Nth degree.

rondog
09-19-2021, 22:28
That looks like a pretty good method for snow covered ground but something with wheels will move easier on dry ground. ( How come we have to relearn this the hard way?) I'd like to build a convertible wheel base for my snow sled.

In 2013, I hunted pronghorn in NW CO. I took a buck on a snowy morning with 4" of snow on the ground. It started as an easy drag but the snow melted quickly and ground turned to mud making the drag into a high friction slog. It became a major heave with every step. At that point I should have cut the animal up and carried it the last 1/2 mile in 2 or 3 sections. A CPW officer showed up and helped with the last 300 yards. What a hero in service!

Five hours later I got home, quartered the carcass and got it all in the refrig. I began to shower and realized I was having a stroke. Must have had some clot kick loose in all the heaving. Took two aspirin and went to bed. All is well and I'm little worse for the wear. Lesson learned though. Exercise vigorously but don't push it to the Nth degree.

Jesus, dude - a STROKE? And you just "meh, two aspirin and hit the fartsack"? Tough bastard ain't ya?

Irving
09-19-2021, 22:39
Right?

"So there I was in the shower, smelling toast... "

Hummer
09-20-2021, 02:18
Nuts, or stupid I suppose, but I'm kind of a fatalist. Turned out for the better because if I'd gone to the hospital I would be on anti clot meds for the rest of my life. Went to the doc a few days later. There was no evidence of arterial plaque, clots or heart/brain issues. Just a freak thing. So, eight years later I keep going hunting, climbing mountains and living life. And from now on I'm going to use horses or wheels to get an animal out.

whitewalrus
10-11-2021, 10:35
I have some semi rigid pex tubing I can use as a handle and run a rope through it back to the cart handles, kind of like a water ski tow rope in reverse.

Having never used a game cart before this will be a game changer. :)


If only there was a video of Irving and buds wrestling a cart along the trail with a whole elk on it. At least someone shot it beforehand.

Did you get a chance to check out the new cart with your pronghorn you got?


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theGinsue
10-11-2021, 17:12
Here is the deer sled I've used on a few occasions (very similar to the one Rondog uses):
87910

https://smile.amazon.com/DEER-SLEIGHR-Magnum-Game-Sled/dp/B001CJI7XA/ref=smi_www_rco2_go_smi_g4368549507?_encoding=UTF8&%2AVersion%2A=1&%2Aentries%2A=0&ie=UTF8

Sportsman's Guide has these ~$9 cheaper than Amazon.

The problem with these is the rough terrain I've had to haul through has shredded them every time and I've had to buy a new one before the next season. At about $30/pop, this starts getting cost prohibitive for a cheap bugger like me.

One of my hunting partners used a Jet Sled type of sled to help another hunting partner haul out an elk. Beyond the initial struggle of dragging the sled in to the carcass, what he found was even trying to keep the load low, any slight uneven terrain at all (and the ground they were covering was very uneven) the sled wanted to flip over. Each time he had to stop, flip the sled back over and continue to drag it out - for another 15-20 feet until it flipped again. I considered the idea of adding outriggers to prevent the flipping but with various rocks, brush and trees it wouldn't work.

I've since given up on the idea of using a sled and have opted to just use a game hauler pack with a fold-down shelf (similar to this one but mine has blaze orange fabric inside you can pull out and over your game):
https://www.sportsmans.com/hunting-gear-supplies/hunting-packs/freighter-frames/kelty-cache-hauler-565-liter-freighter-frames-olive/p/1117548?channel=shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwY-LBhD6ARIsACvT72PbkvQZPLY66BA2ok6Vc0NXYcJRCXnDQFLUQ cCf5M3XzzHvQHtCE2MaAhSNEALw_wcB

Hummer
10-11-2021, 22:23
Did you get a chance to check out the new cart with your pronghorn you got?



Yes, i did use the Hawk cart. Sorry I didn't take pictures. After downing the animal I walked 0.60 miles to the truck for the cart and pulled it fairly easily back to load it. It was mostly level gravel-dirt grassland over several hills with maybe a net 250 ft. elevation gain.

It was mid day and pretty hot so I mostly skinned the buck for mounting and to help the meat cool. I loaded the animal whole with the head toward the handle and took a considerable time lashing with nylon straps. It was front heavy with too much weight on the carry handle end but instead of taking time to reposition and re strap, I found it easier to push the cart rather than pull it, which is what I did all the way back to the truck.

Btw, I did go prepared with a rope and semi rigid pex tube to pull the handle from my belt line but it didn't work given the balance off the cart axle. Pulling or pushing with the handle and keeping the load balanced over the axle worked best.

It worked okay, far better than dragging over ground by the horns which I've done there several times. But I had a difficult time with the with the collapsible bottom and handle sections folding closed and couldn't tighten the single pin bolts tight enough. I had read about this in reviews and thought my straps could hold it closed, but no. Upon return home I have fixed the problem by adding second attachments by drilling additional holes in the tubes and using clevis pins to hold it together. I've also assembled a kit of extra bolts, nyloc nuts and a wrench strapped to the frame as backup in the field. I'm pretty confident it will do well for my next packout so long as the terrain and trail allow.

I think it will be a useful tool and will take it along with a snow sled and a backpack for whatever situation I might encounter.

zimagold
10-26-2021, 21:32
Went out with two friends first rifle, one shot his first Elk which was awesome but he also hurt his leg hiking and could not help with recovery of a decent sized Cow. My other hunting partner and I ended up hauling out a boned out cow elk in two trips. 165lbs meat, the head for CWD testing, and my injured partners gear. One load on our backs and the rest with a game cart. By the end of the game cart trip I wish we would have just packed the rest out on frame packs in a few smaller trips. 3.6 miles from the Jeep combined with dead fall and a mixture of mud and snow made the game cart decision suspect.

If someone happens to try the electric packwheel Hummer mentioned please post some feedback. Seriously pondering it for next year.

Hummer
10-27-2021, 08:05
Went out with two friends first rifle, one shot his first Elk which was awesome but he also hurt his leg hiking and could not help with recovery of a decent sized Cow. My other hunting partner and I ended up hauling out a boned out cow elk in two trips. 165lbs meat, the head for CWD testing, and my injured partners gear. One load on our backs and the rest with a game cart. By the end of the game cart trip I wish we would have just packed the rest out on frame packs in a few smaller trips. 3.6 miles from the Jeep combined with dead fall and a mixture of mud and snow made the game cart decision suspect.

If someone happens to try the electric packwheel Hummer mentioned please post some feedback. Seriously pondering it for next year.


Gosh, I need to bring you along on my elk hunts.

Watching the videos on the electric packwheel, I thought tip overs would be a bitch. And I don't think it comes with kickstands. I doubt it would be so easy as they show in most terrains.

zimagold
10-31-2021, 09:45
Gosh, I need to bring you along on my elk hunts.

Watching the videos on the electric packwheel, I thought tip overs would be a bitch. And I don't think it comes with kickstands. I doubt it would be so easy as they show in most terrains.

Fair points on having to stand it up, the 200lbs rating seems ambitious. I ran into someone on the same hunt with the non-motorized pack wheel. They had only used it for one mule deer pack out but said it managed well as long as you spent a good bit of time balancing the load.