Registered: Oct 2013
Location: Maryland
Posts: 2633

What do you guys use to get your bear out of the woods??? I have a big 4 wheeler and was thinking about getting one of those heavy duty 2 axle 4 wheel carts that tow behind it. I would probably jack the bear into it with a come along and just drive it out. Probably have to carry a small chain saw to be able to get this rig close to the dead bear. I also was thinking about one of those big heavy plastic sheets with the tow rope on it like they sell for deer hunters. Even if I had to buy that big heavy plastic stuff in a sheet and make my own so it was big enough for a bear. It looks like that type of drag goes over rocks and logs and such pretty easy. Lets hear what some of you professional guys use. Thanks in advance for any info.

Edit: Because I might not be able to get this rig right to the bear I also thought about trying to find one of those old Vietnam era army stretchers, the ones that fold. I could throw that in the cart and get as close as possible then carry the thing to the cart with that. Any of you guys know where or even if you can still get those old stretchers??? Thanks again.

Last edited by msinc on 10-26-2014 at 03:29 AM

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Kendall,WI
Posts: 396

Guy I work with says they use a otter sled. Same type used to haul ice-fishing gear. Claims it slides pretty well along dry ground.
No matter what it's WORK!!

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Registered: Jun 2013
Location: Western NC
Posts: 749

Them big ice scapers that look like a big sled works good and there 25-30 bucks

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Registered: Feb 2010
Location:
Posts: 37

well there's a lot of ways that you can do it. skin/cut it if state laws are ok with it. a lot of guys pulling it out,or with a cart. "BUT"for me being a old man the hunts by myself with bad health. I try to take as much weight as I can out of game first. then I slide it on a plastic tart and wrap it to keep bugs/dirt off and for it to slide on ground. I then hook the dogs to a long lease to help drag me out of woods. (this does not work well trying to get hounds to drag game). when I have the dogs put up I take my little cart that has a battier and a 1,200 lb wrench in the woods and snap the cable hook to the nylon straps around game and the wrench gets straped to a tree. I do this in the clearest path I see and try to make it as close to truck as possible. it takes mutli-trys when you hunt alone.just let the wrench do the work. it also will help lift the game into the truck if you work on rigging it. it's hard on you as you get older but it's easy to roll a battier/wrench to game then drag it from the moutains/swamps.

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Registered: Oct 2013
Location: Maryland
Posts: 2633

Thanks for the replies so far...lots of good ideas. I don't know if they wont allow cutting up a bear but in some cases I don't see how there would be a choice...a big enough bear would be like trying to get a cow out of the woods. It would be hard enough if it was skinned and quartered!!!

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Registered: Dec 2006
Location: Montana
Posts: 934

Last one I killed I skinned and quartered and put the quarters and back straps in my pack and tied the hide to the outside of the pack. It wasn't a fun hike out but it was a long way in and steep so I didn't want to have to go back for a second load.

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Registered: May 2013
Location:
Posts: 8

My hunting is all done in the west, it is very rare that I can get an animal out whole. Most of the game I shoot is deboned on the spot. A bear can be be skinned and reduced to deboned meat in 2 hours. Why work your ass off on getting a bear out whole, then throw 1/2 the weight away after you get done butchering it at home.

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Registered: Oct 2013
Location:
Posts: 96

A lot of us here in Southeast NC use a winch and a rope.

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Registered: Jan 2007
Location: Central Va
Posts: 134

Homemade drag ropes hooked to about every extremity and a few good men!

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Registered: Jun 2007
Location: jacksonville, nc
Posts: 2856

I've never tried to haul a bear or any other big game out of the woods. But one time I was hunting and found a trial. I followed for 30 minutes and decided to leave and come back when I had a pistol and more time. I followed that trail for 45 minutes, saw 15 empty water bottles. I came to a tree and relized someone had hauled a bear out. It must have been a lot of work for several men on a hot day. They had to carve a trail through a very thick swamp to get to it.

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Registered: Feb 2012
Location: Northeastern NC
Posts: 9

I am not a huge bear hunter but have friends that are. This year they have been using a new winch type system. It cost around $1900, but will drag a 5-600lb bear a 100 yards in no time. The system utilizes a 4hp Honda Motor, and comes with a 100 yard rope and a huge plastic cone. The cone goes in front of the bear and allows him to be pulled around trees. You can buy extra rope. They use 300 yards. It will snake the big bear around trees with out getting hung up. A job that used to take 7-8 men 8 hrs to do, can now be done in 2-3 hrs with 2-3 guys. These guys are using this rig in very thick, swampy type environments.

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Registered: Oct 2013
Location: Maryland
Posts: 2633

Some interesting solutions on this thread...I am guessing they just chain the wench to a tree?? It's not that thick where I hunt but that thing sounds like a pretty good way to tackle a big heavy problem. Thanks again for all the info everyone has posted so far.

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Registered: Feb 2012
Location: Northeastern NC
Posts: 9

Yes they tie it to a tree. The system is mounted on a framed backpack and weighs around 40lbs with 100yds of rope. The cone is carried by hand. I haven't actually seen one yet, but the bear hunters I know really talk like it is the cats meow. I have hunted bears in these swamps many times and figured out a long time ago that it was a very physically demanding sport. It is tough enough to get to the tree or bayed bear, but the real work begins when hauling him out.

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Registered: Oct 2013
Location: Maryland
Posts: 2633

Where I hunt {mountains} I would need to wrap the bear in something for the drag out or risk having the pelt damaged. I guess in a mostly wet soft soil swamp it don't matter, they probably don't get damaged. Those deer sled things that are like a big heavy strip of tough slick plastic would work great if I can find one big enough. Funny you don't see those rigs sold to deer hunters...seems like a heck of a good idea. Thanks again for the info.

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Registered: Feb 2012
Location: Smithfield Maine
Posts: 64

In the mountains of Maine I use to skin them out. Wasn't a big deal. Had to be done anyway. If the bear was near a road I'ld tie a hardwood stick in its mouth with thin cord. The stick would be just long enough for a hand grip on each side. Two guys could drag a bear just fine as long as it wasn't too big. Even a big bear could be dragged out.Just a lot of work....This worked good for bait hunters.

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