What a drag

[Dewey]

I've had a couple of long solo drags in the marsh, with none of it able to use a cart. Bone and pack out is the way to go in difficult terrain, especially if you are solo. During deer season I keep a cart, sled and frame pack in my truck.

Or just call Dewey. He’s always up for dragging a buck out of the marsh. Keeps him in shape.

I agree 100%, Dewey is always the first option.

Did you notice I’m only around for the easy ones?

[brancher147]

I drug one about 2 miles downhill by myself once. Then got to a steep mountain and hiked out to get a backpack and pack the deer out the last mile. I hunt mostly alone and pack almost everything out now. Dragging is not an option most places I hunt.

[justdirtyfun]

I have dragged one down a gravel road that was gated off.
Wore bare spots down to the hide

[Thesouthpaw]

I'll never drag a deer over 100 yards. I keep a frame pack in my truck at all times during hunting season. Once you pack one out, you'll never go back to dragging.

[Hawthorne]

I’ve dragged a few over 1.5 miles with help. With a sled it took under 3 hrs. I dragged one by myself .75 miles threw a marsh and up a couple steep berms. It took me 3 hrs by myself. I’m looking into starting the gutless method. I went on a caribou hunt and that’s what my guide did. It took us two trips to get it out.

[ThePreBanMan]

Slice and dice baby!! During the 1st week of shotgun here we have to check them in whole at a check station though. I usually stay closer to the truck that week... My last 1 mile drag took me about 6 hours solo. I'm not keen to repeat that.

[Moose]

I should look into a frame pack everyone is talking about.

[john1984]

Not every successful public land deer hunter has a bunch of options when it comes to retrieval.

Why drag out what your not gonna eat?

[Twenty Up]

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Best way to haul out a whole deer. Linemens belt through the hocks.

[Uncle Lou]

I love it, the old drag out discussion. Seasons must be over most places.

Thankfully I am still in the camp of shoot it, then figure it out. Not certain how long I can stay here, so might as well enjoy it while I can.

I have no idea how far I have drug out, but I have had a few brutal ones. My second buck on 11-15-14 I have not forgot. I wounded a buck at first light, while tracking it in mostly kicked up leaves I jump him, or so I thought. Shot that one, drug it about 3/4 mile felt like all uphill. Realized it only had one hole. Went back and picked up the trail caught up to the other one around 2:30 in the afternoon. Finished him off and started dragging. Got back just before dark. Felt like I dragged all day between them.

In my little day pack, right next to the sandwich and bottle of water is a little pulley, and S hook and some thin rope. If I had to leave one overnight, I could lift it to keep it out of the coyotes

[Archivist13]

Interesting the range of opinions and methods. Basically it seems like depending on where the deer dies, that is what determines the drag method. Flat ground - deer cart; hills or ravines - quarter it up; swamps and snow - sled. Short drags are simply dragged.

[cougar]

If you toss ur t shirt layer on top of em it'll keep the yotes off that first night if you have to leave and come back

[Matt Gill]

My mentality has always been “ the hard part is killing a good one, I’ll have all the time in the world to figure out how to get him out once I’ve got my hands on him”

Most of my longer drags though I’ve always gotten a buddy or two to help. Deer carts are the ticket if you’re not going to simply pack one out

[Horizontal Hunter]

Once the season starts my recovery gear goes into the bed of the truck and it will stay there until the season ends.

My recovery gear consists of the following:

Game cart
Jet sled
HME hitch hoist (modified to skin deer as well)
Deer winch
My brothers phone number

I have had multiple back operations so humping deer carcasses around isn’t happening.

Bob

[tundra@1]

I feel for a lot of hunters, but about PA, why do you have to be out of the woods within 30 minutes? Glad I live where I do.... To answer your question, my longest drag, was in 1988 and I was 39 years old. After pictures, I had to get him down a hill, easy and over 2 beaver ponds and then I was on a logging road, and I had snow. I started at 1030am and got near my truck, at 4pm. The last 200 yards some other hunters helped me....................................

I hated dragging deer, because from Colorado, I allways cut them up. Now in Wis and MI, you can cut them up, to get them out easier, thank the Good Lord for that