Brodie Swisher
You killed a deer far from the truck. Now what? Here’s a look at some of the best ways to get your deer out of the woods.
Stomping through ankle-deep snow on a mountain in Montana, a few buddies and I were in search of elk that had yet to push down into lower country. We had hunted most of the morning and hiked miles away from the truck when a whitetail buck chased a doe through a saddle 100 yards below us. In the moment it took for us to look around and figure out who was going to shoot the buck, the pair had come and gone.
We stood there questioning and casting blame on one other for not shooting and letting a shooter buck get past us. I naturally assumed that my buddy who’d yet to kill a deer would be up to bat first. However, he seemed content to merely “watch how it’s done” and was hoping one of us would shoot. So, a moment later, when an even bigger buck came through on the same trail, I dropped into the snow and steadied my gun against a small but steady tree to make the shot.
At the crack of the rifle the buck dumped into the snow. As we walked to the deer, my buddy immediately had regrets for not taking the shot. A beautiful 12-point buck was my prize laying in the freshly fallen snow.
The celebration was quick, full of man-hugs and high-fives. Then the realization that we were a long way from the truck began to set in. We were at least 3 miles away from the truck. We had small packs on our back, but our meat-hauling packs were back in the truck. Should we go back to the truck for the packs, or just start dragging? None of us liked the option of leaving the deer in the snow for the wolves and bears while we headed back for the packs, so we began the long drag of the buck back to the truck. The snow seemed to make the drag easier at first. But before the first mile was over, we knew we had embarked on a miserable drag that we’d talk about for the rest of our lives.
It was on that day I began to consider all the options for hauling a deer out of the woods. I needed something that was public land legal. I also considered, is it packable and easy to haul? Could I stash it in my pack or would I have to go back to the truck to retrieve it? That one hunt set me on a mission to find the top tools for getting your deer out of the woods. Read on for a look at what I found.
Drag Your Deer
Sled
I added a Jet Sled to my wish list that first Christmas after the long deer drag off the mountain, and it’s proved to be a priceless tool ever since. I’ve used it to haul everything from deer and gear, to duck decoys, firewood, traps, camping gear and much more. And when the snow flies in the winter, my kids use it as a snow sled for downhill racing, or pulling behind the 4-wheeler. You’ll truly find a million uses for the sled.
The downside of the sled is that it’s big and bulky. It’s super lightweight, but it’s not something you’ll take with you into the woods until after you’ve killed your deer. You’ll have to hike back to the truck for it. That’s not a problem if you’re not hunting too deep into the timber. If you’re hunting further into the backcountry, you may want to consider a packable sled.
A quick search on Amazon and you’ll find plenty of portable (and affordable) sleds designed to roll up and take with you in the pack. These flexible, plastic mats are a great way to be prepared for the drag out at all times. These sleds come with a rope and handle, as well as grommets along the sides to secure your load.
Leg Cuff
If you’re not too far from the truck, but still want a more hunter-friendly way of dragging your deer out of the woods, consider the Leg Cuff. The Leg Cuff is a light weight, compact deer drag system that can be carried in your pocket or pack. As the name suggests, the Leg Cuff secures to the deer’s legs to make the dragging process easier than ever.
Cart Your Deer
Several decades ago, I bought a 2-wheeled deer cart from Cabela’s. At just over $100 it was an affordable way for me to haul deer back to the truck. It came in clutch when an ATV was not an option. That same style cart is still one of the most population options these days for hunters and still rings up for around $125.
You can also find more advanced deer carts these days like the Hawk Crawler Deer Cart that features 4 wheels to easily handle crawling over logs and other objects that bring other carts to a halt. With 4 wheels, the Crawler is incredibly stable and pulls smooth and easy, even with some of the heaviest loads. It also folds up for easy transport in your truck. However, at $200+ the Crawler is priced considerably higher than what you might pay for a standard deer cart.
Boat Your Buck
Water access is one of the best tactics to make a stealthy back door approach on your buck. They’ll never know you’re coming! But it has also proved to be an excellent way to make short work of the deer hauling chores.
In fact, I’ve got several stands that I could easily walk in to, however, I opt for the kayak or boat approach to minimize human intrusion and scent, but also have the boat on hand for an easy pack out. Depending on depth of the lake, creek or river you’re using for access, a small jon boat, kayak or canoe can be worth their weight in gold for hauling deer.
Use a Bike and Meat Wagon
Another excellent way to get further down the trail and leave the crowds behind is riding in deep with an eBike. The eBike is super quiet, eliminates human scent on the ground, and helps you arrive at your stand without sweating and exhaustion. The eBike also makes the deer hauling chores easier than ever once your tag is punched.
There are plenty of options here, depending on your bike setup, but you can potentially haul meat in the bike’s cargo basket or rack, or haul your deer out whole on a trailer made specifically for the eBike. These trailers are designed to haul some impressive loads, up to several hundred pounds, and are more manageable to pull than you might think. Just keep in mind, an eBike can get you into some remote places. Depending on the terrain, hauling deer out of these places with the trailer can often be sketchy, at best. Know your limits. The eBike and trailer work best on mostly flat trails and logging roads.
Backpack It Out
From an early age, my dad taught me to be prepared for any situation or circumstance that life might throw my way. That’s why my favorite way to get deer out of the woods when hunting far from the truck is to pack it out. Yes, this takes a little planning and forethought, but with a couple adjustments of your gear, packing your gear out allows you to make the most of every trip out of the woods. No more wasted walks back to the truck to retrieve a sled, cart, or trailer. You keep everything you need stashed in your pack to carry it with you when you make the first walk out.
What do you need for this method?
Game bags or heavy-duty trash bags are easy to pack, weigh next to nothing and keep you from creating a bloody mess in your pack, or using your shirt for a meat bag. You’ll also want to make sure you pack includes your kill kit – knife, sharpener or extra blades, paracord, etc. Lastly, and most importantly, you’ll need to make sure you’ve got a pack that can handle the meat hauling task. Your school-sized backpack is not what you want here. You need a pack that can handle a sizable load.
Consider packs with an internal or external frame and built rock solid. Yes, these packs are likely bigger than what you typically need for a whitetail hunt. However, compression straps should allow you to compress the pack nice and tight until you’re ready to load meat at the end of the hunt. The Mystery Ranch Treestand 38 has plenty of room for all your deer gear, as well as meat bags when success finally comes your way. Even better, it’s now available in Mossy Oak Bottomland camo. Other great packs I’ve used to haul meat include the Kifaru Stryker XL and the Eberlestock X2.
Final Thoughts
The way you haul deer out of the woods will largely depend on where you’re hunting. Private property access can often mean less of a drag, while public lands will likely limit the way you retrieve game. That’s why the options mentioned above continue to be some of the top tools for getting your deer out of the woods season after season.
