Pulling rope

[bullkiller]

Just wanting some insight on pulling rope. Have always used haywire for pulling elk out but wanting to switch over to rope. What size and tensile strength is everyone using. Gonna be used in western Washington so pulling over logs and around reprod and trees. Thanks.

[PolarBear]

5/8 Blue Steel. We used it on crab pots. The stuff is really strong and flexible. The okd Seattle Marine and Fisheries Supply has it in bulk.  It’s better than mule tape because it doesn’t bind up in blocks.

[Tbar]

https://www.amazon.com/CWC-BLUE-STEEL-Rope-Tracer/dp/B071K9VVFZ/ref=asc_df_B072B8NHLF/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=647212035970&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17771874442631174741&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033660&hvtargid=pla-1980159843794&psc=1&th=1
I haven't pulled an elk in about 15 years but this on a hitch mounted spool is what we used to use.

[builtfordtough]

Mule tape

[Tbar]

5/8 Blue Steel. We used it on crab pots. The stuff is really strong and flexible. The okd Seattle Fish and Marine has it in bulk.

5/8 is better than half but you'll need a large spool.

[Tbar]

Mule tape

We tried mule tape for several elk. It worked well until it got into rocks. Once it knicked it broke frequently.  If you can keep it from being knicked it is great because it's really low stretch.

[ghosthunter]

Get Portable winch rope.

Logging Supply

Hardware Sales in Bellingham



https://www.portablewinch.com/collections/accessories/products/double-braided-polyester-ropes-o-12-inches

[ASHQUACK]

Mule tape, I have a 3000 yrd spool. It's usually enough to get a little lift kinda like high lead. I also use one of those kiddy sleds. Makes life much easier.

[HntnFsh]

2500 pound mule tape. Get the right blocks and it wont bind up. Pulled a lot of elk with it.
1800 pound will work with deer, and I have made it work with elk, but much prefer the 2500 pound stuff.

[CastleRocker]

We used haywire for a long time.  As long as you had someone who could make a good layout, it worked fine.  If the person making the layout siwashed it too bad...well then it would bite into something, and if nobody caught it in time, it was more of a pain than it was worth. 

Been using a Simpson winch, and 200' of 1/2 blue steel for over 20 years now.  It all goes into an old backpack, tied at the bottom of the pack.  Just take the winch out, tie the line around the head/neck, with a half hitch around the nose.  Walk to your next tree, and winch/repeat until you get where you're going.   I carry a lightweight block that I built, so I can rig a different direction if need be.  Getting them out whole makes for suck a nice clean animal! 

Saw some old guys years ago that used haywire and a big blue plastic barrel with an eyebolt in the middle of one side.  They had quartered it all up, put it in the barrel, screwed the lid on, and skidded it up to the landing.  He told us it came up, "just like a short-butt choked in the guts".  (All you choker-dogs will get that reference).

[bullkiller]

Yeah I used haywire for years. Had it from when I worked in the woods. Worked great and never had any issue. Pulled one elk out over 2200’ but it’s hard to handle then having. To coil it after. Also used mule tape from when I worked as an electrician. Hated it. It busted when burning over logs. That’s why I’m wanting to go with rope on a spool. Have plenty of blocks, just trying to figure out what tensile strength and diameter I want to purchase.

[Tbar]

5/8 bluesteel is 11k. Also a hitch mounted spool with a tbar makes it nice.

[WSU]

You won’t break the crab rope. You might break the elk but the rope won’t break.

[deerhunter_98520]

Im having a guy make me an aluminum spool and I'll be using 3/8" bluesteel, its more than enough

[Tbar]

Im having a guy make me an aluminum spool and I'll be using 3/8" bluesteel, its more than enough

Are you doing a hitch mounted spool? If not I can serve you pictures if you want.  Worked really slick but now I break all of my elk down.

