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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2014 19:03:27 GMT -5
Are game carts the way to go? If so what's a good one?
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Post by Dutch on Oct 28, 2014 21:03:14 GMT -5
The BEST deer drag is between the ages of 16 and 30.  Seriously, I bought a deer cart out of Sportsmans Guide last year. I doubt I'll ever use it, but, it seems nice and the price was around $50 or so. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2014 5:15:53 GMT -5
In case you don't have any 16-30 year olds around....a deer cart is a good thing to have.  I keep 2 at my Sullivan County camp as I like to keep one out on the mountain I normally hunt plus one in the truck for when I change locales during a hunting trip. key is to make sure they have strong wheels/axles to take a pounding in tuff terrain.. I have a Cabela's Mag Hauler plus one below that my Dad had made at a machine shop which I later fitted with mountain bike wheels/stronger axles. Both have served me well over the years...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2014 6:01:51 GMT -5
If you don't have any 16-30 year olds around, Dave is a good substitute. The cart helps, too.  |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2014 6:06:03 GMT -5
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Post by GlennD on Oct 29, 2014 6:07:25 GMT -5
Deer carts are very good, but get one with solid rubber tires. The ones with bicycle tires go flat too easily.. :/ But, in really rough terrain, I suspect one of the vinyl sleds might be the best way to go. Of course, if you are in an area where it is legal, nothing beats the old ATV or UTV! Attachment Deleted |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2014 7:00:13 GMT -5
Glenn....my above cart is pushing over 35 years of use with never a flat but you got me thinkin now(which is normally dangerous/costly )....that mebbie I should get a spare tire & bolt under cart just in case. Nice thing wont have to carry a jack!!
I really like LARGE bicycle type tires vs the solid smaller types most carts have. My Cabela's cart has the smaller solid rubber type & is a much harder pull plus less forgiving but still better than dragging. |
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Post by GlennD on Oct 29, 2014 7:31:10 GMT -5
Wow! 35 years on tubes and tires and no flat! You must be pulling those deer carts over goose down pillows!! I suppose it makes a big difference if you have really good tires, etc.. but I have had a cart with the bicycle tires and tubes and it is almost impossible to pull a deer out of the woods over typical woods debris and briars without puncturing a tire. Fact is, as I think about it, I sold that cart last year at a yard sale. Glad to see it go. I was constantly patching tubes and pumping tires up My son has one with solid rubber tires. No trouble with it and I think the wheels are about the same size as the old one. However, those narrows solid rubber tires are almost a liability in the mud or sand. :/ I will say for packing back in the hinterlands, one of the vinyl sleds is pretty good. Mud or sand is no problem, and snow makes it a piece of cake! It can also serve multi-purpose. A dry place to sit or lay on. Or, carrying (sliding) stands, coolers, tents, or other gear back to a hunting area. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2014 8:40:43 GMT -5
I changed tubes 2-3 times but that's about it. They were slowly losing air during storage in camp. The wheels/tires are HD mountain bike grade I bought at Bushy's Cycle shop in Lemoyne.
I have 2 ice fishing sleds that ive been considering using especially in deep snow or mud conditions. I know this summer my friend & raked several hundred clams off a saltwater soft mud flat at low tide & after breaking our asses haulin them out we will be taking the ice fishing sleds next time fer sure!! |
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Post by bushmaster on Oct 29, 2014 8:46:17 GMT -5
My buddies kids are the best drag I've ever used. I don't even break a sweat!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2014 8:58:04 GMT -5
I will say this. Since this past week when we gave the new deer cart a good trial run, I will never drag another 150+ pound deer out of the woods. Never again.  |
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Post by hunternotakiller on Oct 29, 2014 9:06:39 GMT -5
im 16 and had to use a sled with three people pulling it up because he took his tumble down the ravine. i think a cart with wheels would be better than a sled
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Post by dougell on Oct 29, 2014 9:46:27 GMT -5
Carts work well on level terrain and if you have a trail or road.They're completely worthless if you have rough terrain or if you have logs and rocks to go over.One year we killed three decent sized bears in a steep thick ravine.We started out actually carrying the bears out on poles until one brainchild made someone go back to the truck to get a cart.The guys with the cart pushed,pulled,flipped over and basically just struggled without giving up.It was actually funny to watch because they wouldn't concede to the fact that it was a bad idea.I generally just drag them with a rope that has a thick shoulder strap.Snow makes it way easier but a small roll up type drag sled works very well if there's snow.I hate carrying stuff in with me and by the time I walk back to the truck,it just isn't worth.I also generally hunt different spots most days so leaving a cart in the woods is impractical for me.Dragging a heavy deer uphill on dry ground is tough and I've yet to find an easy way around it.I had to do it last thursday and again on saturday.It made me in no big hurry to kill another deer anytime soon.Last year,my son,buddy and I had to drag three deer a little over 1/2 mile out on the first saturday.We had snow,kinda savored the moment and just too our time.It wasn't too bad.On the last day my son and I hunted not two far from there and had to drag two more out at the same time.My son was only 8 and was able to drag the smaller one pretty much by himself unless he had to go up a small hill.Snow makes all the difference.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2014 12:19:23 GMT -5
Well, everywhere I hunt is either Game lands or State Forest so there are plenty of trails.
