We dragged out a cow on a sled last year. About a mile from the truck and sharply uphill through a forest. We had deboned her where she lay. It was at the end of a long day of a long week, late at night and no trail back to the truck. 183 pounds of meat in the bags. We briefly tried to split the load between two of us, but it seemed like a great way to break an ankle in the snowy darkness. Decided to screw it, and hung the bags in a tree overnight.
Came back in the morning, brought the $12 Tactical Sled of Death (or TSOD) up the hill with us. We wrapped the four game bags in a tarp, secured with some ratchet straps. Looked like a human body in the sled. Dual guide lines were secured fore and aft, a necessity. It takes more horsepower than you'd imagine to drag that thing in deep snow. An established footpath is desirable. Pretty easy going in healthy dark timber with a little snow. The uphill guy has the lousiest job. Both team members must retain the ability to let go at any time. Once we had a system figured out we were down the hill in 20 expletive-filled minutes. Saved hiking half the day. Incidentally my inspiration to bring the sled in the first place was another hunter who dropped a cow in almost the exact same spot 2 years prior. I saw his TSOD tracks and had been envious ever since.
It's a handy tool if circumstances are right. I'll definitely bring the TSOD along again this fall, but under no illusions. No matter how ya slice it, elk hunting is cruelty to humans.
