One of the challenging prospects of any deer hunting excursion is getting the animal back to your vehicle or camp after you've harvested it. You may be a considerable distance from where you started once you've shot the deer, and this can mean that you've got a lengthy journey ahead of you. If you hunt with an ATV, you can strap the animal to your storage rack and proceed, but the reality is that many people don't hunt in this manner. Here are some different methods that you can use to transport the deer back to where you came from.

1. On Your Back

Many hunters carry the deer on their backs, much like a backpack. There are a number of ways to transport the animal in this manner after you've field dressed it. Essentially, you'll hoist the animal onto your back and position its front legs over your shoulders, which you'll hold while you walk. This is a strategy that can work well, although its success depends on a few factors. Namely, you need to be big and strong enough to carry the deer, and the deer cannot weigh so much that you struggle to move in this manner.

2. On A Drag Sled

Another strategy, and one that isn't generally as labor-intensive, is to carry the deer on a drag sled. Many hunters use this method, which essentially consists of placing the animal on a large plastic sled — not unlike what children use to slide down hills in the wintertime — and then dragging the sled behind them. You can pull the sled with its attached rope, but you can also place the rope around your waist, which may be easier for you when the deer is heavy.

3. On A Stick

If you're hunting with a partner, one option that you have is to cut a large branch off a tree with a folding saw, remove all of the smaller branches from it, and tie the deer's legs around the branch. You'll then each place one end of the branch on your shoulder and walk with the deer suspended from the stick between the two of you. This method can be effective because you're sharing the weight of the animal, which is especially ideal if it's a heavy one. The challenge of this approach, however, is that you need to walk at the same pace and keep the same distance apart, which can be challenging over rough terrain.

For more information on packing out after whitetail deer hunting, contact your local recreation professionals. 

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