Elk retrieval cable

[dewandgin]

For many years I have had 1000 ft of 3/8"nylon rope that has served me very well for retrieval of Elk,deer,Moose,Antelope,etc but the time has come after many breaks and repairs to replace it. I have access to some 1/8" 7x7 galvanized wire. I can get it new on the spool for a very good price. The breaking strength of the cable is 1700lbs. So I gotta ask is this gonna be enough or should I go with 1/4"? I have no problem packing animals and have for years but if the rope could reach the animal it made retrieval alot easier. 

Thanks

[bow4elk]

not sure I understand why you'd want to drag an elk that far (?)  I'd think that would cause excessive bruising and damage to the meat.   

[JimmyHoffa]

There should be a recommended working load for that cable too.  It should be a percentage of the breaking strength.  How big are the elk you get?  I think it would be okay, but if something does happen to it----you know you will be wishing you had the bigger stuff.  And when hauling around the bigger stuff wishing you had the small stuff.  Sometimes it helps to wrap the animal in tarp or put it on a sled before winching.

[ICEMAN]

A nice cable assembly up for sale in the classifieds... check it out...

[high country]

what kind of rope are you using? I run a simpson capstan winch with 3/8 double braid that is way stronger then the winch....about 5,000lb breaking strenght. rope is nice to work with because it is so light and supple....and way less dangerous if it breaks. if you want a serious get out of a pickle tool check out the simpson capstan winch. I thought it was a joke when I saw one, but after seeing it in action......pretty impressive to say the least.

[fisheral87]

Dude, you said "supple". 

[high country]

it was less lame then flacid

[grundy53]

not sure I understand why you'd want to drag an elk that far (?)  I'd think that would cause excessive bruising and damage to the meat.   

If there is no blood flow then there is no bruising.

[whacker1]

3/16" is quite a bit stronger than 1/8", but not as spendy as the 1/4" and adds to your working load significantly.  The classified post that was previously mentioned looked like a pretty good deal.

[Lightning_Rider]

We drag em outta $hit holes all this time with up to 11 100yd sections of hay wire...just dont gut it until you get em on the road 

[724wd]

what kind of rope are you using? I run a simpson capstan winch with 3/8 double braid that is way stronger then the winch....about 5,000lb breaking strenght. rope is nice to work with because it is so light and supple....and way less dangerous if it breaks. if you want a serious get out of a pickle tool check out the simpson capstan winch. I thought it was a joke when I saw one, but after seeing it in action......pretty impressive to say the least.

quoted for truth!  we have a capstan and it is the bees knees!

[GoldTip]

One word, Mule tape, ok that's two words, but the stuff is pretty damn cool and works!

[fisheral87]

They also make a spectra type rope like the fishing line. We used it on a crane to lift our jet sled on deck. Could be similar to the mule tape.

Al

[Lightning_Rider]

They also make a spectra type rope like the fishing line. We used it on a crane to lift our jet sled on deck. Could be similar to the mule tape.

Al

agreed, spectra is the almighty...at an almighty price of course. We had a piece on the crane on our boat in alaska and it was $300 for less than a 100ft.

[high country]

spectra 3/8" rope is 5bux a foot. good for 7tons, but too expensive to be practical. if you used 1/8" amsteel it would be good on capacity, but hard on riggin.

[lilswab]

not sure I understand why you'd want to drag an elk that far (?)  I'd think that would cause excessive bruising and damage to the meat.   

If there is no blood flow then there is no bruising.

We do this year after year with 1000ft of 1/4" steel cable.  It really works like a charm. I will post pictures of our setup.  Pretty slick. 

[Huntboy]

We do this year after year with 1000ft of 1/4" steel cable.  It really works like a charm. I will post pictures of our setup.  Pretty slick.  

[/quote]

Would really like to see that.

[lilswab]

Here ya go Huntboy! Check out the setup...



My buddy with his 5x5 last year...worked like a charm!



We just hook it to the receiver hitch!



