looks like I'll be hunting by myself until my grandson is old enough to help (10 years from now, or so)...

outside of an ATV/S x S (not in my future); what other "accommodations" do you other old guys make to keep on deer hunting? deer carts? etc.

Thanks!

I learned on DIY moose hunt, to take somebody with a strong back and a week mind.

I got a 30/30 and a sharp knife.

I’m not an old guy, but my adoptive dad is.

And he has a UTV, a plastic deer sled and my phone number to help him load it, cut it up and put it in his freezer.

I think I’m the key in this situation.



If you can’t drag the deer, might i suggest deboning in the field and just hauling the meat out?

Hunt uphill -- easier to get it out if you get one.

Carry a folding saw and paracord
Look up Indian travios. Learn to make them long and narrow.
They can save the day.

Shoot as close to the road as possible, preferably where they run and die in the driveway.

Just make sure you roll the window down before you pull the trigger.

My main accommodation is my 2 sons on call if I can not get to it with my ATV or UTV. If I can get to it with the truck, I have a half sheet of plywood to use as a ramp and a block and tackle to pull it up the ramp. For skinning, I have a hitch hanger with block & tackle that will rotate 360 degrees so I can let the cleaned carcass down in the bed of the truck. I have hunted a lot by myself and had to come up with ways to get it done. Now, it is rare that one of my boys can not come help if I need it.

In SD we can drive up to about any deer if you shoot them in the flats or on the ridges.

A sturdy game cart with big pneumatic tires. Sleds for when there is too much snow for the cart. Some sort of comfy folding chair that I can carry into the woods.

Without a doubt, in my opinion, the biggest helper for the situation you’ve described is to build a ladder stand with wheels. Wheels makes a ladder stand easier to transport any distance through the woods without help, and it doubles as a gear hauler/deer cart.


I see no real reason to have a ladder stand and a separate deer cart when hunting by yourself, because it means the stand is harder to transport, and you’re going to have to make multiple trips to get everything out if you get a deer.

Any wheels are better than no wheels, but larger, fatter wheels handle the weight and terrain better—-my first choice would be inflatable wheelbarrow wheels (or comparable lawnmower tires, etc) and the rear wheels from a wheel chair would be my second choice.

Good luck my friend

Plenty of deer to be had where you can drive a pick up in or a 4 wheeler to get it. Got a 4 pulley block and tackle to hang them up with. One of those old fence stretchers you put a rope on. I bought a surplus military rappelling rope to put in it. Can pull up a 300 pound hog by myself. A winch and a snatch block on your pick up can be real handy too. Can pull an animal up onto a tree limb. Hang it up with your tow chain and make shift single tree cut with your folding saw.

new fence stretcher. mine is an old antique bought at an estate auction


a come along is handy for stuff thats to heavy to drag into your pickup bed by yourself.

This.
I shot a deer down in a hole the other day; haven't done that since the early 90's.
I now remember why I don't do that.

I and my wife have plenty of help but hate to ask for it. Bought an otter sled last year, hook it behind the UTV or ATV. Place the sled on it side roll the deer into it and tip. Hook up pull it out.

does your state allow 1/4 ing in the field?

Patrice uses 20 pound ice bags to slip the 1/4s into to carry the 1/4s out

I don't have a problem getting them out currently I am often cutting them up at home myself

I have come-a-long and a gambrel toss a rope over a limb and hoist just the weight of the come-a-long up till the fully extended come a long is about a foot off the ground then tie it off to the tree

the com-along goes right up with the deer and you skin as it goes up, then 1/4ing is easy , you can do the gutless method then reach in and get the tenderloins

I've heard of some veteran organizations that might help if this applies.
Our local sportsman's clubs will take people out hunting, retrieve game and help in other ways.
Good luck.

There is a reason I call him my All Purpose Boy!

Bring alone a plastic roll-up kids snow sled and some rope, makes sliding the animal easier through the woods. Cut holes along the edges to put the rope through when tying the body inside the sled.

bone them out and pack it out boneless

Why drag and carry out the heavy bones and useless cartilage?