game sled, roll-up/packable type any good?

[Jamen]

With no snow ill put meat on my back 10/10 times. Lighter loads id maybe makes the case for the sled. I took 60% of a cow elk this year plus gear "only day trip gear" in one trip with my stone glacier in the badlands and id do it every time in that situation over a sled. Thats just me though

 

[Khunter]

They have plenty of snow. All quarters off the steep stuff, just a mere 3 miles to go down the creek bottom.

 

[Sytes]

With no snow ill put meat on my back 10/10 times. Lighter loads id maybe makes the case for the sled. I took 60% of a cow elk this year plus gear "only day trip gear" in one trip with my stone glacier in the badlands and id do it every time in that situation over a sled. Thats just me though

But sleds make you earn each step in front of the other. I'll take a game sled single trek over multi treks to the 2000' camp... Key is hunt higher than the vehicle. Been there, done that multiple occasions in wilderness. Everyone pays in pain hiking solo I simply rather get the pain over in one go. To each their own though.

@Khunter , Did you run rope pully sets off trees down some of those steep contours along approx 2/5th's of that trek or? Looks as you mentioned, steep for a sled full of moose meat!

 

[Khunter]

But sleds make you earn each step in front of the other. I'll take a game sled single trek over multi treks to the 2000' camp... Key is hunt higher than the vehicle. Been there, done that multiple occasions in wilderness. Everyone pays in pain hiking solo I simply rather get the pain over in one go. To each their own though.

@Khunter , Did you run rope pully sets off trees down some of those steep contours along approx 2/5th's of that trek or? Looks as you mentioned, steep for a sled full of moose meat!

for that steep open slope off the top, with rock hard frozen quarters, no sled down used bc would have been a rocket down mountain. turned out a daisy chain of quarters being pulled down the slope was controllable versus a rocket ship of a sled.Was not easy as quarters would hang on sage etc at times but beats holding back a freight train from behind

then sled was awesome going out gentle downhill grade out creek bottom

actually paired the j5 (held one quarter) with a jet sled (held two quarters) to maximize each trip with two guys.

I had left for home by time the “easy” sledding started.

 

[Bonasababy]

The deer sleigh-rs and similar I have lots of experience with. Going back to the 70's--a hunting partner who worked at Honeywell got some slick plastic and made one initially. Black bear and deer, not elk though. And mostly flat ground. If they pull hard you are doing it wrong--flip it over, the rough side is up! Problem is they often come curled up the other way. You want to have rope that slides through grommet holes easily and cinch the critter up well. Not good for rock/dirt/gravel trails, but works well even without snow vegetation that isn't too thick, you can drag up and over down logs if not too many of them. I would now want to try one going down a steep hill though. Although hopping on and riding down with your critter might be exciting!

 

[Bonasababy]

I tried using the roll up type sled a few times a long time ago, didn't really go well. Front kept digging in the dirt and it kept rolling over. Maybe theres a way to solve those issues. I have used the plastic ice-fishing or duck hunting type sled on a few occasions when there was snow or grass, either flat or downhill. I still wouldn't do this over dry ground, or uphill.

Have to cinch them up and then have a drag tie in front that lifts the front off the ground a bit while pulling. They will roll over and you will be getting dirt and debris in the sled if they aren't cinched up well before starting. The one I have is a pain as the slick side comes curled up and you want that down--takes a bit of doing to reverse it and cinch things up but worth it makes dragging a lot easier! No major hills for me though.

 

[F250]

I run the tow rope through the appropriate grommet holes, then secure around the deer’s head and snout like a horse halter as tightly as you can. Then you are pulling straight on the deer/load. If you take a little time, it’s possible to cinch the front of the roll up sled to make it like a torpedo.

 

[pocoyocohunter]

I have never used the roll up sleds, but have seen guys used them and swear by them when you talk with them. I have used a jet sled to haul firewood out of the woods on snow and on dry leaves. It works very well and I wouldn't hesitate to dry using the jet sled with a deer.

 

[Waddeesay]

I’ve been back into hunting for about 7 years now, I did it when I was a kid living in Australia, then got busy with career and all that, moved to the US, been here for 10 years now with a young family, small biz and I digress... while I love days in the woods and feeding my family, I ran into a major wall: a physical condition that makes it difficult for me to build muscle. Days out got harder, and ones where I was successful were a killer on my back, shoulders, knees...

I ended up trying one of the roll up sleds, it cracked and split when it got cold. Another one was almost textured, but it felt like it was harder to pull than the deer, then the grommets tore out.

The jet sleds are too bulky and noisy to drag around. I tried the rope/strap style and they were hard on my joints and the day after, I always felt like i'd been tossed in a tumble drier.

My old man taught me that the best way to complain is to make things.

I made a packable one that slots together. I wanted something lightweight enough to carry in, but tough enough to actually get the job done solo, and only ever have to buy one cause it should last forever like all good hunting gear (buy once, cry once, right?). After a bit of messing around, some folks told me i should get it patented and sell it.
A couple of years of spare time that I think I woulda rather been in the woods, and its up and live. I ran through some different prototypes and got something that is hardy AF. Got it made in a local plastics manufacturer and have first run sitting at home in Florida ready to sell.

