Best way to drag deer back to the truck

One person on one side of the rack, another person on the opposite side and drag. Or if you're alone and are slightly hefty like myself, tie a rope around the base of the rack, and nose to keep it off the ground, and drag. If you don't have rope, you're not prepared and deserve to be kicking yourself in the ass :)
 
slicknick said:
I've been spoiled for the last few years in that I have taken all my deer in farmers' fields. After the shot I could go back, get the truck, and drive up to the kill. However, I've recently moved up to northern Alberta and it looks like I will be hunting cut blocks and abandoned oil roads and may end up getting my animal a couple of km into the bush.

Is there an easier way of doing things or just grab the legs an start dragging?
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I live in N. Alberta. I shot 2 deer last weekend. The first one was 100 yards away from the truck on flat dry land......wasn't too bad to lug back to the truck. I didn't even have to put my boots on. The second one was 200 yards away and was on bumpy, boggy and full of old tree stumps. It sucked lugging that one back to the truck.
 
I dragged a massive buck out from the middle of the street last October. It must have been over 250 as my work boots were slipping while trying to drag it off the road.

I hunt a good 30 minute walk in bush now if i do get a deer this year i gotta call for backup. although with my blood rushing it may help me hauk it out myself haha
 
Otokiak said:
I've never hunted deer in the south so I don't get it how you pack out your meat, etc. We usually hunt on snowmobile or ATV so packing out the animal is simple, however occasionally I go hunting on foot on Baffin Island with a great friend and we usually cut up the caribou(no deer here) and pack out in a backpack. How does one skin, gut, butcher a deer???
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For deer I would image that most people drag a deer back whole minus the entrails. I have seen some camps that take the animal whole back to camp to gut there. I've used my hands, toboggans, stick poles, atvs and cars/trucks to get my deer out over the years. I would image that back country hunters would have to quarter or de-bone a deer to pack it out.

I'm prepared to quarter one if necessary to get one out I've just never had to.

I usually skin and butcher my own deer, unless we have a bunch of deer that need to be done, then we pay a guy to cut them. We usually skin them the next day back at camp.
 
Pretty much all my Deer are very long drags. Front legs over the rack and tied. Cavity sewn up with parachute cord. Rope around rack/front legs. Keep the rope short and wrap it around a short but sturdy branch. Hands behind your back and leen into it. Once you shoot the funs over.
 
Just put 'in over your shoulders and start walking. The blood dripping down your back makes you feel alive. Might be a good idea to put an orange cap on the head though so someone doesn't think you're a big buck.
 
Mattones said:
I dragged a massive buck out from the middle of the street last October. It must have been over 250 as my work boots were slipping while trying to drag it off the road.


Jebus! I hope your a road worker or nailed it yourself with a vehicle & not hunting at the petting zoo?:D:p
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Scott_N said:
Although you’re not likely to haul it into the bush with you, we’ve been using a plastic toboggan for a few years now. It works well on snow or dry dirt fields, and is a lot easier than just dragging the animal out.
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X2 onthe cheapo plastic tobaggan. Can pick one up at CT for under 20 bucks. Put a good long pull cord on it and you will be amazed how easy it is to pull a good sized deer out of the bush to a good trail. Really shines when there is a bit of snow on the ground.
 
There's a place in the 'States that sells a terrific orange body bag specifically designed for dragging game. Has a harness built in. It's WAY cool and has great applications as an emergency poncho etc. They also sell a nifty tool for properly cutting out a deers butt hole when gutting. If you can't Google them PM me and I'll send you their details. Fantastic guys; they freakin' PHONED me from New York and I live in the Northwest Territories!
 
deadhead said:
Make yourself a strap system so you can pull with your shoulders. Hook the deer up so it is pulling from the head and make your ropes short enough that when you pull you are pulling the front shoulders of the deer up off the ground a bit. This makes it easier to get over any logs.
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Great way to cripple yourself, trying to drag with your shoulders.

If you gotta drag using a rope or straps, use a band around your hips, so that you are not wrenching your back. It's a bit more efficient, too, as you have fewer moving parts between the load and the ground.

I've dragged deer a fair ways over the years. Longest haul was just about a mile, in just over a foot of snow. You get into a rhythm, and plod along, think about better things and eventually you get there...:D

Best tool I have for that is a cargo tie-down. One of the ones with the quick release buckle on it. I used to wrap one around my waist like a belt, now I carry it in a pack, usually in the truck or car. I bundle the front feet and the head or antlers, to get them off the ground when dragging, and work from there.
Mostly, these days, I pick my locations so that I can avoid a long drag or carry. And I pick my shots, so that they don't run too far, if I can.

Cheers
Trev
 
Crazy carpet slides easily eases the load flexs with the terrain. Helps if you have lashing holes along edges--- kids will hate you but they're cheap...not the kids stupid.... the carpet! If you don't have the carpet drag head first they slide easier that way. all the best art.h
 
i debate if the people who said here that they just grab it by the antlers or legs and pull have actually ever hunted. Even with a friend just grabbing and pulling is a pain in the a$$. esp if your on the side using ur weak arm.

the #1 thing we like to do when hunting with friends is use a hatchet to cut down and debranch a smallish tree, tie the deer up by the feet, lift it up on our shoulders and walk it out.

If i hunt solo i bring 2 game bags. I dont like being stuck near the truck. It takes a long time but after the kill i will butcher the meat off the animal on sight and pack it out in my ruck. I only debone the quarters so i can still hang them and I simply place the rest of the meat in the fridge for 6 days.
 
For deer I would image that most people drag a deer back whole minus the entrails. I have seen some camps that take the animal whole back to camp to gut there. I've used my hands, toboggans, stick poles, atvs and cars/trucks to get my deer out over the years. I would image that back country hunters would have to quarter or de-bone a deer to pack it out.

I'm prepared to quarter one if necessary to get one out I've just never had to.

I usually skin and butcher my own deer, unless we have a bunch of deer that need to be done, then we pay a guy to cut them. We usually skin them the next day back at camp.
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Thanks daveg01, man it sounds like alot of folks here hunt deer and it takes alot of work ... interesting ... good luck to you all on your next hunt. Cheers,

Otokiak
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
 
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