Game cart vs. sled

[WeaselBeard]

I have heard and seen good for both and certain seasons/terrain give benefit for each. If you could only have one, which would you prefer overall for large game retrieval:

• Game cart
• Sled
• Other

Also, I wouldn't mind hearing what conditions you may have come across that you had one, but wish you had the other one (or an alternative if you have one).

Is one better for whitetail compared to bull elk or moose?

*Mistyped Poll. Slead should be Sled

[Drewski Canuck]

Go roll a game cart in the NWA at Suffield over fist sized rocks that lay just about everywhere.

Come talk to me after about how great a game cart is with 200 # on it hung up on a rock, and then another rock, and then another rock ...

BUT WAIT!! You can have even MORE FUN getting a game cart over an ankle high log with a whitetail buck on it, and then another log, and a foot high log!!

But yes, I have both and use both where conditions warrant.

However, a sled, especially a UFA calving sled, makes thing pretty easy more often.

Drewski

[harv3589]

I use a sled and works great in dry, wet or snowy conditions. Heavy duty one from CO-OP farm store. It has tall sides and is heavy duty.

[UngulateMeatEater]

Sled everyday wins from sept till March it’s my best friend hooks up easy to quad skidoo I’ve hauled out many animals and fishing gear in the trusty sled


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[urban rednek]

Game carts are great for use on dry, smooth, hard packed trails wide enough to handle a quad and in open farm/ranch country with dry, groomed fields and gates that are not padlocked closed.
For everything else there is a sled with a good shoulder harness.
Before the advent of plastic/poly calving sleds, I used a 6' wooden toboggan.

[Dubious]

Bone em out and put them in the backpack Super quicks and easy don’t have to go back to a truck for a sled. If there’s thick trees or lots of knocked down trees or steep hills game carts and sleds are horrible.

[Xbolt7mm]

Silly poll, they are different tools for different situations

[Bushleague]

Of the two options I only have a sled, so I guess a sled. I use a canoe to recover game quite often though.

[FellSwoop]

I have a cheap plastic toboggan that I bought at Can Tire years ago that I've used to drag whitetail out a couple maybe three times. It works okish, have made a better rope harness. I have hosed the blood from it and let my daughter sled with it when she was little, dont think that she knew. It's not great, I should buy a proper one some day.

[JTRED]

I've used both for a number of hunts. I use the game cart on road closures before the snow comes. I use a sled later in the season once there is some snow. I usually have both in the truck. This weekend I'm packing into a road closure for two nights/three days and I'll be pulling the cart up. If it's snowing as much as they say I'll likely throw the sled on top in case the snow gets too deep for the cart. For all of my hunting my backpack expands enough that I'd likely be able to get a whole mule deer in it if I boned it out.

[MK2750]

[IMG][/IMG]

[graybeard]

Years ago I bought the red UFA calving sled and a harness......I never looked back. It has been useful for a number of chores and it is so well made.

In addition after hunting was over, I cleaned it and it was the best toboggan for the kids; it was the fastest and went the furthest, on the hill, they loved it. That was 20 years ago and there is a ton of wear left.

[58thecat]

image.jpg

Works fine....

[58thecat]

Humping hills with a load

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/attac...1&d=1569506779

[Pathfinder76]

I make pieces and haul them on my back. Since doing that my game hauling experience has become a much better one.

[Hilgy]

After hunting Suffield with only a calf sled and no snow on the ground I did this. Built out of a bike carrier and a ice fishing sled. 4 wing nuts turns it into a sled.

[Jimm]

Originally Posted by MK2750

[IMG][/IMG]

Ding ding, we have a winner

[kritz]

Originally Posted by Xbolt7mm

Silly poll, they are different tools for different situations

This is like a liberal poll.
Than it will say in the news that majority of Canadians want sleds!

LOL sorry could not resist sarcasm this morning.

I have both.

I like my calf sled even when it is grassy, it pulls better over obstacles on damp grass better than my game cart.
Long flat field or prairie I really like my game cart. There are times across a stubble field or hay field that no driving is allowed they work great.
I use my game cart to haul beavers when trapping along a field ridge .

[Scott N]

I think a sled is more versatile, they work reasonably well even on dry ground.

[Big Grey Wolf]

Guys, thought this is why we have quads, best thing ever invented for retrieving game.

[Walleye55]

I haven't been hunting that long but if I can't gut and drag the animal where I need too with a buddy, quartering it in the field and loading it into a pack designed for hauling meat is the way to to go in my opinion. Obviously if this isn't an option for you physically a sled or game cart would be good depending on the situation. Or if you have access to a quad then giddy up

[st99]

If I can't get the quad to downed game, I use my pack frame.

[OL_JR]

Got to admit I have zero idea how a sled is winning in the polls if you only had to choose one between the two. In my experience a game cart is like a holiday compared to a sled unless the snow is like three ft. deep lol.

[kevpack]

Both in truck

[J.B.]

Other. Unless I can spit on my truck from the critter, its getting quartered and packed. I also tend to hunt foot access only areas.

[kevpack]

Originally Posted by J.B.

Other. Unless I can spit on my truck from the critter, its getting quartered and packed. I also tend to hunt foot access only areas.

I love(?) quartering and packing when I have to but you guys bone it out completely...do you hang the pack?

[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by Big Grey Wolf

Guys, thought this is why we have quads, best thing ever invented for retrieving game.

Yeah, if you never stray very far off the trail. Most of the game we shoot a quad is useless, to the point I don't even bother putting it in the truck anymore... though on odd occasions I will admit that it has saved me a whole pile of work. Of course on a nearly equal amount of occasions it has caused me a fair bit of work

[Scruffee]

I've dragged mule deer, whitetail, moose quarters and whole bears with sleds in all sorts of terrain and condition with success.

[Sashi]

I have to go with sled, since I can't spell toboggan.

[antler1]

Some time ago I saw an article in the Edmonton Journal which showed an old timer and the homemade sled he had used for years. If you can get your hands on a plastic 45 gallon drum, a couple 2x4s and some rope you can easily make one. I leave mine out in the bush where I hunt as quads are not allowed.
You will need a jig saw to cut the ends out and a circular saw to split the barrel.
When screwing on the 2x4 side rails be sure to leave the front curled up a bit so it will ride over logs and not fill up with snow.
Put some rope side loops on and you can lash your buck down securely.