Using Haywire to retrieve elk

[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.

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[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.

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[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