transporting big game with carts sleds or packs diy options and opinions

[DFarmer]

We have packed deer and elk long distances in packs. We also have a game cart that has been used to haul a moose.
We have a sled, but have only used it for the kids in the snow .
Use what works with the terrain you will be hunting on.

 

[saskgunowner101]

. Also, always shoot bears UPHILL from your truck!

I shoot game in slough bottoms, at the bottom of hills, and in generally miserable areas. It's just my way.

 

[woodchopper]

I shoot game in slough bottoms, at the bottom of hills, and in generally miserable areas. It's just my way.

oh I have some of the same problems, and when I do shoot something in a good spot they run 50m and end up in some sort of hole under a black spruce thicket.

Fortunately where I'm hunting we have good access for the quads so dragging out of the bush in not a huge issue.

 

[saskgunowner101]

oh I have some of the same problems, and when I do shoot something in a good spot they run 50m and end up in some sort of hole under a black spruce thicket.

Fortunately where I'm hunting we have good access for the quads so dragging out of the bush in not a huge issue.

I think sometimes it's the hunting gods keeping a guy honest, not letting it get too easy! Last year we had drive up service to my deer from the old man, wifes deer in same field we had to sled her deer out 400 m because the same road went to crap (and load the deer in a sled in the back of the car) and my whitetail was bottom of a nasty hill and had to pile up in deep snow/cattails/willows. I hope not to have a version of this hunt if I find a bear this spring. Who am I kidding lol

 

[brybenn]

Ive used pack frames which i liked. Better quality ones enhance the overall experience
Folding deer cart ive found awkward. The angle of pull was wrong and it was tippy when going over logs and uneven ground. They also dont fit between corn rows and thr axel is to low to use thru a bean field.
A military stretcher works if you have a friend.
Fridge cart works for deer and often fits in most corn rows. Less tippy but may need more muscle to get over logs. Works on deer well havent tried bear. Theyre a pain to tie up as theyre shaped like cones.
A wheel barrel worked well while i had broken ribs. Great thru bean fields with the single tire.
An ice fishing sled works well
Until a few years ago i could carry out any whitetail or small bear.
Atv works best. Now i carry a sled and a fridge cart in the truck and also a hitch carrier incase i cant lift the animal into my truck

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

We made a cart out of a length of aluminum ladder, hinged to fold at about the 2/3 mark, then put an axle through at the hinge and use small bicycle wheels;

It has two cables to hold the V shape, adjustable.

....

Sounds smart! I often see ladders on the highway - by surprise.

 

[saskgunowner101]

Ive used pack frames which i liked. Better quality ones enhance the overall experience
Folding deer cart ive found awkward. The angle of pull was wrong and it was tippy when going over logs and uneven ground. They also dont fit between corn rows and thr axel is to low to use thru a bean field.
A military stretcher works if you have a friend.
Fridge cart works for deer and often fits in most corn rows. Less tippy but may need more muscle to get over logs. Works on deer well havent tried bear. Theyre a pain to tie up as theyre shaped like cones.
A wheel barrel worked well while i had broken ribs. Great thru bean fields with the single tire.
An ice fishing sled works well
Until a few years ago i could carry out any whitetail or small bear.
Atv works best. Now i carry a sled and a fridge cart in the truck and also a hitch carrier incase i cant lift the animal into my truck

When you say fridge cart, are we talking about hand carts or dollies? Or slang name wheelers? If so, you gave me a heck of an idea...

 

[starvin]

I’m usually hunting alone so take every opportunity to cheat a pack out. Usually have a sled, collapsed game cart and of course a good pack. Also take a tarp and a couple little pieces of scrap plywood that fit in my pack to build a table if I’m boning something out. No right or wrong way just got to get er done!

 

[Lyallpeder]

I used a dolly this year because there was no snow. It kept rolling to the side, my back was completely buggered, I probably should not have gone at all. I’d like to make a cart that has the wheels more centered than a dolly so less weight is on the handle.

 

[DGY]

Greg is experimenting….. https://youtu.be/utnG1_bbSv8

 

[brybenn]

When you say fridge cart, are we talking about hand carts or dollies? Or slang name wheelers? If so, you gave me a heck of an idea...

The one i have is only about 18" wide but its easy to get an animal on it myself and offers easy placement of straps to tie it down. The frame is curved so the animals spine rests in the curve belly n legs out. The curved handle make carrying it at an angle comfortable. Its also much quieter than ready bought deer carts

 

[brybenn]

These cheap sleds work but i prefer the high sided pelican ice fishing ones with ribs. They work better

Best of all is when the landowner lets you drive thru his field and ditch and into his woodlot so you can use the truck to drag it up the ravine and onto a hill for easy loading

 

[big bear]

6'4" fat black bear, struggle for 4 hours to pull him out of cedar swamp. Solution . walk to nearby logging road where my truck was parked. Flag down 2 loggers going home. Give them flat of beer I had in truck for "emergencies". BaDaBing the three of us roll fat bear onto tarp and it's done.

Solution: Keep flat of beer in truck at all times.
true story by the way. Next tip: Do NOT put wet salted bear hide in freezer! When you try o get out to take to taxidermist you will know why

 

[saskgunowner101]

Well, worst case scenario I can simply use my sled to drag a bear out to a pick up point. It's like some welfare version of the Pelican trek 60 utility sled, and I imagine less rigid and less durable, but good enough in my books. It flexes when you run over obstacles, so while harder to drag, it's harder to dump. Seeing as winter won't leave quite yet there's time to see if it's possible to rig the sled to the wheeler, and add some kind of janky wheel set up.

 

[brybenn]

Theres a type of cage sorta thing that hooks to the frame of the atv and uses the wench to lift it up. Not sure of the brand name as ive long forgotten it but if you have a atv its a thought. Some just lift it and keep it up front other ones ive seen advertised go up and roll the animal onto the front of the atv


Also how many beers are in a flat? Never hears that term

 

[brybenn]

 

[DGY]

Theres a type of cage sorta thing that hooks to the frame of the atv and uses the wench to lift it up. Not sure of the brand name as ive long forgotten it but if you have a atv its a thought. Some just lift it and keep it up front other ones ive seen advertised go up and roll the animal onto the front of the atv


Also how many beers are in a flat? Never hears that term

24 cans to a flat!! Usually!

 

[brybenn]

Thanks. Always just called it a case lol

 

[DGY]

Thanks. Always just called it a case lol

The flat is just cardboard bottom and low sides and usually for cans!

 

[cdn1canhunt]

I like sleds