Whats the best way to drag a deer out of the woods?

Question

Whats the best way to drag a deer out of the woods?

Answer 1

I assume that you are dragging the deer yourself as opposed to using a four wheeler.  That being the case, the best device that I have found is a piece of semi-rigid plastic like polyethylene that is about 3ft. X 4ft or something like that.  It has a rope handle attached.  You place your deer on the plastic and lash it in place.  Then you can attach a rope with a shoulder strap that goes over your head and across your chest.  The plastic has a low coefficient of friction and it is easy to drag the deer by sliding it along on the sheet of plastic.  It works great and is not all that expensive.  It is also very easy to roll up and carry into the woods when you head out to your stand.

These devices are available from www.cabelas.com or www.basspro.com.  At least they were when I got mine a few years ago.

Answer 2

empty and tied to your back. like a backpack.

if you want the trophy then keep the head upright, tie legs together to form "straps" like a pack. it's a good idea to put a blaze orange hat on it to avoid beng shot at. if you only want meat then lopp off the head and carry the carcass up the other way,, this is generally better because the weight sits on your hips more, like a good pack and only an idiot would shoot at a deer that appeared to be walking on it's forelegs.

and when i say empty i mean gutted.

Answer 3

Ultra 150 is correct. A 4wheeler, even a small one will be a huge help. If you get ito deer hunting, you need a pickup, with a quad in the bed.

If spending 5 to 10 k on a great piece of equiptment is not an option, drag the deer from its head. I use a drag bag. You gut the deer, put it in the bag, then drag it. The bag keeps the animal from hanging up on debris. I also use and old safety strap that is used to tie on to the tree in case of a fall from a stand. I tie this around my waist and to the head, and pull.

If you do use a bag, remember that the bag makes the deer slick on the ground. Be careful if you pull over a hill. At the top of the hill, as you pull over the crest, that carcas will slide down like a sled on snow. I was taken out at the legs by a heavy doe a long time ago. I hit the ground, then the d**n thing kept going, and dragged me 20 feet or so, before I got my footing. Laughed my sore arce off, but it could have been worse.

One of the men I hunt with brings a 10 cubic foot double wheeled, wheel barrel. He attached some straps to the handles that go over his shoulders, then he carries the deer out pulling on the wheel barrel. Like a rikshaw.(Not sure if spelled right)

Good luck

Answer 4

Considering the size of deer and/or elk, I tend to butcher on-site unless I am very near a road, and carry out the meat wrapped in the hide.  (Elk usually take 2 people or 2 trips for me.)

You can use tarps, drag bags, 4 wheelers, etc.  Drag head first, WITH the hair direction.

If packing out like a back pack, be sure to put orange cover over it so MAYBE idiots won't shoot at you.

Answer 5

Best way 4 wheeler, second best, a deer cart, 3rd best when the first two is not available is to tie a drag rope around the deers neck, then tie the other end to a stick about 18 inches long- this will give you a handle to hold onto as you pull- have just enough slack in the drag rope to keep the deers head off the ground as you pull- If you have a buddy to grab one side of the stick and help you, it will be twice as easy- be sure and field dress the deer before you start draging, it will be much easier-you may have to drag a while and rest awhile. It'll take some time, but you have no choice. Good luck on your hunting season this year!

Answer 6

With a four wheeler!

Answer 7

with a sled, quad or pack horse/mule. I recommend a quad tho, I tried using my horse a couple times. I find him to be to skittish around the kill (and he's a trained pack horse) and it put me into some dangerous situations while transporting the deer back to the homestead

Answer 8

I've used one of those cheap plastic sleds. As long as you don't have a lot of dead falls to deal with, they work very well, and if there's snow on the ground, they work even better.  Another option is using one of those wheeled carriers you can get from Cabela's.  

Answer 9

Ok there are many different ways to do this, alot of people prefer a hauler witch is pretty much a small wagon. The best advice that i can give is no matter if it is a doe or a buck drag it from the head, by dragging this way you are dragging with the natural hair direction if will supprise you how much eaiser it dragging in this direction rather than dragging from the hind legs, and this also keeps the hide looking good for pictures and what not. As always be safe and good luck.

Answer 10

Wrap it in a lubed blue polypro tarp and drag it by a loop of rope tied to the hind feet.  

The blue polypro tarp will let it slide like it was on ice and it stops the hide from acting as a friction break.

Lube the tarp on the outside with some spray on PAM or other aerosol veggie cooking oil.