Packing out a Whitetail

[ianpadron]

Only way to do it here in MT. There's a whole, bone-in doe in that pack. I wouldn't recommend deboning unless you kill a mature buck more than a few miles in.

 

[jjwise97]

You could always “shock pouch” it if you want to go that method, google can explain what that is and how to do it much better than I can. But I’ve found that using the gutless method and quartering is my preferred way to do things if a drag seems too difficult- plus it saves me a little time processing when I get home. I like to go straight into game bags and then into my backpack or strapped to my backpack depending which bag I brought.

 

[marcbateman]

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.View attachment 527926

Great pic

 

[*zap*]

getitdun

 

[Alex Genereux]

I wish it was legal in MN

 

[Dwight2180]

I quartered a doe last season, put it in a game then a trash bag and 1 armed her about .75 mi to the truck. A couple years ago I quartered a buck and packed him 1.5mi out on flat ground using an Eberlestock X2....absolute torture. I got rid of the X2.

 

[MTPipeliner]

I’ve done whole deer a couple times but only with small does/spikes, just put them on a pack frame or load shelf- not really ideal but it was quick.

Did a big buck once where I just cut the hind quarters off and carried them in one load the the whole front half in another, that was a little much but I didn’t have far to go.

I’ve also quartered them up and packed them several times.

 

[grainhog]

500' up, then 2.5k' and 4.3 mi down to the world's only known TRD Outback in one trip. Not smart

 

[*zap*]

^ is that one of the new military pack bags?

 

[grainhog]

^ is that one of the new military pack bags?

I believe it is the R3300 + 500 ci brain, purchased the year after I bought the frame, I believe 2017. Hits my sweet spot for multi night summer scouts or bigger late season day rifle hunts.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

It used to not be legal in MO. Now, I can check the deer on my phone and after that you're good to to dismanlte it. I am a big proponent of this. Back where I'm from in WI we'de have to drag or cart the darned things for miles sometimes. Ugh

 

[*zap*]

I believe it is the R3300 + 500 ci brain, purchased the year after I bought the frame, I believe 2017. Hits my sweet spot for multi night summer scouts or bigger late season day rifle hunts.

that is a nice bag.

 

[MBN]

There is always the Mike Mitten way.. If you are looking for a book to read it is pretty good.

 

[Jethro]

NE PA and we rarely, if ever, drag a deer out anymore. I've never packed one out whole, nor thought of that. I guess it may be a possibility on a first year deer. I quarter, but do not debone. Bucks 2 trips, have done a few doe in 1 trip. Pic is 1/2 buck in Badlands 2200. The whole doe I carried out with my SG pack.

 

[CMS829]

in so i can read through this another time and not lose it. Thanks!

 

[Kirby86]

Quartering > game cart on public 90% of the time.

Luckily my dad was able to come help on this guy. Dressed out at 171 and was about a mile and a half back on the public.

I used to use a saddle and my Kifaru Stryker XL, but when I factored in the pack weight a tree stand started making a lot more sense.

This is a LWCG .5 with a kuiu harness on it. Used it to pack out a whole doe last year and my Nilgai bull in south Texas this year. I hybrid hunt out of it by using it like a big saddle platform. Just something to think about!

 

[ianpadron]

If I can get a whole 160" class mountain muley out solo 6 miles in one load (deboned of course)...then you East coast fellas can 1 trip a buck a couple miles.

Only thing worse than having #120 on your back is having to turnaround at the truck and get the other half 3500 feet above you LOL.

I will say that investing in a high end pack will make it far less painful, wouldn’t trade my SG for anything when I know I'm likely coming out extra heavy.

This thread is awesome, loving the pics.

 

[ianpadron]

View attachment 530087
500' up, then 2.5k' and 4.3 mi down to the world's only known TRD Outback in one trip. Not smart

There is nothing in this pic that isn't amazing haha

 

[Farmingdale's Finest]

I live in NJ and unless the deer is very close to my truck I will pack it out on my MR Terraframe 50. It has turned hour plus drags into a 15 minute walk. 3 of my last 5 I have packed out whole because in NJ we are not allowed to leave the carcass in the woods on public land. Insane but true. The 3 ranged from about 90-140 pounds dressed.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[RS3579]

Just quarter it and pack it out. It’s not that bad. This is a Kifaru frame with. Stryker xl bag. Everything worked/fit great.