Game Cart or Jet Sled? What do you prefer for deer retrieval and why?

Mount Sweetness

Mount Sweetness

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I had wanted a 54" Jet Sled for awhile, went to buy one yesterday and came home with a Cabelas Deluxe Game Cart instead.
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/69344/cabelas-deluxe-game-cart
I'm still not sure which is the best way to go and can return this game cart no problem.

I usually hunt alone and have had both knees repaired so I want something that does the job but also is versatile and practical.

So, let me know what you prefer and why?
Positives and negatives of each from your experience.

Thanks
 
I've been wondering the same thing. Im glad you posted this. Ive been eyeing up the game cart for a while, and am sick of dragging my deer out to a trail.
 
S1de8urnz said:
I've been wondering the same thing. Im glad you posted this. Ive been eyeing up the game cart for a while, and am sick of dragging my deer out to a trail.
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Personally, I'd go cart. I have a Jet Sled for my ice fishing gear, and I ended putting a frame with skis on it, because it was hard to drag.
 
I sometimes use a homemade game cart and it is really useful but mostly I use my Rokon and the small head and shoulder cart I built for it. My only problem with the game cart is on steep side hill drags. The wheels were held on by washers and clip pins and the pins would shear under a heavy side load. I have now built a threaded axle with one end with a welded washer and the other threaded for a large wingnut. It works fine now. I would like to add brakes to it if I can come up with a way.

I have never use a jet sled but I could see it being useful though I don't think I would like to drag it uphill when loaded unless it was on snow and even then I'm not sure.

I also have 2 after market knees. Welcome to the club, lol.
 
I can't comment on the game cart, but we've used a sled for a number of years. The positives for the sled to me are it works on dry ground, wet ground, or snow. One person can haul it if necessary, depending on the load of course. It's also helpful for moving deer-sized game from your truck to garage or butcher.... one guy on each end and it's easy. The negative in my mind, which wouldn't be any different from the cart, is that you will have to go back to retrieve your game cart / sled after you harvest an animal.

We added a few tie downs to the sled to secure the load, added pull ropes on both ends for stability on hills, and it works pretty well. Perhaps not ideal, but the sleds work pretty good.
 
One of the best (I hadn't thought about it in my earlier post) I've tried for deer and smallish bear is a wheelbarrow. Mind you, I don't have any very steep hills.
 
Cart sure won't work if you have a lot of logging cut overs unless they do things different in the east. Alberta you are lucky if you can even walk in them. I don't know why but after logging it they go in and rip it up like a farmer plowing his field only it is full of the left over tree bits rocks etc. You have to be darn careful.
I never heard of any thing like what you are calling a Jet Sled
 
wce323078 said:
Cart sure won't work if you have a lot of logging cut overs unless they do things different in the east. Alberta you are lucky if you can even walk in them. I don't know why but after logging it they go in and rip it up like a farmer plowing his field only it is full of the left over tree bits rocks etc. You have to be darn careful.
I never heard of any thing like what you are calling a Jet Sled
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Jet Sled.... think calving sled or ice fishing toboggan.
 
Scott_N said:
Jet Sled.... think calving sled or ice fishing toboggan.
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I know that my ice fishing sled is very hard to pull in soft snow. A few buddies found the same thing. We had to put runners under them. Dragging one on the ground would probably be no better than dragging the deer. IMHO, you need wheels of some sort.
 
Papaclaude said:
I know that my ice fishing sled is very hard to pull in soft snow. A few buddies found the same thing. We had to put runners under them. Dragging one on the ground would probably be no better than dragging the deer. IMHO, you need wheels of some sort.
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A sled is way better than pulling an animal on the ground. Sleds work. Are they better than a cart? That's debatable I suppose, but it depends on the terrain.
 
I like the sled for snow or rough terrain and wheels for wood roads or fields. I fabricated this contraption from a bike carrier for children. It works perfect in every application I have tried it. It will also carry and or float a couple of dozen decoys and gear. I wish I had it years ago. The cart was only $25 and fits both medium and the large sleds. No real modifications except stripping the seat etc. and fabricating a new handle out of conduit. The sled is held on with a couple of tie down straps.

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Mount Sweetness said:
I had wanted a 54" Jet Sled for awhile, went to buy one yesterday and came home with a Cabelas Deluxe Game Cart instead.
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/69344/cabelas-deluxe-game-cart
I'm still not sure which is the best way to go and can return this game cart no problem.

I usually hunt alone and have had both knees repaired so I want something that does the job but also is versatile and practical.

So, let me know what you prefer and why?
Positives and negatives of each from your experience.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Both my knees have had reconstructive surgery, 64 yrs old. I have used a sled and a game cart, the cart is good on flat land hauls, the sled is good on grass or snow.
Tailor it to the terrain and either one is a good tool. The cart can be really hard in snow. The cart can be really bad on recently plowed or cultivated fields. I use them
both, quite often less hassle than towing my trailer and side by side.
 
I ended up buying the Cabelas deluxe Game Cart for $150 in the States.
And good thing I did!
I used it to pull out a nice buck that had to be over 200lbs.

It works great, no complaints at all, I highly recommend it.

If I could post pics I would, but I have pretty much given up on the pics on CGN..
 
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