Game retrieval

[Turner89]

Is that a blacky? Looks like a stud

Yea Carp, a columbian. I got him this year.  126 7/8''  My personal best.
  SITKA!   That's a nice looking sitka blacky

[fish vacuum]

In Alaska, all my deer hunting was from sea level up the mountains so it's pretty much downhill all the way out.

So, what size deer were you dragging out up there?

Just those tiny little Sitka's of course. Heh heh

I only asked because I've heard the Sitkas are small bodied. What does a big one weigh? It makes a big difference when deciding to drag or bone out.

[billythekidrock]

My dad use to put the front foot through the back leg tendon and break the front leg and put it on upside down and wear it like a backpack.  He would always put hunter orange on top so he didnt get shot but thats also why he would wear it butt side up.  He used to say "you ever see a buck walk'n around on on his front hooves dont shoot" lol

You wouldnt have a pic of that technique would you?

I posted a pic of me with a 3pt backpack, but it was wrapped in a sheet. This pic shows how it looks on.



By pushing down on the legs, the deer's rear raises up making it quite comfortable. I don't know if I could do it head down. Seems like it bang against your legs and hit every log and stump on the way.

It can be a bit messy. We used to carry large plastic garbage bags or disposable ponchos to help stay a bit cleaner.

Here is a video of my father demonstrating how to do it.

feature=youtube_gdata

[Sawbuck]

Seems like the determining factor in how a deer is packed out is the size of the deer.

[bobcat]

Seems like the determining factor in how a deer is packed out is the size of the deer.

I'd say for me it would be more the distance than the size. For me to drag a deer out it would have to be downhill and less than 100 yards. Any further, or if uphill at all, and I'd rather quarter a deer and pack it out on my back. The way I see it is I have to do that with it when I get it home anyway. So it isn't any extra work, and it sure makes a lot less work in getting it out of the woods.

[Sawbuck]

I hear you Bobcat. I was just reading the posts in this thread and noticed that the guys that prefer to drag or pack out whole appear to be harvesting blacktails, and the guys who are harvesting deer like in your avatar are quartering or boning them out.

[link]

Dragging a deer five miles??? Wow. Thats like cutting a cord of firewood with a hacksaw.

[WA hunter14]

Dragging a deer five miles??? Wow. Thats like cutting a cord of firewood with a hacksaw.

hahhaah   

[mazama]

How do you guys get an animal out in terrain steep enough where you have to climb down rocks or the ground moves or you hit a deep dropoff,a lot of times iam happy to just get myself out alive with no broken bones-i have passed on a lot of deer but i will take the chanch for a trophy.

[jackmaster]

i shot a small 2pt back before i really cared about antler size, but i shot this little buck way the heck and gone out on a river bed about 2 miles cross country through creeks and a river and down a small rock cliff and a cliff of sand that was probably a 15 to 20 ft drop off, it took me till dark to get him out whole and i shot him fairly early in the morning, i often wonder why the hell i go into some of the places i go, and it amazes me that i get myself and the animal out without getn to messed up, i could see why guys cut muleys up, especially in some of the canyons that they get them in, i have ever only hunted blacktails, i have killed a few huge bodied blacktail and to this date i have still only cut one in half, and i aint no he-man i promise you that, its just determination to get it out whole that keeps me goin...

[fish vacuum]

There is no reason to bring a deer out whole if it's easier to do it quartered or boned out.

[jackmaster]

There is no reason to bring a deer out whole if it's easier to do it quartered or boned out.

well thats your opinion, it isnt just me its my whole family that brings them out whole, i guess thats where i learned it, my reason is simple i like to see them in the back of my truck, whole, they are easier for me to care for when i get them hanging, whack them up in the feild doesnt seem like fun to me and when you get home all you have is a head with antlers and a bag full of meat, and i guarantee it isnt as clean of meat as my deer is when i get done with it, that and i guess the big thing is i dont mind the work, it is hard sometimes but i dont mind it.

[Skyvalhunter]

Seems like the determining factor in how a deer is packed out is the size of the deer.

Not necessarily I drug a nice 4-point in Montana 3 miles with a homemade shoulder drag. First off the hill I shot it on, then down a cattle trail to a closed road. This was during the Thanksgiving time frame with the snow that nice powder type. Just your average joe and didn't hardly notice the deer back there. So the conditions and terrain are more of a factor for me then the size. If it conditions and terrain dictate it then I bone it or 1/4 it to get it out.

[high country]

How do you guys get an animal out in terrain steep enough where you have to climb down rocks or the ground moves or you hit a deep dropoff,a lot of times iam happy to just get myself out alive with no broken bones-i have passed on a lot of deer but i will take the chanch for a trophy.

Boned out a big buck will fit in a cubic foot pretty easy. I load my pack with Boned meat close to my body and as low as i can. I won't backpack hunt without trekking poles or an ice axe. Poles make climbing easier, axe will self arrest a slip. Take your time and remember that often the long way is the easy way.

Many think a big buck is hard to move, but I have it figured to about 2/5 live weight to meat. Rarely will you have more than 75ish extra pounds.

[Kowsrule30]

Most my deer come out whole on a game cart or in half on my back to the cart... Elk always quartered or boned out on my back or on the cart....