Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: JDArms1240 on October 19, 2025, 11:23:30 AM

Title: Anyone use game carts?
Post by: JDArms1240 on October 19, 2025, 11:23:30 AM: Anyone use game carts for hunting? I’ve been thinking about adding one to my pile of gear. I know I wouldn’t use it in every situation, but maybe just when I walk old logging roads behind gates. I’ve also considered one of those sleds but that doesn’t seem practical unless there is a lot of snow. Anyone who uses either, what kind do you use? I looked on Amazon, there’s a bunch, the ones with the biggest tires seem best to me.
Title: Re: Anyone use game carts?
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on October 19, 2025, 11:46:39 AM: They do have their uses, I got one from Cabela's about 4-5 years ago and modified it to better suit my needs. Being fairly tall, it was just too low when pushing so I extended it 5" if I remember correctly.

Then I welded on several "D" rings on each side to accommodate ratchet straps to hold the animal more securely than just plain bungee straps or bailing string.
Title: Re: Anyone use game carts?
Post by: Westside88 on October 19, 2025, 11:48:17 AM: I keep a folding cabelas game cart in my truck. The wheels are tucked inside and I only assemble it when needed. I haven't used it a lot, but when I needed it it was a lifesaver. Last time I used my bike to pull it 5 miles in to where the buck was.
Title: Re: Anyone use game carts?
Post by: brokentrail on October 19, 2025, 12:07:19 PM: I have used a game cart as well as a bike trailer in my past, when hunting where I could get somewhat close to the harvest site via a road but I decided two years ago to never bring one out whole again. Pretty sure mine is a cabelas version with the hard tires, not aired tires. I have hauled plenty of deer out on it. I hunt far behind locked gates and it just no longer made sense for me. Instead I gutless method now, debone, into meat bags, and out I go with it all on/in my Stone Glacier pack.
Title: Re: Anyone use game carts?
Post by: C-Money on October 19, 2025, 12:12:31 PM: Our game cart has come up huge for my family over the years. Defiantly a good purchase to add to your gear. So much easier to drag wheels Vs dragging hide on the ground. Couple good pack frames would also be a good purchase for places a cart doesn't make sense. Our cart is a Cabelas brand cart from a while back. Very good quality.
Title: Re: Anyone use game carts?
Post by: JDArms1240 on October 19, 2025, 12:17:22 PM: I will check out the cabelas one. I usually do the gutless method also, just quarter it up and throw it in/on my pack. But my preferred way is to be able to hang it whole in my garage so i figure in situations where it makes sense, it would be nice to have.

I like the idea of welding d rings onto it.
Title: Re: Anyone use game carts?
Post by: Wood2Sawdust on October 19, 2025, 12:52:31 PM: have one i've used a lot but prefer my jetsled in the wheat fields much easier
Title: Re: Anyone use game carts?
Post by: Humptulips on October 19, 2025, 02:15:07 PM: I use mine every year.
This year.
Title: Re: Anyone use game carts?
Post by: MightyWhite on October 19, 2025, 02:28:34 PM: My first cabelas cart I wore out and finally installed a dually wheels kit…it hauled 20 plus bucks and 4 elk pieced out…it had the wheels with spokes…I made a spoke wrench for it and installed “eye bolts” along sides for mor tiedowns..finally gifted it and bought a new cabelas cart which had the solid wheels..no spokes…minus the spokes the new version is not as smooth pulling..we hunt sage and crater/butte country..just took a 4pt out a mile last week and can’t imagine life without it..also take packframes ….my 2 cents
Title: Re: Anyone use game carts?
Post by: Wingin it on October 19, 2025, 06:04:47 PM: I have a Cabelas game cart. They definitely come in handy when applicable. Like you mentioned, they aren’t useful in a lot of situations, but when you are miles in behind a gate they really shine. Anymore we generally cut them up and load them in packs or use the cart. I’m over dragging them out unless it’s within a mile or less of the truck.
Title: Re: Anyone use game carts?
Post by: Bob33 on October 19, 2025, 06:24:56 PM: I've used one quite a bit to haul antelope and elk. It folds up flat and doesn't take up much space. I bought it at Cabelas many years ago.
Title: Re: Anyone use game carts?
Post by: Okanagan on October 19, 2025, 09:40:15 PM: I bought a Cabela’s upscale model game cart probably ten years ago and my family has used it several times on deer and elk and once to haul gear into a no motor vehicle camp.

