So Sunday at Vail Tree farm see this...

[throttlejocky20]

it dosent take much time when you shoot them from the road in vail. 

[bloodhound]

i guess its just me but it looks like it would have been way easier to just take it out to where the pictures were taken from.... looks pretty flat to me. and i would rather go 2 miles down hill then one mile up.

[BowBender87]

When did backboards, frame packs and large internal frame packs go out of style?

In the time it takes to collect your rig, figure out how to winch the deer, walk and clear all the hurdles/blowdown with it... you can dress it, cut it in half at the rear haunch and carry it out on your frame.  I can't remember the last time I hunted without a pack capable of taking at least half a deer out in the first trip.  If your not into boning or don't feel skilled with it just halve the darn thing and walk on out. 

Of course I'm realatively young and fit, so I can see where certain folks would feel the need.

X2! Two guys two boards...not bad at all

[400out]

I would say if that hill scares you then you better stay out of the east side  that's just a baby 

[Holg3107]

  That hill / area really doesnt look that bad. I would be more than happy to put a deer down in that, bone it out 2 trips to the truck no issues.

[Sumpnneedskillin]

I would say if that hill scares you then you better stay out of the east side  that's just a baby 

[FLIZZ]

Vail Tree Farm. What a joke 

[The100Road]

Knowing Vail, im sure there was a road at the bottom of that hill. Shoulda just drug down to the road. 

[nwdp]

Not the way I would have done it and I will never be back to Vail, but I say good on 'em.  They got a deer in Vail and they weren't using the truck for a rest.  They also have a story now about the deer that took 8hrs to get of the steepest hills ever.  To me that would make it more than just a spike.

[biggamehunter]

I couldnt agree more. Bone that guy out!!! As for the comments of " the hill doesnt look that bad"  sure from those pictures, at that distance it doesnt, but boy once you get into some of those clearcuts on the westside they can be awful, downed trees, stumps and tons and tons of brush. So from first glance, sure it dont look that bad, but im sure it was hell. And if it were a spike they should have been able to throw him over their shoulders easy!! ( with plenty of orange visible of course)

[billythekidrock]

When did backboards, frame packs and large internal frame packs go out of style?

In the time it takes to collect your rig, figure out how to winch the deer, walk and clear all the hurdles/blowdown with it... you can dress it, cut it in half at the rear haunch and carry it out on your frame.  I can't remember the last time I hunted without a pack capable of taking at least half a deer out in the first trip.  If your not into boning or don't feel skilled with it just halve the darn thing and walk on out. 

Of course I'm realatively young and fit, so I can see where certain folks would feel the need.

I agree.
Better yet, split it at about the 3rd rib and your loads will be closer to even.

[fish vacuum]

Bone. It. Out.

[PolarBear]

Most of the guys that "hunt" Vail do not know how to gut a deer nonetheless bone one out!

[bankwalker]

Most of the guys that "hunt" Vail do not know how to gut a deer nonetheless bone one out!

Isn't that what the 300rum gut shot is for 

I know how those guys feel. 5 years ago I packed a spike up a very similar hill in vail.

[Broker]

I'm sure that hill is a heck of a lot steeper in person than it appears on screen.  BUT, why the hell do so many hunters insist on trying to take their animals out whole?  Hell there's a tutorial right here: http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,37569.0.html

The winch idea sounds fun and all, but it's so quick to cut up a deer and pack it out, I don't see the point.  It's two trips max for a jumbo sized deer even in steep country.