Do you have experience with a sled for hauling out game?

[Hunter26]

I have a middle of November elk tag in Colorado in a unit that very well could get some snow. Peak elevations are in the 13,000 feet in the unit. I am wanting to get feedback from people that have used some sort of sled to haul out meat. This unit is new to me so I can't exactly describe the vegetation or terrain but I am pretty confident that I will be hauling the meat down hill. Obviously there will be ups and downs for the literal folks but overall I expect to be loosing elevation. I would plan to just pack out the elk if there isn't snow but if there is a layer of snow what can you tell me about the use of either one of these two types of sleds?

1. Do you mainly just use it for a flat surface or down hill? How is it pulling up a hill compared to carrying it out in the snow?
2. How well do they actually work? I see pictures of guys with whole elk.
3. When going down hill can you basically guide it down the mountain from behind?
4. Any issues with either of these options braking or giving out on a single pack out over mostly snow?
5. Any good suggestions on how to use them? It appears some guys tie directly to the sled and others to the meat in the sled.

Thanks in advance, Jeff

 

[Kenn]

I've used sleds and they help a lot but those roll up plastic ones are garbage unless you happen to shoot your elk on a football field. The first little hump will roll the sled and you'll have to right it, then tie the elk back on. My grandson and I pulled out a quartered big bull on a heavy duty sled last year, but it was only about 200 yards and downhill. The slightest incline was extremely difficult.

Edit: This was on dry ground - no snow or ice.

 

[Hunter26]

I've used sleds and they help a lot but those roll up plastic ones are garbage unless you happen to shoot your elk on a football field. The first little hump will roll the sled and you'll have to right it, then tie the elk back on. My grandson and I pulled out a quartered big bull on a heavy duty sled last year, but it was only about 200 yards and downhill. The slightest incline was extremely difficult.

Thanks! Good to know the incline might not be much of an option. If you are going further maybe load your packs and put them in the sled and when you get to an incline put the pack on? You think that would be a valid option?

 

[NRA4LIFE]

I agree. The flat roll up versions don't work very well. I use a plastic kids sled similar to the second one you posted and it works very well. I keep one at my place in MO to haul out whitetail carcasses, either whole or halved.

 

[TaperPin]

I’m not a sled guy, but all through high school we had a number of sleds of all shapes and sizes we’d pull behind snow machines for fun in all kinds of terrain. The bigger the sled, the easier it pulls on flat ground, and the better it tracks. A flat bottomed sled like the roll up ones, will always drag you straight down hill, if you wanted to go that way or not - they don’t track straight at all and might as well be a saucer sled. Often in big open areas going straight down gets you in the willows/brush and creek bottoms, not where you normally want to be. In the trees no sled is worth the hassle.

Rigid sleds are not quiet.

I’ve tried to think of any place I’ve ever hunted in the snow where a sled would have been nice and there have been a few open faces, but those are also the easiest to walk down. Late season cow tag areas around Jackson have some flat benches that always hold a lot of elk and are rather open - a lot of guys grab a few buddies and drag them to the road - wouldn’t surprise me if a number of sleds are used every year, but I haven’t seen it.

Maybe it’s the lack of snow, or too many rocks, trees, ups and downs, but I can’t recall actually seeing a sled in use anywhere in Wyoming during a hunting season.

 

[Hunter26]

I’m not a sled guy, but all through high school we had a number of sleds of all shapes and sizes we’d pull behind snow machines for fun in all kinds of terrain. The bigger the sled, the easier it pulls on flat ground, and the better it tracks. A flat bottomed sled like the roll up ones, will always drag you straight down hill, if you wanted to go that way or not - they don’t track straight at all and might as well be a saucer sled. Often in big open areas going straight down gets you in the willows/brush and creek bottoms, not where you normally want to be. In the trees no sled is worth the hassle.

Rigid sleds are not quiet.

I’ve tried to think of any place I’ve ever hunted in the snow where a sled would have been nice and there have been a few open faces, but those are also the easiest to walk down. Late season cow tag areas around Jackson have some flat benches that always hold a lot of elk and are rather open - a lot of guys grab a few buddies and drag them to the road - wouldn’t surprise me if a number of sleds are used every year, but I haven’t seen it.

Maybe it’s the lack of snow, or too many rocks, trees, ups and downs, but I can’t recall actually seeing a sled in use anywhere in Wyoming during a hunting season.

I haven't done much of the late season mountain hunting. It is good to hear the perspective of somebody specially speaking to this type of terrain with snow. What I do know from my little experience is that snow can make it significantly harder to carry out an elk.

 

[TheViking]

I've used a kids sled before, it works pretty good. In mountaineous terrain you're always on a hill, so you need to either drag it uphill, or prevent it from hauling ass downhill/sidehill. Going over logs/deadfall sucks, you need to pick it up (which is akward), or go around. They have their pros and cons like everything.

 

[TaperPin]

I haven't done much of the late season mountain hunting. It is good to hear the perspective of somebody specially speaking to this type of terrain with snow. What I do know from my little experience is that snow can make it significantly harder to carry out an elk

I hope you try it. One of the best late season pieces of equipment are a pair of crampons. SMC is out of business, but they were the go-to brand for medium duty hinged crampons that fit normal hiking boots well. It cuts way down on the effort required to go up or down steep snowy slopes and with less slipping it’s safer. They also work great on slimy mud slopes that are had to walk up.

The main downside is weight - a couple pounds is a couple pounds. You also will have a hard time being bored hunting with a partner who doesn’t have them and is on the struggle bus.

The biggest danger, which is only a problem if you push onto super steep slopes, is you can walk up stuff so steep that if you slip, you’ll rush down the slope at high speed until a rock or tree catches you.