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Post by dougell on Oct 29, 2014 12:36:32 GMT -5
If you have trails,you'll be good.
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Post by CoureurDeBois on Oct 29, 2014 16:15:33 GMT -5
I will admit I have never used a cart. Have always felt they would be more of a hinder than a help on the rocky laurel infested mountain sides, swamps, and burn areas that I normally hunt, so I use the plastic sleds. I have two, one is kept at camp, the other is in the truck from early muzzle to late muzzle. With a little snow they're as slick as butter on a hot tin roof, and almost as good in wet leaves. Once I have the deer tagged, and field dressed I head back to the truck or camp for the sled. I then shed a couple layers of clothing, stow the gun, hydrate myself,and head back for the carcass. But like what has previous been stated, my 34 year old, six foot, two hundred pound son is the best. If he happens to show up, usually does, I just smile, he hands me his gun and I hand him the rope. Payback is h*ll. |
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Post by dougell on Oct 29, 2014 16:29:09 GMT -5
LOL.My 9 year old son and I hunted from dark til dark on the first day of inline season.Around 1:00pm,I was getting hungry and suggested heading back home for some lunch.He informed me that we weren't leaving unless I was dragging his deer out.
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Post by davet on Oct 29, 2014 16:55:23 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2014 17:30:15 GMT -5
A lot of you are saying these deer sleds work great in the snow. But I seldom hunt in the snow so would they really help.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2014 17:52:55 GMT -5
A lot of you are saying these deer sleds work great in the snow. But I seldom hunt in the snow so would they really help. Sleds work great definitely in the snow but if you drag them over big rocks they don't hold up. Still picking pieces up from one of ours as I walk down the path I hunt from last years season. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2014 17:55:26 GMT -5
After shooting a doe last year in archery and dragging it about 2 miles out and having a hard time with it we now stash a plastic sled up on the mountain just in case. In rifle season we hide two carts at different places so if we shoot one we don't have to run and get the other.
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Post by feathers on Oct 29, 2014 20:40:46 GMT -5
I hear game carts are great ....but I'm lazy, usually just put the deer in lawn tractor cart behind the garden tractor
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2014 6:17:40 GMT -5
My Cabela's Mag Hauler(below). Built like a tank but has smaller/solid wheels. Best on trails without logs, rocks etc to go over. Decent width so it doesn't flip over like many of the narrow body types out there. If it were my only deer cart I would fit it with larger mountain bike wheels.
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Post by dougell on Oct 30, 2014 8:11:46 GMT -5
The best deer drag is a 4 wheeler but you can't take them just anywhere.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2014 8:34:55 GMT -5
After a five bour drag last year I'm considering my options because I'll be hunting the same spot.
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I keep 2 at my Sullivan County camp as I like to keep one out on the mountain I normally hunt plus one in the truck for when I change locales during a hunting trip. key is to make sure they have strong wheels/axles to take a pounding in tuff terrain.. I have a Cabela's Mag Hauler plus one below that my Dad had made at a machine shop which I later fitted with mountain bike wheels/stronger axles. Both have served me well over the years...
