Advice on pulling deer out of ravines/bottoms

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Buckfever
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Advice on pulling deer out of ravines/bottoms

Unread postby Buckfever » Mon Nov 04, 2019 9:07 am

I hunt mature bucks on the remote public. I just took a pig recently and had a time pulling him out of the bottom up the ravine. I used a block and tackle with 200 feet of rope and a cart and my wife had to help me, I could not have done it alone.

I was wondering how you guys handle dealing with this issue. Would a sled have been better? Should I quarter the deer in the field? Other suggestions?


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Re: Advice on pulling deer out of ravines/bottoms

Unread postby Jurist » Mon Nov 04, 2019 9:15 am

Block and tackle... and a lot of grunting.

A sled may help him slide better.
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Re: Advice on pulling deer out of ravines/bottoms

Unread postby Jonny » Mon Nov 04, 2019 9:40 am

A 23 year old son that is enourmous and dumb. That’s why my dad had me. Or so he says.


We actually have a 300’ rope. Pulley, me on top and my dad pushing the sled. German engineering. Just muscle it
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Re: Advice on pulling deer out of ravines/bottoms

Unread postby Horizontal Hunter » Mon Nov 04, 2019 9:42 am

Deer winch and a sled.

https://youtu.be/D8Z_7nbD-DE

http://www.thehuntingbeast.com/viewtopic.php?t=27737

Congratulations on your pig.

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Re: Advice on pulling deer out of ravines/bottoms

Unread postby Dewey » Mon Nov 04, 2019 9:57 am

Quarter and pack. Muscling one out of a deep ravine doesn’t sound like fun.
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Re: Advice on pulling deer out of ravines/bottoms

Unread postby cwoods » Mon Nov 04, 2019 10:13 am

Quater and pack if legal in your state.
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Re: Advice on pulling deer out of ravines/bottoms

Unread postby Bowhuntercoop » Mon Nov 04, 2019 10:42 am

I refuse to drag deer. Once you start quartering and packing you will seriously never drag again. It’s faster, easier, and less pain to pack em out!
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Re: Advice on pulling deer out of ravines/bottoms

Unread postby mauser06 » Mon Nov 04, 2019 10:49 am

From the start till the end of the seasons I started carrying a roll up deer sled, a 4 wheeled cart and a frame pack made to haul game.



I haven't used the pack yet but figured if I don't feel like field quartering, I can careful cut the sucker in half and pack a half out each trip. Figure that'll be 75-100 pounds give or take. If he's a slob, he might have to get quartered.


My cart is actually for my mower...but it has a D handle and 4 wheels and actually works better than deer carts IMO. Not gunna help with ravines and hillsides though.....
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Re: Advice on pulling deer out of ravines/bottoms

Unread postby Edcyclopedia » Mon Nov 04, 2019 12:06 pm

Friends :D
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Re: Advice on pulling deer out of ravines/bottoms

Unread postby tbunao » Mon Nov 04, 2019 12:42 pm

Quarter and pack. Unless the critter is within a stones throw I will never drag again
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Re: Advice on pulling deer out of ravines/bottoms

Unread postby DaveT1963 » Mon Nov 04, 2019 12:50 pm

For most deer I field dress, cut them in half and carry over my shoulder. For a large buck, I'll split the hind quarters. Pack it to top, then sled or cart. I drug one last night whole and it was a task.
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Re: Advice on pulling deer out of ravines/bottoms

Unread postby SaddleMaster » Mon Nov 04, 2019 1:08 pm

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Re: Advice on pulling deer out of ravines/bottoms

Unread postby muddy » Mon Nov 04, 2019 1:09 pm

Brute force and ignorance.

Or a cart with brute force and ignorance.

Or as stated above, if legal take em out in chunks
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Re: Advice on pulling deer out of ravines/bottoms

Unread postby brancher147 » Mon Nov 04, 2019 1:47 pm

Debone gutless method and pack out. No way I could drag a deer out of most places I hunt.
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Re: Advice on pulling deer out of ravines/bottoms

Unread postby Buckfever » Mon Nov 04, 2019 3:11 pm

Thanks for all the suggestions. I just read the IL regulations: "In instances where deer are checked in while the hunter is still afield, the deer may not be dismembered while afield beyond quartering the animal.
If quartered, all parts of the carcass (except the entrails removed during field dressing) must be transported together and evidence of sex must
remain naturally attached to one quarter. Evidence of sex is:
A) For a buck: head with antlers attached to carcass, or attached testicle, scrotum, or penis"

So I guess I'll just cut the deer in half and make 2 trips as I have to transport "all parts of the carcass together".

Or as others have stated, make more friends LOL.

Thing is I hunt 110 miles away from home so it's not an easy thing to ask for folks to come out that distance and while my wife was a trooper I really don't want to drag her out there again, she's pure city girl and she was anxious being out there at night. And even in that instance I had to come back the next day with her because I simply could not get him up the ravine alone. I have to say that I felt irresponsible leaving the deer overnight and risking the coyotes getting to him or risking theft of the animal.


It was a heavy animal, I've pulled out deer before field dressed at the Joliet training area where they weigh them at check in and know what 210lbs feels like, this was a much heavier deer.

And the thing is that's what this area has, there's a lot of pressure so I have to go to the remote areas where they can reach the age structure to support the antler growth we're looking for. But they're also going to be huge.

And I'm getting older. LOL


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