Using Haywire to retrieve elk

[manni7mm]

i'm getting older and need to hunt smarter
for you guys who run wire to pull elk, I'd really appreciate learning your technique.  Ive seen guys using winches or cable pulleys attached around trees.  I've only ever used pack mules in Montana or my frame.  The haywire is appealing.

Send me a PM if you prefer.  hope this gets a good response.
Thanks!

 

[Woodchuck]

Two words: Mule Tape. 

[whacker1]

Haywire & Mule tape work well if you are in a clear cut, but if you are in timber they won't do you a whole lot of good.  I have several sections of haywire that I have used one time.  I don't even carry them with me anymore, because the weight and erosion of fuel economy don't make sense to carry them.  They are hung in the garage, and have for many years.  The advantage to Mule tape is that it doesn't have the weight of Haywire, and I would be more likely to pack it along and leave it in the truck.

[Bob33]

I've never tried it, but I think that plan could go haywire.

I think a lot of members would be interested in your experience and report.

Best wishes.

[Lightning_Rider]

We've used haywire lots of times, you'll never break it. Most standard sections come in 250' lengths. We have crab rope as well and use that but haywire has always been tried and true. Just make sure you know how to unravel it as I lent a coil to somebody and they brought it back with knots in it 

[C-Money]

We bought a couple 1000' rolls of mule tape on Ebay for $65 per 1000', shipping paid. All you need is a piece a rebar for the spool and take the tape to the animal.   

[Woodchuck]

I bought a 3k ft spool of 1800lb this last summer for 140 to my door.

[C-Money]

I bought a 3k ft spool of 1800lb this last summer for 140 to my door.

That's a good deal...extra 1000' for 10 bucks compared to what we paid 

[Woodchuck]

I bought a 3k ft spool of 1800lb this last summer for 140 to my door.

That's a good deal...extra 1000' for 10 bucks compared to what we paid 

http://www.amazon.com/3000-1800-Polyester-Mule-Tape/dp/B00LKN0JNE/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1447872103&sr=8-5&keywords=mule+tape 

[deerhunter_98520]

  only downfall to mule tape is you can't wrap it around stumps and it stretches and loads up but a set of 2 way radios works great with someone following the animal up 

[washingtonhunter121]

We use haywire whenever we can. In the timber or clear cuts. The main thing is to never pull down or side hill the animal to much. Run your cable straight to the animal no matter what obstacles are in the way try to run between trees and you can essentially pull any bull or buck out of a hole a lot faster then quartering and packing. We have a spool that is attached to two 6x6 posts that sit in the back of the truck. It holds around 800 yards of haywire. We have two straps to hook the block to for the cable to run then a cable locker pig tail that attaches to the hitch hooks. It has worked quite well for us. Usuall can haywire almost all our bucks out then for Bulls we are able to pull about half of them out. The ones we can't pull out is just because they are too far from the truck in the timber to be able to. It is an investment for this set up but we had 4 of us total to go in on the set up to get it paid for. We like getting the animals out whole so we can get them skinned whole to keep cleaner before we put them into our freezer. For a westside hunter it is a great thing with how many roads run all over we can almost always search out a road to get us close enough to get the job done.

[ELKBURGER]

Two words: Mule Tape. 

[HntnFsh]

Couple small block to hang off trees works great for guiding mule tape. I just welded a dock cleat on a peice of square tubing to slide in my hitch and tie off the mule tape. I have a bunch of haywire hanging g up. It never leaves the shop.

[TheHunt]

My brothers us mule tape.  I have seen it work a few times.

Run radios between driver and the person walking next to the elk.

Tie off the elk at the back legs and leave about 20 feet of that tape to help you move the elk around the stumps, trees, trash. 

If you have a wheel and a loop of rope you can hook up your blocks to take angles of drag of the elk. 

Again the radios work great when you are pulling along ways. 

[Woodchuck]

My brothers us mule tape.  I have seen it work a few times.

Run radios between driver and the person walking next to the elk.

Tie off the elk at the back legs and leave about 20 feet of that tape to help you move the elk around the stumps, trees, trash. 

If you have a wheel and a loop of rope you can hook up your blocks to take angles of drag of the elk. 

Again the radios work great when you are pulling along ways.