A critical factor is brush and sticks getting into the spoked wheels. That is major. Mine came with detachable wheel covers to keep stuff out of the spokes and in our situations, it is essential to keep the wheel covers on to protect the spokes and keep it rolling. We have found the cart to be great on roads that are clear of brush and on trails that are wide and brush free. Otherwise it can be more trouble than help. I would not consider having one that did not have wheel covers for the spokes or solid wheels with no spokes. That is more of a problem on the brushy west side.
Title: Re: Anyone use game carts?
Post by: TitusFord on October 19, 2025, 09:57:59 PM: They are pretty handy to have. Especially when you can call someone to bring it out and you don't have to go back and get it!
Title: Re: Anyone use game carts?
Post by: dilleytech on October 20, 2025, 09:13:51 AM: Mine has came in handy many times for bears. But only used it once for elk. You pretty much need a road to use it. Not a bad thing to have in the back of the truck. More so for bears and elk. Deer can be carried easily enough.
Title: Re: Anyone use game carts?
Post by: pianoman9701 on October 20, 2025, 10:53:36 AM: I found a replacement online for the canvas cover on the Cabelas Super Mag Hauler.
Title: Re: Anyone use game carts?
Post by: HikerHunter on October 20, 2025, 11:22:58 AM: I've had my cabelas brand for about 10 years and use it a couple times a year to haul animals and/or gear. It works really well but as others have done, it really helps to extend one of the sides (I just did handles) so I could have better adjustability to balance the load on the wheels and not have to slightly lean over. The only other thing I have had to be careful with is loads settling under the lateral brace and rubbing against the wheels.
Title: Re: Anyone use game carts?
Post by: avidnwoutdoorsman on October 20, 2025, 02:12:57 PM: I got a game cart several years ago and yes its handy when you need it or the circumstances allow.

What have I most used mine for? Hauling decoys duck hunting public WA WMAs... been killer for that!
Title: Re: Anyone use game carts?
Post by: Stein on October 20, 2025, 05:12:33 PM: I'm surprised nobody mentioned the Hawk Crawler.

https://shop.hawkhunting.com/crawler-multi-use-cart/?srsltid=AfmBOoqumusXNKtXLZPMyPfN8vbI9Tx4kbJibC7j2KP3F3h_StHivnuw

I had two of the two wheeled versions from Cabelas, the regular one and the heavy duty. The heavy duty broke when I tried hauling two antelope at the same time and I upgraded to the Hawk Crawler.

It's amazing, goes over stuff effortlessly and is probably half the effort or less compared with the two wheeled versions.
Title: Re: Anyone use game carts?
Post by: jowings22 on October 20, 2025, 08:35:44 PM: I’ve used one for 15+ years. Hunt a lot on industrial timberland on the coast with roads everywhere. Behind locked gates I’ve found it efficient to drag deer to the closest road and load onto the cart and back to the truck whole. Typically solo.

Elk is an entirely different situation. We typically quarter and haul out on bike trailers after getting them to the gravel.

Without roads, my cart would be pretty useless.
Title: Re: Anyone use game carts?
Post by: bigdub257 on October 20, 2025, 08:55:58 PM: I've hauled out a few critters with one of these. Bundled up a whole spike in Montana and hauled it out cross country for 3 miles. Single wheel and brakes. Better with 2 guys but doable alone. Piled 3 dozen duck decoys on it once for a hike in duck hunt. Kinda funky looking but it will haul a load!

https://offerup.com/item/detail/ab2f1847-d23c-3fcf-8acc-2f5cde844d9d
Title: Re: Anyone use game carts?
Post by: jhouckwsu on October 21, 2025, 05:59:36 AM: Quote from: JDArms1240 on October 19, 2025, 11:23:30 AM
Anyone use game carts for hunting? I’ve been thinking about adding one to my pile of gear. I know I wouldn’t use it in every situation, but maybe just when I walk old logging roads behind gates. I’ve also considered one of those sleds but that doesn’t seem practical unless there is a lot of snow. Anyone who uses either, what kind do you use? I looked on Amazon, there’s a bunch, the ones with the biggest tires seem best to me.

I don't use a game cart, I use one of those pull behind bike trailers that you can stick 2 kids in. found one with a handle on the back that can also be used like a walking stroler. It doubles as a gear carrier for just what you are talking about, logging roads open land, non green dot roads, easy to hook to a bike They typically say up to 75 +/- lbs etc. While I don't think you can put a non 1/4'd animal in one you certainly can 1/4 up and elk and pull it out, way over 75lbs. Did it this weekend. I got lucky and shot one .18 miles from the truck in the open sage. 1/4'd it up walked back to the truck got the cart and loaded it up. Easiest pack out i have had. I bring it for just this instance. You can getem cheap on FB market place . This one cost me $45.