Deer sleds?

[rondog]

I'm looking for advice about deer sleds, or whatever they're called, things to drag a deer out with. I'm not sure I'd be able to pack out quarters on my back, some serious lumbar problems kinda limit my weight carrying abilities.

So, anybody have any experiences? Looks like there's thing's like plastic sheets to slide them on, things to wrap them in, on up to plastic "boats". Looks to me like the boat-like sleds would be a good bet, but I don't know.

And no, please don't even suggest horses or mules, no f'ing way.

[Lars]

A lot of it depends on the country that you hunt. A sled won't be worth a damn if you have to go up hill, but a wheeled cart is big a bulky, but a little easier to maneuver around rocks and other obstacles. The area we hunt neither one would do much good because of the deadfall and oak brush.

[asmo]

And no, please don't even suggest horses or mules, no f'ing way.

ATV?

I've used PVC pipe and a yoga mat (with a tarp), to get a nice cow elk out with once. Damn near killed me. Dragging sucks.

[Irving]

Game cart, but as mentioned, if they fall where there is a lot of dead fall, you'll half kill yourself just getting to where you can use a cart.

[buffalobo]

Blackmail and bribery or stick to hunting the prairie.

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[Great-Kazoo]

Depending on your budget, these are the way to go. Colorado company, built for the backwoods.

http://www.quietkat.com/products/quietkat/

[buffalobo]

Your best bet is bribery. Either a friend(who is allowed to accompany you according to permit but not allowed to hunt) or take the rancher up on his offer to assist retrieval. Both cases a thank you gift/bribe offer goes long ways.

Best bet is deal with rancher. He is familiar with terrain, probably has horses or ability to access land with ATV that no else can.

Otherwise a buddy and travois.

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[buffalobo]

https://goo.gl/images/PsDIuf

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[bczandm]

The terrain varies so much that you need to be thinking about that and figure out what is going to work best based on the ground in the area you hunt. I've tried a few different things and the comment on the horse/local rancher seems to be the best. ATV's are great but most areas don't allow them off road. Carts are ok but the one time I tried one it was difficult at best as it was tough trying to navigate trees, narrow pathways and other obstacles. The best most versatile option in my opinion is a horse, buy or rent. They can go anywhere but need to be fed, transported and are expensive. You might be able to find an rancher to help out but at least some of them don't like the hunters. If I was going to try that I'd go up a weekend or two early and try to make contact with one or two. Other hunters in the area might help but they are there to hunt and usually don't want to take the time to move someone else's animal.
I've yet to find the perfect solution but will follow the comments to see what others have to say.

[rondog]

Horses/mules/ATV's are out. I'm NOT going to that expense. I have no place to keep any of them, can't afford them, or the trailers to haul them. And I can't ride horses anyway. The whole idea behind hunting, to me anyway, is to fill the freezer. Spending thousands of $$$$ to do it is kinda pointless.

The property is low rolling hills out east on the plains. It's a creek bottom with lots of cottonwoods and thick, lush grasses. But there is a lot of deadfall, just no boulders and mountainsides. Met the property owner yesterday and he offered to help retrieve, but I'd like to save that as a last resort, don't want to impose.

Reckon I'll get one of those plastic sleds, some rope and a pulley. Lots of trees there to tie off to. We're talking less than 1/2 mile to the truck anyway, likely FAR less.