My kid rode an elk out once, threw a heavy coat over the line just in case, he would call me to stop, use the tag end as stated to reposition, climb back on and away we would go.

[Mike450r]

Get a large traffic cone and cut off the base, run the haywire or mule tape through the small hole and tie to the rear legs, slide large hole down rear legs as far as possible.   Start pulling.  this really streamlines things and helps keep from getting caught up.

[grundy53]

Haywire works great even in the timber. We pull most of our elk out with it. Just remember, go straight as you can and blocks are your friend.

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

[TheHunt]

Get a large traffic cone and cut off the base, run the haywire or mule tape through the small hole and tie to the rear legs, slide large hole down rear legs as far as possible.   Start pulling.  this really streamlines things and helps keep from getting caught up.

I will try the traffic cone.  That makes total sense.  I saw a video of some type of cone like you said but it was stiffer than a traffic cone. 

[grundy53]

Get a large traffic cone and cut off the base, run the haywire or mule tape through the small hole and tie to the rear legs, slide large hole down rear legs as far as possible.   Start pulling.  this really streamlines things and helps keep from getting caught up.

I will try the traffic cone.  That makes total sense.  I saw a video of some type of cone like you said but it was stiffer than a traffic cone.

A half hitch around the hooves helps too.

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

[mazama]

How much does mule tape stretch,i want to use it for ziplining a deer off of a ridgetop,and across a canyon in another place I hunt, would small pulleys work on mule tape.There are places I hunt I donot want to carry a heavey pack down a steep slope.

[TheHunt]

Easy to use it as a zip line but use gravity and dragging to slow it down. 

Tie one end of the mule tape to tree on the ridge.
So you would hook up the wheel to the mule tape and the wheel has rope tied to the deer.

The truck end you can hang up in a tree so you get enough lift and not dragging it across a bunch crap.

Tighten up the line and weeeeeeee goes the deer slack the line when deer is getting close to the tree or truck.   

[js139]

We just had quite the experience using mule tape this season. One of my buddies put down a 6x6 on a steep hillside. It was 1800 feet up to an old road on top, so we pulled out the 1800lb test mule tape. We quartered the animal and wrapped it in a tarp and yarded it up the hill. The problem we found with the mule tape was two fold. First, it was so steep and mule tape rubbed on the ground (rocks) and against the trees that it frayed and ended up breaking. The first load was ok and we had no breaks, but the second load (probably 300 lbs ish) was plagued with break after break. We finally ended up hanging meat in the tree and back packing it out through the bottom of the canyon the next day. The second issue we had was stretch. The vehicle had to move 30' before the animal started to move. Just too much stretch for our liking.

In the end, it worked, but it was very painful. This was SUPER steep terrain (one spot almost vertical) and a person could barely walk next to the animal to direct it from obstacles. You couldn't hold on and let it pull you cause the mule tape would just break. Our final conclusion is that this works, but sometimes packing is easier. That being said, next year we are buying a few 3000' spools so we can double and triple the thing up. I guess the bad news is we won't likely have big bull tags next year, so we won't be pulling as much weight.

[Lightning_Rider]

We just had quite the experience using mule tape this season. One of my buddies put down a 6x6 on a steep hillside. It was 1800 feet up to an old road on top, so we pulled out the 1800lb test mule tape. We quartered the animal and wrapped it in a tarp and yarded it up the hill. The problem we found with the mule tape was two fold. First, it was so steep and mule tape rubbed on the ground (rocks) and against the trees that it frayed and ended up breaking. The first load was ok and we had no breaks, but the second load (probably 300 lbs ish) was plagued with break after break. We finally ended up hanging meat in the tree and back packing it out through the bottom of the canyon the next day. The second issue we had was stretch. The vehicle had to move 30' before the animal started to move. Just too much stretch for our liking.

In the end, it worked, but it was very painful. This was SUPER steep terrain (one spot almost vertical) and a person could barely walk next to the animal to direct it from obstacles. You couldn't hold on and let it pull you cause the mule tape would just break. Our final conclusion is that this works, but sometimes packing is easier. That being said, next year we are buying a few 3000' spools so we can double and triple the thing up. I guess the bad news is we won't likely have big bull tags next year, so we won't be pulling as much weight.