I'm a lightweight, like 5'10", 155 pounds wringing wet. I pulled a 120 pound hog around with no problems at all. Hands free. Well, I had my 30-30. And better balance cause i hooked it up to a harness that spreads the weight across my back and shoulders.

I’m curious to hear from the group:

What would it be worth to you? Like What would you pay for a sled, that comes in a pack with a harness. All heavy duty materials, made in the USA and lifetime replacement warranty. The testing I've been putting this thing through is nuts and I'm still yet to break it.

I’m not a big corporation; I’m just a hunter who wanted to keep providing for my family without the physical burnout. I’d love your feedback on the concept!

 

[Dsnow9]

I’ve been back into hunting for about 7 years now, I did it when I was a kid living in Australia, then got busy with career and all that, moved to the US, been here for 10 years now with a young family, small biz and I digress... while I love days in the woods and feeding my family, I ran into a major wall: a physical condition that makes it difficult for me to build muscle. Days out got harder, and ones where I was successful were a killer on my back, shoulders, knees...

I ended up trying one of the roll up sleds, it cracked and split when it got cold. Another one was almost textured, but it felt like it was harder to pull than the deer, then the grommets tore out.

The jet sleds are too bulky and noisy to drag around. I tried the rope/strap style and they were hard on my joints and the day after, I always felt like i'd been tossed in a tumble drier.

My old man taught me that the best way to complain is to make things.

I made a packable one that slots together. I wanted something lightweight enough to carry in, but tough enough to actually get the job done solo, and only ever have to buy one cause it should last forever like all good hunting gear (buy once, cry once, right?). After a bit of messing around, some folks told me i should get it patented and sell it.
A couple of years of spare time that I think I woulda rather been in the woods, and its up and live. I ran through some different prototypes and got something that is hardy AF. Got it made in a local plastics manufacturer and have first run sitting at home in Florida ready to sell.

I'm a lightweight, like 5'10", 155 pounds wringing wet. I pulled a 120 pound hog around with no problems at all. Hands free. Well, I had my 30-30. And better balance cause i hooked it up to a harness that spreads the weight across my back and shoulders.

I’m curious to hear from the group:

What would it be worth to you? Like What would you pay for a sled, that comes in a pack with a harness. All heavy duty materials, made in the USA and lifetime replacement warranty. The testing I've been putting this thing through is nuts and I'm still yet to break it.

I’m not a big corporation; I’m just a hunter who wanted to keep providing for my family without the physical burnout. I’d love your feedback on the concept!

How bout some pics?

 

[cgasner1]

Send me one I’ll drag some moose around in it and send you some pictures. I’ve had multiple people tell me I should be in gear testing business with how well I handle some things

 

[Bonasababy]

I have no problems with my deer sleigh'r but it is bulky to move.

I cant imagine anything thinner or easy to carry would be as tough as I need though. Has to be dragged through brush, over logs, etc.

 

[6mm Remington]

Spike bull whole on Critter Carts that my father and I built. They fold up for the pickup truck to fit nicer. Really work great. Two guys can go a lot of places on a two track, trails, or just cross country. It's made for two to use but on relatively easy terrain a deer, an elk quarter or two, or 3 antelope whole are easy by one person doing it.


Spike bull whole.




Big cow whole and yes it has brakes! I'll find some with our game sled in a few minutes. Here's how they fold up.

 

[2rocky]

I'm gonna resurrect this thread as I'm thinking about how we handle dead critters like Tule elk.

Usually we can get a SXS or even the Backhoe to the kill site, and get the elk to a good site for pictures, and process it whole. The problem is when the elk dies across a creek or where it is too steep to get the vehicle. BUUUT the winch rope, strap or cable reaches.

Biggest issue is wearing the hair off the bottom shoulder. Wondering if the Magnium sled would alleviate that issue?

Looking at https://www.amazon.com/DEER-SLEIGHR-Magnum-Game-Sled/dp/B001CJI7XA

Mentioned up thread, wondering if there was a bigger/wider version....

 

[Bonasababy]

I think the biggest size is the magnum. The material is very tough...one side slicker than the other. It works by cinching up around the critter being dragged. Has kept big deer and a small black bear hides clean for me. I know Tule's are smaller but if not broken down a whole Tule elk might be pushing it I think...but maybe others have experience?

My exp. Is also on flat to gently rolling terrain.

 

[El Jason]

@Potsie and I tried sleds like the OP showed. We found they have serious limitations with steep downhills.

 

[cgasner1]

The one like shown would work but you wouldn’t pull on it. I’d use it to wrap the animal in then tie to the horns and pull it that way

 

[Sytes]

Sleds work best in trail rutted routes. They will self direct repeatedly, especially the rollup type - pack in type without rutted trails. That said, I have zero problems using them on dry or snow to get game out if pack animals and wheeled game carts are not an option.
Downhill, I would rather use a sled than wheeled. We use trees and traverse rope around trees as a resistance aid to slow descent of the weighted sleds.

Outside that - Easy pack in with a rolled up pack sled or pulling a low weighted sled to pack out. I didn't use one in the video shared though it's a game changer versus multiple treks into and out of wilderness solo or with one hunting partner.

 

[fowladdict]

These roll up and almost weigh nothing. They are in my pack when there is a little bit of snow on the ground. Dry ground...no, I'm packing it. Heavy snow...I'd probably prefer a lightweight ice fishing sled.