[buglebuster]

I’ve seen people in action like you’ve all described and I still think it’s easier and less time consuming to just quarter them and haul them out on your back 

[fowl smacker]

I’ve seen people in action like you’ve all described and I still think it’s easier and less time consuming to just quarter them and haul them out on your back 

Agree 100%

[Tbar]

Yeah I used haywire for years. Had it from when I worked in the woods. Worked great and never had any issue. Pulled one elk out over 2200’ but it’s hard to handle then having. To coil it after. Also used mule tape from when I worked as an electrician. Hated it. It busted when burning over logs. That’s why I’m wanting to go with rope on a spool. Have plenty of blocks, just trying to figure out what tensile strength and diameter I want to purchase.

I would guess you can get 2k plus of half on this.  Straight pull,  no knots and no coiling. If you use a spool in the bed this tbar has been useful, again no knots and easy pull point.

[Fletch]

We used haywire for a long time.  As long as you had someone who could make a good layout, it worked fine.  If the person making the layout siwashed it too bad...well then it would bite into something, and if nobody caught it in time, it was more of a pain than it was worth. 

Been using a Simpson winch, and 200' of 1/2 blue steel for over 20 years now.  It all goes into an old backpack, tied at the bottom of the pack.  Just take the winch out, tie the line around the head/neck, with a half hitch around the nose.  Walk to your next tree, and winch/repeat until you get where you're going.   I carry a lightweight block that I built, so I can rig a different direction if need be.  Getting them out whole makes for suck a nice clean animal! 

Saw some old guys years ago that used haywire and a big blue plastic barrel with an eyebolt in the middle of one side.  They had quartered it all up, put it in the barrel, screwed the lid on, and skidded it up to the landing.  He told us it came up, "just like a short-butt choked in the guts".  (All you choker-dogs will get that reference).

This is similar to what we do as well, I think GhostHunter has a similar set up.  We use the gas powered capstan and 300 ft of nonstretch rope.  Keep the rope in a rope bag so it is easy in easy out.  This method is not terribly fast but it beats the heck out of quartering and packing. 

[WSU]

There is no question that a rope is far easier that quartering and packing, at least in the timber company areas I've done it.  If you can get a rope to it, you can get it in the truck whole in short order. 

[ghosthunter]

We used haywire for a long time.  As long as you had someone who could make a good layout, it worked fine.  If the person making the layout siwashed it too bad...well then it would bite into something, and if nobody caught it in time, it was more of a pain than it was worth. 

Been using a Simpson winch, and 200' of 1/2 blue steel for over 20 years now.  It all goes into an old backpack, tied at the bottom of the pack.  Just take the winch out, tie the line around the head/neck, with a half hitch around the nose.  Walk to your next tree, and winch/repeat until you get where you're going.   I carry a lightweight block that I built, so I can rig a different direction if need be.  Getting them out whole makes for suck a nice clean animal! 

Saw some old guys years ago that used haywire and a big blue plastic barrel with an eyebolt in the middle of one side.  They had quartered it all up, put it in the barrel, screwed the lid on, and skidded it up to the landing.  He told us it came up, "just like a short-butt choked in the guts".  (All you choker-dogs will get that reference).

This is similar to what we do as well, I think GhostHunter has a similar set up.  We use the gas powered capstan and 300 ft of nonstretch rope.  Keep the rope in a rope bag so it is easy in easy out.  This method is not terribly fast but it beats the heck out of quartering and packing.

Yeah

I have a Capstan winch and about 200 ft of rope. You could go more rope but unless it’s a straight pull not much faster than jumping tree to tree. The winch doesn’t break any speed records. But one guy could pull a hole animal out no problem with two it’s lot easier.

Plus the winch is useful for a lot of other stuff.

[HntnFsh]

Those Honda capstan winches that fit in a backpack with all the other gear are pretty sweet. Buddy of mines crew pulled out 2 elk at once with one.

[ghosthunter]

I got a PWC 5000 with all the gear and storage box from my employer when I retired two years ago after 28 years with the company.

Friggin thing is awesome.

Rope bag is the way to go.

[bullkiller]

I went with rope. Now I’m just looking at spools and how to keep it in the back of the truck. Thinking of going to a fab shop to see if I can get something made on a skid. Anyone have any pics of there’s or if they found pre fab ones?

[HntnFsh]

Pressure washer hose reel.

[PsoasHunter]

A garden hose spool works well in our camp to store and spool the rope.