We used a tow strap to add some length to the cable!

[Blacktail Sniper]

Another option....

[Greg30-06]

what kind of rope are you using? I run a simpson capstan winch with 3/8 double braid that is way stronger then the winch....about 5,000lb breaking strenght. rope is nice to work with because it is so light and supple....and way less dangerous if it breaks. if you want a serious get out of a pickle tool check out the simpson capstan winch. I thought it was a joke when I saw one, but after seeing it in action......pretty impressive to say the least.

Lucky I want one bad.  But the ones im seeing online wont fit my stihl 440 mag.  Too much power i guess.   Not to mention my wife would kill and then divorce me if i spent 800 on a winch.

[gaddy]

tow truck? generaly dont take one with me. nice idea though.

[high country]

what kind of rope are you using? I run a simpson capstan winch with 3/8 double braid that is way stronger then the winch....about 5,000lb breaking strenght. rope is nice to work with because it is so light and supple....and way less dangerous if it breaks. if you want a serious get out of a pickle tool check out the simpson capstan winch. I thought it was a joke when I saw one, but after seeing it in action......pretty impressive to say the least.

Lucky I want one bad.  But the ones im seeing online wont fit my stihl 440 mag.  Too much power i guess.   Not to mention my wife would kill and then divorce me if i spent 800 on a winch.

it will fit any 3/8" pitch saw. I have used mine on my husky 61, and stihl 034, 26 pro and pretty sure it will fit my 056. just be careful if it starts bogging too hard.

[400out]

One word, Mule tape, ok that's two words, but the stuff is pretty damn cool and works!

x2 and it's cheap just stop a lineman BS with him he will have some on his truck 

[thomasmx]

You need a chainsaw wench or a good knife and a few packs. Anything where your having to drag more than 1000yrds just cut it up and pack it out.

[mrgoodwrench]

We use 1/4" haywire like lilswab but don't have it on a spool.  We just have it in coiled sections and you hang a block for some lift so you dont burn the line on the ground.  My buddy in Coos Bay pulled a bull with two blocks and 7 sections (1750') so they could get around a ridge in some steep ground...idling in four low is all it takes if you have lift.....ask logger...I think he's flown them out on the riggin before.

[grundy53]

We use 1/4" haywire like lilswab but don't have it on a spool.  We just have it in coiled sections and you hang a block for some lift so you dont burn the line on the ground.  My buddy in Coos Bay pulled a bull with two blocks and 7 sections (1750') so they could get around a ridge in some steep ground...idling in four low is all it takes if you have lift.....ask logger...I think he's flown them out on the riggin before.

Yes sir. Just figure out how many sections you need and your good to go.

[MADMAX]

Question on the spool mounted in the hitch, do you use the truck to pull it ?
Looks like a good idea .

[Bobm]

Good stuff here

[CJ-5]

I would not recommend mule tape to any one.  We got some from a lineman friend a couple years ago and tried to yard out an elk I shot.  That tape snapped after pulling on the elk for about 5 yards.   We said hell with it after that and brought out the coils of haywire.  We heard great things about that tape, and maybe we just had a weak length, but I wouldnt use that stuff again.   Haywire all the way.

[dewandgin]

Thanks for all the replies guys.   I ended up getting two spools of 1/4" x1000'. Looked into getting the mule tape but this wire was a good price (paying back some of the money owed me) so the price was right. Will work on getting it all set up right after the first of the year and post some pics after I get done.

[HntnFsh]

I would not recommend mule tape to any one.  We got some from a lineman friend a couple years ago and tried to yard out an elk I shot.  That tape snapped after pulling on the elk for about 5 yards.   We said hell with it after that and brought out the coils of haywire.  We heard great things about that tape, and maybe we just had a weak length, but I wouldnt use that stuff again.   Haywire all the way.

You may have been using too light of mule tape.We use 2000 to 3500 lb stuff and have pulled elk out of some serious hell holes.It worked great.Dont remember breaking it ever.