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How to Pack Out a Deer

Hunting large game comes with a whole list of challenges that makes it out of bounds for all but the most experienced hunters. Preparation for hunting larger game, like deer, includes planning how you are going to remove the meat from the bush once you have made the kill. Deer can weigh over 250 pounds and bringing down a fully grown buck often means dealing with weights in this range. There are several methods of packing out meat from the woods that should be part of your pre-hunt preparation so you are not stuck in the woods with a prime piece of meat and little to no means of removing it.

Instructions

- 1
  Bring a horse. One of the most practical and useful animals when hunting in the back country is a horse. Not only can a horse help you pack in food, camping equipment and supplies, but it can also be used to pack out large game meat like deer. Mules and even llamas are good for the same purpose and allow you to pack out the game meat with little more exertion than loading it up and tying it down.
- 2
  Backpack it out. Backpacking out the meat is a good option if you are also prepared to skin and quarter the meat while in the woods. Backpacking out the deer is one of the best ways to keep the meat clean as well. Use a metal frame backpack that gives you optimum back support and make sure you are in good enough physical shape to carry a heavy load on your back for an extended period of time.
- 3
  Drag it out. One of the simplest methods of packing out meat, dragging, has several advantages and disadvantages. First of all, dragging is messy and usually involves getting dirt and brush meshed into the animals cavities and skin. Secondly, dragging can be very strenuous if you simply drag the animal with your hands. It is really only a good option if you have a very short distance to cover and you were not really prepared for any other type of packing. The advantage that it does have is that, using a hip harness, dragging can be done with a minimum of equipment and is actually less hard on your back than using a backpack.
- 4
  Roll it out. Special wheelbarrow-type carts, designed specifically for big game hunters, are available at many sporting good and hunting supply stores. These devices can be a pain to lug around but more than pay for themselves when it comes time to pack out the meat. Simply load the meat in the cart and roll it along the trail in front of you.

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