Game cart opinions

[JWCalgary]

Hey all. Thinking of getting a game cart this year to haul out field dressed deer from 1 to 5 kms on foot. Any thoughts as to what brand or style works for you and pluses minuses of what you use.



Thanks all

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[Scott N]

As an option to the carts, a calving sled or ice fishing sled also works quite well, even on dry ground.

[3blade]

Have had the big game version for years. It's great, does not leave my truck during hunting season. Bought some quad ramps and rigged up a hand winch to load it straight into the truck. It works great on flat or mostly flat gorund, ex most fields. Mud, deadfall or steep inclines can be less than fun. Once there's more than a sprinkle of snow, the calf sled works better

Carry extra bolts for the cross pieces. Those stupid things have a way of disappearing at the worst possible time.

[Jjolg123]

Ive been thinking about getting a packwheel or honey badger game cart for the mountains, anyone tried something similar?

[MK2750]

I picked up a used child bike cart on Kijiji for $25, stripped out the seat etc. and a sled is easily attached with a couple of tie down straps. If you get to a rough spot or even deeper snow, the sled comes off in a second and can be used alone.

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

I did have to fabricate a new handle out of conduit but was still able to utilize the pins etc. that were part of the original hook up to a bike. I also have a larger sled that fits on it just as perfectly but is big enough to float 3 dozen decoys and gear when I get to the marsh.

[IMG][/IMG]

The above is my son's buck but I also managed to lug this beast out over two miles by myself. The only pain was bumping it over dead falls and having to remove everything from the sled to get the cart over and the deer under a barbed wire fence. I had my rifle and pack on board as well.

[IMG][/IMG]

This rig is 100 times easier than any game cart I have tried. The biggest issue is it running you over on the down hills. On a wood or gravel road you can literally drag it along loaded with a couple of fingers, and this from an old guy that smoked for 30 years.

[sns2]

What an excellent idea. Thanks for posting!

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Scott N

As an option to the carts, a calving sled or ice fishing sled also works quite well, even on dry ground.

This!
Can't say how many critters I hauled out in a sled.
Easy, light, no maintenance.

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by 3blade

Carry extra bolts for the cross pieces. Those stupid things have a way of disappearing at the worst possible time.

I have the same one as you - I carry some quick release pins which will do in a pinch.



I like that bike carrier, MK2750! If I find one that has the outer axle supports like the one you have, I may snap it up. Would be nice to have something to clip up to the bike when hunting in 936.

I use sleds too. I had to laugh, I met another forum member while walking into the Blackfoot. Seeing that I was carrying a sled, he asked if I had an animal down, to which I responded, "No."

"So, you're optimistic, then..." was his response.

[chuck-the-chimp]

I've got this exact stroller. (1992 baby jogger) modified slightly different, with 26 inch bike wheels on the sides. I have a ghetto hitch to my bike. Has hauled out a moose in two trips and a calf elk on one from 936.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...3daa977529.jpg

[Bulldog Edm]

I used my daughter's sleigh last year. It worked great on flat ground but in the thick stuff with dead fall it was easier to just take the deer off and drag it by it's antlers. Maybe a stiffer sleigh might work better. I was thinking about getting a jogging stroller and pumping it out for hunting but then I have to drag that around. I found a deer pull sleigh at princess auto that comes with a pull harness and pull tarp for like $20. I think I'll give that a go. It all folds up real small and is light.

Here's the sleigh I used last year.

[Stinky Buffalo]

Too much deer, too little sled!

[alpineguy]

we used a homemade one to haul an elk out of the Yaha Tinda years ago and it was pretty cool. had a hand brake for downhills and a rickshaw style handle so you could have more than 1 person pulling.
Lots of respect for you guys out there that use carts to pull out animals........no matter how good the unit it still is a lot of work.

[Smokinyotes]

You guys must be a lot tougher than i am. Two years ago i hauled my calf elk out uphill on a sleigh for about a half mile. Dam near killed me.