[deerhunter_98520]

Im having a guy make me an aluminum spool and I'll be using 3/8" bluesteel, its more than enough

Are you doing a hitch mounted spool? If not I can serve you pictures if you want.  Worked really slick but now I break all of my elk down.

No I'm not, I debated doing it but I've used the spools in the bed of the truck for years and just went that route again.

[Tbar]

Im having a guy make me an aluminum spool and I'll be using 3/8" bluesteel, its more than enough

Are you doing a hitch mounted spool? If not I can serve you pictures if you want.  Worked really slick but now I break all of my elk down.

No I'm not, I debated doing it but I've used the spools in the bed of the truck for years and just went that route again.

I  just liked there versatility of having the bed open.  For bed mounted the tbar I posted makes it really nice. Never more than a few figure 8s and hitch pulling is a breeze. 

[deerhunter_98520]

Im having a guy make me an aluminum spool and I'll be using 3/8" bluesteel, its more than enough

Are you doing a hitch mounted spool? If not I can serve you pictures if you want.  Worked really slick but now I break all of my elk down.

No I'm not, I debated doing it but I've used the spools in the bed of the truck for years and just went that route again.

I  just liked there versatility of having the bed open.  For bed mounted the tbar I posted makes it really nice. Never more than a few figure 8s and hitch pulling is a breeze.

That's for sure! I'm making a hitch mounted clevis for mine 

[sparky512]

Please forgive me for the inquiry but what do you mean by pulling out an elk?
 For 15years I have helped with quartering and packing out.  How do you pull out with cable or mule tape?

[Dan-o]

Please forgive me for the inquiry but what do you mean by pulling out an elk?
 For 15years I have helped with quartering and packing out.  How do you pull out with cable or mule tape?

[HereDuckyDucky]

I’ve never killed an elk close enough to a road to make a rope feasible, but it’s a nice thought.

RW

[nwwanderer]

Winches with a long line are pretty common, have saved a bunch of critters that would have been wasted without them.  Whether mud, snow, steep or just not enough man power to get it done in a timely manner they are a great tool. 

[Tbar]

I’ve never killed an elk close enough to a road to make a rope feasible, but it’s a nice thought.

RW

On tree farms they are amazing.

[The scout]

Seems like way more work than it’s worth, and when you have to cut it up eventually 

[MooseStock]

It's actually WAY easier, quicker and your animals tends to stay alot cleaner for eating purposes. You don't gut them until you pull them to the loading place at the road. Load em up whole and take them home to a block and tackle...we have been doing this over 40 years....my partner and I have probably over a mile of haywire sections between us as well as old logging passblocks...not many places your not a mile from a road nowadays...also several times over the years a bull elk that would have taken all day to do in the field is hung and we have went back up hunting and got another....it works well...especially when your 70

[ghosthunter]

It's actually WAY easier, quicker and your animals tends to stay alot cleaner for eating purposes. You don't gut them until you pull them to the loading place at the road. Load em up whole and take them home to a block and tackle...we have been doing this over 40 years....my partner and I have probably over a mile of haywire sections between us as well as old logging passblocks...not many places your not a mile from a road nowadays...also several times over the years a bull elk that would have taken all day to do in the field is hung and we have went back up hunting and got another....it works well...especially when your 70

Yep my packing days at 72 are over. My buddy and I both have a Power Winch in our trucks.
And they work for a lot of other uses too.  Keeping the animal insides clean is a prime concern for us. We hunt we don’t process. Get it up , dress it out and off to the meat cutter it goes.

[The scout]

To each there own, I hunt with be back pack on. Pretty sure I could have it deboned and the first load in my pack before someone could hike back to a truck get all the gear and get it rigged for the drag out. I carry one of those cheap red and white table cloths in my pack to lay out all the meat as I take it off the animal so it stays pretty dang clean. But that’s great if it’s what works for you guys.

[WSU]

I do both and guarantee it’s easier to use a rope if you are a reasonable distance from a road.

[HereDuckyDucky]

Please forgive me for the inquiry but what do you mean by pulling out an elk?
 For 15years I have helped with quartering and packing out.  How do you pull out with cable or mule tape?

That's cool! Unfortunately, I hunt way too far from the road (and in too much deadfall) for this to work.

RW