Packing out a Whitetail

[prm]

I have an area to hunt eastern whitetails that involves about a one mile hike in. I will either pack in a ladder for the season, or, I will use my saddle. The issue with hunting there is getting the deer out. I have drug a doe a mile out. I do not plan on doing that again. It occurred to me I can debone an elk and move the meat miles, why not debone, or pack a whitetail out. Should be able to handle the weight of a doe whole, may have to remove rear quarters on a buck and do in two trips. Anyone have pictures of packing one out whole? Surely someone has developed a smart way to get them tied onto a pack. I had a kifaru and will have an Exo K4 this year.

 

[Rich M]

Just make sure it is legal where you hunt. Some states don't allow it.

 

[Bigboone1988]

Only whitetail I have packed out. Had help from my brother tho. If we de-boned the meat I could have fit it in one pack.

 

[whaack]

Haven’t done it yet but it’s 100% my plan next time I kill a deer on public. I’m done dragging deer out on heavy carts. Most of my spots are 3/4-1.5 mi deep. Same situation as you. Gonna use my Exo 3500.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Drenalin]

You mean whole, like this? I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, after doing it this time. If it's legal to chop one up where you are, I'd go that route for sure.

 

[bbassi]

This was 1.8 mines as the crow flies on state forest land in Northern PA. That's a whole boned out deer. The only thing I left was a little neck meat. I made it out in one trip, but honestly it dam near killed me. I'm in my mid 50s and after this one I started doing them in 2 trips. When I got home I weighed this pack plus my gun and gear for the day @ 85 pounds. I still enjoy hunting far enough back in to leave the crowds behind. You just have to plan ahead in case you're actually successful.

 

[Truaxdw]

Skin and quarter

 

[Macintosh]

If I understand correctly you are talking about packing it out without cutting it up, correct? Many states in the east do allow cutting it up in the field, although some do not. If allowed thats the way to go. If not I’d probably drag. Ive dragged as much as 4 miles on dry ground. Its a lot easier on snow but its still not bad without a cart. Edit: for those who say “just bring a cart back there”, that is not realistic in many areas, either because you are hunting many miles a day and not going back to the same areas more than once or twice a season, or because terrain simply doesnt permit it.

This is NOT the way to do it, drenalin’s photo would be much, much smarter. Even without trees to catch on the balance and ends hanging off was a PITA. Unless its physically impossible I would drag rather than do this again. We did it because we we traveling and butcher would not accept a quartered antelope, and there was miles of burned pasture that would have scraped the hide right off—thats not a problem on leaves.

 

[98XJRC]

Quartered the buck I shot last archery season. I had a buddy with me for the pack out which made things much simpler. Same situation as you in dragging one out further then I would have liked on public and said never again. So long as it's legal where I'm hunting I don't ever see myself dragging one out on public. My EXO K3 did fantastic and highly recommend their gear.

Private may be slightly different depending on vehicle access.

 

[journeyman713]

That's what a Game cart is for.
If it's on private property, just haul it back there and leave it for the season.

 

[wgrkman]

These are a few north central PA state forest bucks. If I am more than a half mile from a road there is no doubt that I am packing it out. It is a very heavy pack to one trip out a mature buck but even if it took two trips I still think it would be faster and easier than dragging.

 

[Patton]

Not exactly on a pack, but packing out a whitetail..

 

[prm]

Good stuff, thanks. I like the idea of cutting in half for a buck. An average doe I should be able to get whole. Our deer aren‘t very big. I am in my mid-50s+ and am done with long drags. The game carts do work well for some situations but there are some nasty gullies I need to cross.

It is legal to dismember in VA. “After the appropriate tag is validated, the hunter may dismember the carcass to pack it out as long as all parts of the carcass (excluding internal organs) are present when the animal is reported.”

 

[prm]

Not exactly on a pack, but packing out a whitetail..

Ha ha, that would break me!

 

[BAKPAKR]

You mean whole, like this? I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, after doing it this time. If it's legal to chop one up where you are, I'd go that route for sure.

View attachment 527923

I have a done this with three does and a small buck that had already dropped his antlers. It works much better than dragging if you are more than a couple hundred yards from the vehicle.

 

[Lurch12]

It does not take long to quarter it up and then just carry what needs to come out. Front shoulders, hind quarters, back straps, and tenderloins.

No reason to carry more than what you need. One trip out would be manageable.

 

[PMcGee]

Why try and carry it out whole if you’re allowed to quarter it? You’d be carrying a lot of weight for nothing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[trailblazer75]

How I do it each and every time. Gutless method, straight onto a tarp or even straight into game bags. Super simple.

I say every time within reason. If it’s 200-300 yards I’ll gut and drag. But I absolutely detest dragging so usually I cut and carry.

I’ve found that for me I prefer to either A) leave my setup there and just pack out the deer or B) do two trips.

Typically if I leave my sticks and stand or saddle platform I can come back in a little bit later to hunt it. But that’s my state.

Here’s a bunch of pics of deer I’ve had to pack out.

 

[NB7]

Might as well quarter it. I've packed a few whitetails just to practice the gutless method before I ever headed out western hunting. Since I process my own deer, it saved a step later anyway.
In MD, you can legally break one down in the field after you call it in or go online and receive a confirmation #.

 

[prm]

Why try and carry it out while if you’re allowed to quarter it? You’d be carrying a lot of weight for nothing.

Valid point. A little faster, and I'd have everything for CWD testing where applicable. A couple places I hunt they would prefer I leave behind as little as possible. So. other than a gut pile which will be gone in a day I'd want to remove the rest.