[beaver hunter]

Two of us hauled my deer out 1/2km on a game cart Sept 2nd, the grass was a foot high in spots. It wasn't fun, but makes for a good story...

[58thecat]

image.jpg

Due to this incline I took it out in quarters...sweat like a fat kid in a candy store

[mgvande]

Quarter and carry. It's easier. Unless it's across some farmers flat field.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by mgvande

Quarter and carry. It's easier. Unless it's across some farmers flat field.

Five miles one way...then back, and back again...nope, in that case the sled comes out and I drop the deer once and once only...I guess everything is situational, right tool for the right application.

[calgarychef]

It's best to drop your elk on top of the hill and sled it all the way down. Going uphill is tough! I've been looking at a lot of the designs from other places like New Zealand, Germany etc. There's some really interesting carts that "seem" to make more sense than ours. I like the idea of two wheels centrally mounted than on the ends of the axles. "Our" style of cart suffers extreme forces on the wheels when we're traversing across a hill.

[Big Grey Wolf]

MG is correct. Shot a moose about 2km back when around 20 years old. Trapping partner and I thought we would use gizmo pole like Daniel Boon. My 60 year old Dad had 3 quarters at the truck by caring on his back and two 20 year old tough guys only had one.

[Unregistered user]

Those bike trailers are great. I made my canoe caddy out of one.

[Warrior]

Any issues with weight on those wheels. Someone told me they are only rated for 100lbs...

Originally Posted by Unregistered user

Those bike trailers are great. I made my canoe caddy out of one.

[Unregistered user]

Mine was a Winchester brand, don't know the rating but my 17' aluminum is 75lbs and we toss all our supplies for the day in there and no bent wheels ever, and we are rough on it. 22" steel spoked wheels seem real strong.

[fish_e_o]

i have this one
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/69344/...luxe-game-cart

DO NOT BUY IT

small wheels means any rut is hell to roll over.
i tried to haul a mule deer out on it and a wheel bent in half.
the deer was constantly falling off the sides.
it was hard to over balance the load so that i could get the other end off the ground.
the narrow wheelbase and tall center of gravity meant that going sideways on a hill meant your cart was flipping over.

[Stinky Buffalo]

I hear that Sasquatch Fabrications' Pak-Kart is a really good one.

Does anyone here have experience with that one?

[mgvande]

Originally Posted by Stinky Buffalo

I hear that Sasquatch Fabrications' Pak-Kart is a really good one.

Does anyone here have experience with that one?

I had one in a similar design. Very hard to push or pull.

[mgvande]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Five miles one way...then back, and back again...nope, in that case the sled comes out and I drop the deer once and once only...I guess everything is situational, right tool for the right application.

If I shoot a deer and I'm 5 miles back I'm carring my pack frame. I debone and pack it out. Unless you are pushing your cart while you are '5miles' back in the bush on uneven landscape. You have to walk 10 mile before you are even loading up you now rigger mortised animal. I'm at home drinking beer and watching my wife process my animal.

[Stinky Buffalo]

mgvande, sounds like that's what another member on here does as well. He ditched his cart and now uses a frame pack to get his animals out of 936. IIRC he does the gutless method.

Now that my kids are getting bigger, I should get them some frame packs and... Hmmm... Thinking out loud here...

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by mgvande

If I shoot a deer and I'm 5 miles back I'm carring my pack frame. I debone and pack it out. Unless you are pushing your cart while you are '5miles' back in the bush on uneven landscape. You have to walk 10 mile before you are even loading up you now rigger mortised animal. I'm at home drinking beer and watching my wife process my animal.

Jeepers you got a wife that processes meat, from field to pan


I got a sore back and warm beer....

[mgvande]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Jeepers you got a wife that processes meat, from field to pan


I got a sore back and warm beer....

The art of good story telling is to embellish and leave your audience wanting more🙄
Actually the most I get is for her to run the grinder but with how I do things all the work is done in the bush. With the mess.

[ocelotrugby]

I used this with limited success till i used rubber made tubs. no more rubbing of meat and wheels cleaner easier to balance. they stay on easy with bungie.
cheers ERic