I’ve been hunting timberline after an early heavy snow when everyone else was headed down - even the outfitter nearby was taking his people out - literally had the mountain to myself. I couldn’t have done it, or packed the elk out without the crampons.

 

[Hunter26]

I hope you try it. One of the best late season pieces of equipment are a pair of crampons. SMC is out of business, but they were the go-to brand for medium duty hinged crampons that fit normal hiking boots well. It cuts way down on the effort required to go up or down steep snowy slopes and with less slipping it’s safer. They also work great on slimy mud slopes that are had to walk up.

The main downside is weight - a couple pounds is a couple pounds. You also will have a hard time being bored hunting with a partner who doesn’t have them and is on the struggle bus.

The biggest danger, which is only a problem if you push onto super steep slopes, is you can walk up stuff so steep that if you slip, you’ll rush down the slope at high speed until a rock or tree catches you.

I’ve been hunting timberline after an early heavy snow when everyone else was headed down - even the outfitter nearby was taking his people out - literally had the mountain to myself. I couldn’t have done it, or packed the elk out without the crampons.View attachment 778415

I bought a pair like these. They better than nothing or the more aggressive spikes really worth it?

 

[Jason Snyder]

I bought a pair like these. They better than nothing or the more aggressive spikes really worth it?

View attachment 778418

Different tools.

Crampons are four wheel drive with v-bar chains.

Microspikes are AWD with cables.

The microspikes are pretty useless in very deep snow, but they work great on ice or frozen soil.

Crampons are beefier, heavier, and are pretty much unstoppable in most conditions.

 

[fishslap]

The rolled up sleds work well IMO. I shot a cow down in a basin and packed the meat up to the rim in a few trips then sledded out the whole quartered animal a few miles downhill or flat. I like how the flexible sled moved over logs and bumps. I pull a rigid jet sled all winter ice fishing including some hike in areas and I’m not sure it would be better but I wouldn’t hesitate to use it under the right conditions. The runners and front can build up snow also. They might be less tippy for the wider versions but not the smallest that I run. If there is a fair amount of incline or obstacles, I’d pack on my back. I’ve used game carts on old closed roads also.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

I ice fish so…I use an ice fishing sled.

 

[Hunter26]

The rolled up sleds work well IMO. I shot a cow down in a basin and packed the meat up to the rim in a few trips then sledded out the whole quartered animal a few miles downhill or flat. I like how the flexible sled moved over logs and bumps. I pull a rigid jet sled all winter ice fishing including some hike in areas and I’m not sure it would be better but I wouldn’t hesitate to use it under the right conditions. The runners and front can build up snow also. They might be less tippy for the wider versions but not the smallest that I run. If there is a fair amount of incline or obstacles, I’d pack on my back. I’ve used game carts on old closed roads also.
View attachment 778452View attachment 778453View attachment 778454

Thanks for the feedback! Sounds like uphill and down timber aren’t the ideal situation. Could be handy to have either one of these in the truck and if the terrain allows it could make for a much easier pack.

 

[Bluefish]

I use a kids sled in the dry and it is easier than dragging. On snow it would be even better. They are pretty light so not hard to carry in.

 

[TaperPin]

I bought a pair like these. They better than nothing or the more aggressive spikes really worth it?

View attachment 778418

I agree with Jason’s description.

If you’ve been happy with the performance of your ice cleats there’s no reason to try crampons, but if you ever wish they had more bite it’s a good way to go.

The type of boot you hunt in may also be a factor - some softer boots may not work as well with crampons as a medium weight all leather backpacking boot, but IDK. I have lighter weight boots, but have never tried them since these work so well.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

I fashioned a sled out of 2 big black yard trash bags to get out a WY mulie a number of years ago in ass deep snow in the Bighorns on my own. Worked great in the deep snow.

 

[sveltri]

I used a jet sled once that some other hunters had back at their camp, they traded me the use of their sled for my elk tongue. It was the best trade I’ve ever made. If I’m hunting in the snow I’ll always have a sled in truck.

 

[Axlrod]

I haven't done much of the late season mountain hunting. It is good to hear the perspective of somebody specially speaking to this type of terrain with snow. What I do know from my little experience is that snow can make it significantly harder to carry out an elk.

Well quite frankly the perspective of someone that has never seen a sled used is pretty worthless!
Between me and my hunting buddies we have taken out numerous elk & deer. Plus 1 moose and a whole 183" Bighorn, mostly on roll up sleds, with a few on ice fishing sleds. The key is to have grommets along each side, so you can lace rope back and forth to keep the load on the sled.
On side hills and steep down hill, put a guy on a rope on the back, to steer and slow it down.
They work well on snow and wet ground, but I have used them on dry ground as well.

Here is the sheep. It was 2.5 miles up/down/sidehill no flat ground. No snow, but rained all day.

 

[Bubblehide]

I've done it. It's been a very long time ago. You need to be careful. You need to know the ground under you. I've ridden an elk laiden sled down hill while riding it, digging my heels in to keep control, over snow. In another area I went rode it downhill ovrr dead fall; if I put a foot down I could have broken a leg. Any steep downhill, the sled should be roped down, letting gravity do its job.

I would not buy a sled until I got to see the country and was pretty sure I'd use it, as there are plenty if areas that would be unusable or simply much to dangerous.

 

[WCB]

Any elk I have packed out and most mule deer I don't see a sled being a positive...except for maybe a coule straight down hills. Pulling anything up hill sucks and side hills suck worse. I'd rather haul stuff on my back than pull it in a sled and there are plenty places where a sled acts like a suction cup to the ground.

I've pulled plenty of ice fishing and snow goose gear around to know if a decoy bag has straps its going on my back.