First Hunt - Hauling Deer From The Bush?
- Thread starter maple leaf
- Start date
In Southern Ontario usually I just drive the Dakota to the edge of the bush to pick Bambi up, and have used ATV and tractors to do the same depending on field conditions. Up in the South River area at the deer camp things can be more interesting. I've seen massive undertakings to get a ATV deep into the bush including loading one onto an outboard boat and motoring it up to the kill site. I've dragged deer for miles through swamp and bush by hand with a great deal of swearing directed at the "inconsiderate old pr#@k" who would shoot such a big deer so far from camp. I can remember being dropped of at the furthest dogging station deep in the swamp and the old timer who dropped me off yelled back at me 'Just follow your compass due North, and whatever you do don't shoot any deer back here'. This is why anyone who shoots a deer has to buy a case of beer for the camp.
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
Not at all, that is typical for Saskatchewan hunters.
A guy can typically handle a doe on each shoulder but these Sask bucks are pretty big so I'd recommend just one animal if you get a bruiser.
A guy can typically handle a doe on each shoulder but these Sask bucks are pretty big so I'd recommend just one animal if you get a bruiser.
Depends on so many things:
-how fit are you, how strong?
-how big a deer are you dragging?
-how far?
-road? trail? brush? rough/smooth/steep/flat?
-do you have an ATV?
All that said, I have no ATV or truck. I keep a game cart in the car (if fairly firm, flattish ground/trail), plus a Game Glide sliding carpet thing (if snaking through the woods), and an old hoody (if I need to sling a gutted deer across my shoulders). A canoe will likely come into it this year because my stand is across the river. I use the loop on my HSS Ultralight treestand harness that is right at my tailbone to drag deer - really lets you put a lot of power into it. I hook the forelimbs up behind the antlers or ears, as the case may be, tie a noose around that and then clip to my harness and lean into it. Keeps both hands free to steady yourself or move brush. I shoot small deer (max about 150 lbs on hoof) so far, so pretty manageable alone. In case I ever drop a big one, I've got some of those "big game quarter" bags that I could use to carry him out in pieces. Hasn't been a problem yet, but a guy can dream can't he?
Dave
-how fit are you, how strong?
-how big a deer are you dragging?
-how far?
-road? trail? brush? rough/smooth/steep/flat?
-do you have an ATV?
All that said, I have no ATV or truck. I keep a game cart in the car (if fairly firm, flattish ground/trail), plus a Game Glide sliding carpet thing (if snaking through the woods), and an old hoody (if I need to sling a gutted deer across my shoulders). A canoe will likely come into it this year because my stand is across the river. I use the loop on my HSS Ultralight treestand harness that is right at my tailbone to drag deer - really lets you put a lot of power into it. I hook the forelimbs up behind the antlers or ears, as the case may be, tie a noose around that and then clip to my harness and lean into it. Keeps both hands free to steady yourself or move brush. I shoot small deer (max about 150 lbs on hoof) so far, so pretty manageable alone. In case I ever drop a big one, I've got some of those "big game quarter" bags that I could use to carry him out in pieces. Hasn't been a problem yet, but a guy can dream can't he?
Dave
Fine if you shoot a small doe...but when 3 of my last five bucks have all been over 245lbs field dressed, is kind of hard to do. 4 wheeler for me.
I usually haul them home (5 minutes away) un-gutted, and it is a hell of a job loading it onto an ATV with 2 people. 300+ lbs of dead weight
Front hooves in my hand, back hooves in my buddies hands.
Gutted, draped around my neck with me talking LOUDLY ask I hike out.
Skinned and deboned in my Mystery Ranch Crew Cab (anything up to elk works this way).
Tie the front hooves to the head and drag out using an old seatbelt from the backseat of a minivan (super long) folded into a figure 8 across my chest.
Lots of options.
Gutted, draped around my neck with me talking LOUDLY ask I hike out.
Skinned and deboned in my Mystery Ranch Crew Cab (anything up to elk works this way).
Tie the front hooves to the head and drag out using an old seatbelt from the backseat of a minivan (super long) folded into a figure 8 across my chest.
Lots of options.
Army Issue
Regular
- Location
- Port Credit, Mississauga
yeah this has been working for thousands of years
For all kinds of stuff you wanna haul outta the bush and keep at home.
Dad once ran into 4 guys of a certain nationality pushing a moose out of the bush in a huge cement wheel barrow. I have seen two guys drag a deer back to the vehicle for 4 miles parallel to the road by about 200 yards.
Sask_Hunter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Saskatchewan
If your going to be dumb you gotta be tough...
Give me a good pack a sharp knife a half dozen garbage bags for the win, a buddy helps too.
maple leaf
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Thanks for all the suggestions. As an FYI, I do not own a ATV, walk everywhere I hunt (30+ minutes one way away from my van). In the spring, I was hunting alone, and am physically fit. I figured I'd have to drag the beat out, and some have great suggestions for this option.
If I went on a hunt, I'd have no idea how to cut it up properly.
I'd also be worried about a carnivore sneaking up on me while attempting to cut it up.
Those are points from someone who has never hunted, but would be concerns for me.
You might not get invited next time. Who wants to worry about calling your wife to say you died on the trail?
OP - I often use a pack-cart, but get a steel one with some flex and spring to it. I have carried deer and bear out by myself and been in better shape for it.
An ATV works great but if you don't have one or can't get it to the downed deer, a pack frame and a little sweat is most likely the best if you are by yourself.
If you're new to hunting I'd be concentrating more on how to get that deer than how to pack it out....there are no wrong ways to gut or quarter a deer a long as it is done cleanly and soon after the kill to cool the meat.
Good luck and enjoy your hunt.
LOL, On second thought, probably the absolutely easiest way to get a deer out of the bush would be to hire a Bell 206!
If you're new to hunting I'd be concentrating more on how to get that deer than how to pack it out....there are no wrong ways to gut or quarter a deer a long as it is done cleanly and soon after the kill to cool the meat.
Good luck and enjoy your hunt.
LOL, On second thought, probably the absolutely easiest way to get a deer out of the bush would be to hire a Bell 206!
And they are valid concerns. Learning to reduce a big game animal to manageable sized pieces is best learned from a mentor for sure but there are some excellent internet resources. I'd suggest a Google search for "gutless method of field dressing" This is what we use on remote hunts for critters from deer and sheep to elk and moose.
Having a bear come creeping in is a concern as well. We had a very close encounter with a grizz a few years ago while working on an elk. It's very rare but it can happen but if you are prepared you can typically still get your meat out without serious incident.
Being able to get meat out from remote locations definitely increases your odds of success as you are not competing with other hunters.
