Game cart or external frame pack?

[Evoac05]

I have been going back and forth between getting either a game cart or an external frame pack for hunting, but can't decide which one. So, what would you choose and why? Is one better than the other for packing out certain animals, if so then what? Lastly, if there are any brands/types you recommend to get or to stay away from, please share. Thanks

[turkeyfeather]

I don't have any experience with an external pack, but I did use a game cart that I bought this summer to haul my deer out a couple days ago. I will say it was worth every penny. It made the trek back to the truck much easier.

[jrebel]

You need both....seriously, a frame pack is awsome when you are in a place where a game cart does not work.  A game cart is awsome for road or good trail access.  Neither one is perfect for all scenarios.  If you can only afford one at a time then evaluate where you will be hunting this year and buy the one that fits that scenario.

[bobcat]

An external frame pack is essential. You can pack animals out from any type of terrain. I would never go hunting without one in the truck.

Game cart would be nice to have, but not a necessity. Unless you only hunt on flat ground with lots of roads and trails.

[RB]

One hunting partner of mine has a game cart and loves it. I have a good size internal frame taco pack made by Eureka that I love. I can put 80 pounds + of whatever in it and it is fairly comfortable lots of padding on shoulder and hip straps easy to load as well. 

[mazama]

Depends on terrain,i would go for pack first because of verying terrain,i also have thick plastic with grommets plus i have collapseable wheelbarrow,terrain will dictate your backpack will go anywhere you can walk.

[washelkhunter]

You need both....seriously, a frame pack is awsome when you are in a place where a game cart does not work.  A game cart is awsome for road or good trail access.  Neither one is perfect for all scenarios.  If you can only afford one at a time then evaluate where you will be hunting this year and buy the one that fits that scenario.

 

[Evoac05]

You need both....seriously, a frame pack is awsome when you are in a place where a game cart does not work.  A game cart is awsome for road or good trail access.  Neither one is perfect for all scenarios.  If you can only afford one at a time then evaluate where you will be hunting this year and buy the one that fits that scenario.

I agree and plan on getting both. I think I'll start off with a frame pack as it can go anywhere I go. I guess I'll head over to Cabelas and try a few out and see which one fits best. How much weight on average can pack frames handle?

[jrebel]

First...Cabela's will be way to expensive for what you need.  I bought mine at bi-mart and only paid 40-50 bucks.  I have hauled anywhere from 50-100 lbs per load and it is awsome.  I am sure you will find a better deal at sportsmans warehouse or online.  Cabelas has them for 100+ dollars and to me that is absolutely outrageous.

This is the link to the one I own and on sale it was 45$.

http://www.bimart.com/skudetail.aspx?loc=k.482700_s.1261A_c.68A_d.57&nm=Hunting Accessories

[JimmyHoffa]

You can get good deals on game carts at cabelas or sportsmans guide--mine was $35.  It is great once you can adapt it to fit your needs.  I had to use some pipes to make a longer handles that extend off the cart..otherwise it is too low to the ground and hits the back of my feet and my arms are stuck behind me.  But once you test it out a bit you can haul stuff easily--I've been stacking a few of the 50 lb mineral blocks on mine and drag it mostly up hill.  Downhill is way easier than a pack.  A harness type belt also helps on the uphill drags.
Packs are great when the terrain calls for it or if the load isn't that big to begin with.

[Fishnfowler]

I think a pack is the most essential.  You can always pack an animal out from anywhere, but the cart can't go everywhere.  The utility of a cart comes into play on ground without a steep grade and with good trails. 

Having both is best, but to start with, the pack is necessary.

[jrebel]

I agree with both. The pack I use when I am by myself and the cart when I have a hand or fairly flat ground by myslef. I dissagree that the cart has to be used on flat ground though. We just hauled out an elk on my cart with four guys on some pretty steep thick stuff and it was great. Beat dragging the thing. One guy on each corner and we were able to get the elk out whole.

 

My game cart was made by my father in law and it will go on small game trails in some of the steapest nastiest areas you can take it.  It does become a 2-4 person job at that point and that is why I have a frame pack.  I will see If I have pics of my game cart somewhere...it is an awsome design and can climb up and over logs in the way as well.  It also has breaks for slowing / stopping on steap grades.

[hambone]

I have both used it last year with my buck used the pack to get it out of the hole the the cart when we hit the top

[Rainier10]

I would get the packframe and then a cart in that order.  I only have the pack frame because I am rarely close to a road with the hunting I do.  As far as brands I would highly recommend Bullpac.com, they are light, have great padding and nice tie off hooks for anchoring to.

[CP]

A wheel barrel makes a fine game cart.  But it doesn't replace a pack.

[bobcat]

Cabelas has one of their pack frames on sale now for $90, regular price is $120.

It's the same one I've had for over 20 years.

[carpsniperg2]

I use both. It really comes down to the area you are hunting. A lot of the places I hunt say elk, I cant get a cart threw. So a pack works way better. Plus getting way back in there and having to come out for the cart is not fun. Now where I hunt deer 90% of the time I could use a cart to get them out.

[Whitpirate]

I only shoot where I can load them whole in my ATV while wearing dress shoes! 

 

Frame back is always handy and really depends on the terrain you hunt (brushside makes a cart more difficult).

[Huntbear]

Game carts work great if you plan on doing all your hunting off of trails and old roads...

Pack frame if you plan on hunting all other places. 

get a good pack frame, and you will never regret it.

[Kc_Kracker]

i got this at costco that i will probably take with,



and yesterday got a sweet big pack at a yard sale for 20 bucks

[Evoac05]

i got this at costco that i will probably take with,



and yesterday got a sweet big pack at a yard sale for 20 bucks

How much was that cart Kc?

[ORCA_SIX]

You need both....seriously, a frame pack is awsome when you are in a place where a game cart does not work.  A game cart is awsome for road or good trail access.  Neither one is perfect for all scenarios.  If you can only afford one at a time then evaluate where you will be hunting this year and buy the one that fits that scenario.

  But get a great packframe first as you can always use that. Also,  if you later get a game cart you can hand the pack to another partner if you have one or if you are strong enough to do both at the same time dependent of the trail.

[Evoac05]

I decided to get a frame pack first. I ended up getting a Cabela's Alaskan Outfitter frame and harness only as I have a Badlands bag that I'll use with it. I tried the Extreme Alaskan and found that it wasn't as comfortable as the Alaskan.

[Kc_Kracker]

i got this at costco that i will probably take with,



and yesterday got a sweet big pack at a yard sale for 20 bucks

How much was that cart Kc?

$129    cool too the sides lay down for bigger stuff.