Got a deer.....how do you get the thing out?

[PlateauNDN]

Just to be clear, I didn't leave the animal and then come home to "look it up on the internet."  I really was just looking for tips/pointers from the "experienced crew."  I got a buddy and we dragged the thing out (the pole trick like in the movies worked for most of the way, but seemed really difficult.)  Eventually we made it to one of the old logging roads that had some "character" to it, and he brought his ATV and that got it the rest of the way.  Unfortunately, I'm working without a "mentor" and I'm figuring things out for myself (lesson for today, don't hike in quite so far by myself).  Through some trial and error I can finally say I've successfully hunted a deer including getting the animal all the way home.  Next, I'll be figuring out how to process the deer, but one step at a time, right?

Thanks to everyone taking the time and offering help/insights.  I can take the "ribbing," in fact it's been part of every hunting group I've ever been with (mostly in Texas where the terrain isn't quite like this.)  The guys on this site have been very helpful and for that, I'm deeply appreciative.

S

Don't let how far you went from deciding how you hunt. With some guidance I think you'll do fine. Get more experience with how to quarter, debone, and process game and you'll do fine. I majority of the time hunt alone and I've majority of the time butchered on site and packed out. I used to use branches tied together with tarp and rope and drag out but that took forever and I just went to on site butchering. Great job on your first deer and keep at it.

[Holg3107]

First off Steef, Congrats on harvesting your first deer successfully! Secondly I applied your honesty in doing everything you can to learn. Many of us have gone through exactly what you are going through this year and have taken the lumps along the way just as you are now.

To answer your question. I hunt solo nearly 100% of the time and am rarely closer than 2-3 miles from my truck. I have attempted the dragging the deer out whole thing once or twice, its not for me. To me it is a waste of energy. I have also gone the two trip route where you take cut the deer right at the hind quarters and pack that and all of your gear out then come back to get the front half. Thats a fine way to go especially if you are only 1 mile back. To be honest though any more I bone everything out in the field, put it in game bags, strap it to may pack and walk out in 1 trip. Deer aren't that big and the majority of the deer you aren't going to consume anyways (bones, hide, etc...). Leave the hide in the field with the guts. Unless you are going to do a shoulder mount it is a waste of time and weight. I cape the skull in the field to do a euro mount. on a good sized buck you will end up with at most 120# of deer meat to pack out. On a doe its going to be half that. Also look into the gutless method for cleaning your deer. Saves a ton of time and mess. Also as has been mentioned, get a bike. In this area you can do a whole lot with a bike. There are logging roads everywhere, get the deer strapped to it any way you can and go for broke.

Again great job this year, you're on the right track!

[BackStrappin]

Congrats on getting your first BT.   Getting a deer home and out the woods is usually the first thing on my mind when exploring new ground .  I hunt Solo , and have been pretty lucky on being able to get deer out the woods.

One Year I used a Wheelbarrow , One Year I wished I had a Wheelbarrow and Called a buddy to help drag.

This season I picked up a used pack frame for 25 bucks , knowing I was going to be hunting in areas where I might need to use it , Even though I got lucky and put a buck down in place where the drag was pretty easy , scouting paid off all summer. But ya even when I am out scouting in the summer I was always planning the recovery part too.

Oh ya , We need pics of your buck ! 

[ghosthunter]

For years hunting in steep  terraine we used kids plastic tobagons sleds to drag deer out.
Than we got one of those roll up sliders. Elk size is the only one big enough for deer.

The kids sled worked good for years because they were cheap. We drilled holes around the edges to lash the deer on.
Until we were bored one year coming down a huge sage slope and decided to ride the sleds down. Cant understand how fast a sled goes on a dry open slope.

We only did that once.

[pianoman9701]

I came across a guy crying over an elk once. He'd killed it and then had no idea of how to handle it. We got it out together in about two hours.

Be nicer to new hunters. Not every Hunter Education class makes people aware that there's big work to do after the shot. It just doesn't occur to people on their own what's involved. Good job on getting your first deer, Steef and getting it out.

[C-Money]

Congrats! Glad all went well. Can we see a pic and hear your story?

[FullDraw]

Here is the way i pack most of mine out.

[Alchase]

Now show the "after" pic from the hospitol bed, LOL

How did the pack hold up?

Beautiful buck!

[Alchase]

Bikes work great! Tip of the day, spin the seat around so it "backwards", the pointy end of the seat slides into the pelvis area nicely and keeps the animal from sliding around on the seat.

The first time I saw a guy riding on top of his bike mounted Mule deer down "Y" to the 100 RD gate above Pearygin, I started laughing it looked so funny!

Then he past us by at about 15 mph I realized, "dang, he will be to the gate in less then 10 minutes"!

From that point on I was in awe of his ingenuity, LOL

[LeviD1]

You should look uno getting a game kart..sounds like its exactly what you need if you don't bike in....oryoucpilddo something like this

I really like how you hooked that to your bike. Did you weld that piece on to the game cart?

[deerhunter_98520]

You should look uno getting a game kart..sounds like its exactly what you need if you don't bike in....oryoucpilddo something like this

I really like how you hooked that to your bike. Did you weld that piece on to the game cart?

I don't have a welder for aluminum but the bar is all welded and its bolted to the cart...I take it apart so its smaller to fit in my rig

[T Pearce]

Good job and congratulations!
You have joined the ranks.
Keep your eyes open for better ways to do things as you grow. As soon as I learned that a boned out animal (deer) weighs in the neighborhood of thirty pounds...... a way to keep knives sharp became more important than carts.

PICS PLEASE

[boneaddict]

My dad used to always say....."you better pack a fork and salt and pepper shaker."

Congrats on getting your deer

[PlateauNDN]

Hahaha . Bone why don't you share a pic of your pack loaded down, I recall you posting one last year I believe? Give him more visual pics and also to see and read threads from some of your back country deer hunts. Just a thought.

[pianoman9701]

Good job and congratulations!
You have joined the ranks.
Keep your eyes open for better ways to do things as you grow. As soon as I learned that a boned out animal (deer) weighs in the neighborhood of thirty pounds...... a way to keep knives sharp became more important than carts.

PICS PLEASE

Before you elk hunt, also remember that they're as much as 4 or 5 times the size of a deer. If you do it alone, there's a good chance you'll waste meat and that's a crime, literally.