Instead of buying mule tape and having to worry about doubling or tripling it up, why don't you go to englund marine and buy a 1200' spool or spool's of 7000lbs crab line? no hassle with doubling or tripling and you can weld a cleat onto a hitch to insert into your receiver. You wont have to worry about stumps or anything, just step on the gas and go! Gut it after you pull it out... We pulled two elk out with haywire and 1 out with crab line this year. Both worked slick, haywire is pretty much indestructible but crab line is much easier and lighter to deal with.

[724wd]

anyone try to run Mule Tape on a capstan winch?     We've been using nylon rope, but mule tape would be much lighter.  My old man said Woodchuck was supposed to let him borrow some to test, but hasn't ponied up!    

[bullkiller]

We tried using mule tape one year and had the same issues. You can't just let it burn over logs or anything without it breaking.  Gave mine away and just went back to haywire.  Very seldom do we have to use blocks or anything with haywire. Just hook on and go.

[Billy Fudd]

We use commercial crab rope.  You can get it in 1/4 mile and 1/2 mile spools.  4 blocks.  Have used as few as one.  Pulled stuff out of all types of country in w Washington.  A little burn on trees or stumps doesn't hurt anything.  We don't gut elk or deer till we get the to the road.  Keeps things cleaner.  I can post pics later if you want.  Gun smith out by Westport makes aluminum spools to hold the rope.  And a dock cleat in ur receiver hitch.  4 -5 guys are ideal for elk.  2 is the minimum.

[PolarBear]

 

[dewandgin]

We tried using mule tape one year and had the same issues. You can't just let it burn over logs or anything without it breaking.  Gave mine away and just went back to haywire.  Very seldom do we have to use blocks or anything with haywire. Just hook on and go.

We use haywire and do occasionally use a block but most of the time it is straightline and you'll be fine.

[Piscatory_5]

Or family has always just used 1/2--3/4" poly rope. I have 400 yds of 5/8 on a spool and have pulled a cow and calf out at the same time. Only use 2 snatch blocks at any time. Make your own spool with plywood and pvc pipe, lot cheaper than that aluminum one. Some drag out hind feet first, we always do head first. Half inch crabline would be the best in my opinion.

[300winmag]

I agree with lighting we pulled both our bulls out with crab line and blocks also have a one inch piece of rebar welded to a drop hitch to wrap the rope around works like a charm

[steelhead13]

Used mule tape once as a suggestion from a friend and will never use again do to the fact it would break.  Haywire works great never have a problem.

[GameHunter1959]

We use heavy duty tape used to pull cable at Puget Sound Energy 1800 pound test. Strap the rear legs close to the belly. Strap the front legs to the head. Make a loop around the neck and pull.

[chinookie23]

Amsteel is the way to go 3/16" diameter = 5000 breaking strength 1/4" diameter is 7,400 strength. if you really want to step up get 1/2" and get like 15,000 lb breaking strength amazing stuff and if it breaks there is virtually NO energy when it snaps. Put 600 feet of 3/16" in like a milk crate or 5 gallon bucket. 

[grundy53]

Amsteel is the way to go 3/16" diameter = 5000 breaking strength 1/4" diameter is 7,400 strength. if you really want to step up get 1/2" and get like 15,000 lb breaking strength amazing stuff and if it breaks there is virtually NO energy when it snaps. Put 600 feet of 3/16" in like a milk crate or 5 gallon bucket.

Yeah stuff is great. But it is really expensive.

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

[Tom Tamer]

Right now we use 1500' spool of wire core rope from the P.U.D.. pretty much hand spooling, I set v notched blocks in the bed post pockets put the spool on old dumbell bar. Then Run a snatch block up on a stump or tree to gain some lift. Run the rope down to the animal, cut the scent glands out and notch that skin there. Tie the back legs and hook spool end up to the trailer hitch. If ya got 2 guys, one runs the " Yarder" the other is the choke setter. Use our radios for communications and start pulling. Pull them rear first then antlers and head does not hang on brush(found out hard way) and do not gut it first(found out the hard way)
 This year my deer I was solo and still had him out of a 200 yard hole and to the road in under a half hour. without any back aching
I have a 1800' roll of Mule tape coming to refine my process.