Advice on getting a deer out?

[ALwoodsman]

Last year I got permision to hunt 80 scres on the side of a mountain with access only from the top.  I only had the chance to hunt it one time and thought how will I ever get a deer out of here?  I am planning on hunting it more this year and my thoughts are to quarter the deer up and pack it out.  I know there are several people on here that are experienced with this. Can you give me some advice?  This is something that I have never done.

[Bud B.]

This was posted a few weeks ago. Pretty good technique.

 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=119365

[Charlie Lamb]

What I do is hunt with young guys.    :D

[wetfeathers]

I understand your concern ALwoodsman. I have cut deer in half and carried them out more than once.  Thank you for posting that link Bud B. I'm gonna give that I try myself.

[Canyon]

This is what I had left to carry out after using the gutless method on the small buck in my Avatar. Carried him out in one load from a deep canyon in Northern AZ. If it would have been much larger or further out I would have boned the four corners and stripped the ribs. Only way I do big game unless they fall in a road.
 Click the pic for a larger view.
 

[AWPForester]

Buy a quality internal frame pack and debone it where it lays.  I hunt several places like you described and I will tell you that from many many times of dragging deer back up the mountain, this is the easiest way.

If you decide to drag it, cut or get a stout stick about three feet long, tie the front legs up around the head and leave about 14-15 inches between the stick and the deer.  Turn downhill towards the deer, bend over and backup, dig you fee in and pull it to your feet.  Like a rowing machine.  Work but not to bad versus the standard dragging method.

Like I said, done both quite a bit and dragged a lot more than the backpack because that didn't used to be legal here, but I never intend to "row" one back up the side of a mountain again.  God Bless

[ALwoodsman]

So it looks like it might be a good idea to take a sheet of plastic to lay the meat on?  Do most of you use garbage bags to pack the meat in?

[Killdeer]

My state requires the deer to be checked before disassembling. We can do that by phone, but some mountains have no service. I have used a rope and patience, a Deer Sleigh'r, and a toboggan at different times.

I have seen others use a woven plastic feed bag as a drag.
Hopefully your state lets you dismantle before transport to checkin.
Killdeer

[Gator1]

I got a deer cart several years ago, and it has been a life saver.  It balances nicely and with a little patience it if pretty effortless getting a gutted deer out of the woods.

I'm not sure in a mountain situation.  I hunt on forty acres and I'm pretty out of shape, and it makes it expnetially easier for me.  Get a good one that is well made. It would be an option if you want to get the whole carcass out ..

[Rustic]

I hunt alone and I have a "Stag Drag" which is a rolled up piece of heavy duty plastic. Inexpensive and very light. Have'nt used it on a deer yet but I think it will work fine.

[Shortlongbow]

Maybe a string of pack goats.

[joe ashton]

I use a game cart and love the thing.  Get one with very strong wheels.  Last year I got a cow elk out by my self in one miserable trip.(I should have made two)

[Old Chief]

I carry cotton game bags in a large plastic garbage bag.  Lay the meat on the plastic bag, but do not pack meat in one.  The plastic bag will not allow the meat to cool and if you have warm weather, it will spoil.  Use cotton bags for the packing and remember to pack out your plastic bag.

[tim roberts]

Bone it out, pack it in pillow cases. Simple an clean.

[pcappy08]

deer cart as well for me....it has turned what used to be anywhere from a 5 to 8 hr drag to in the truck in 35 min

[John Scifres]

Cut the meat off it.  Put it pillow cases and in a pack.  A deer don't weigh much once it's off the bone.  Especially them itty bitty Alabammy deer  

We finally got computer check in here so I will never drag another deer as long as I can check them in.

[Tom]

I phone them in and then bone them out if in real difficult terrain. Alot easier than dragging in the hills in western Va.-nothing like out west but not pleasant either.

[Bill Carlsen]

Deer cart for me.

 

[KSdan]

Did a deer in ND for a friend just like this yesterday.  Took 30 min. Out we walked with no stress.

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=119365

[STICKBENDER98]

Jet Sled works for me deep enough for the deer to lay down in and not fall out, and heavy duty enough to last for several years.