Load your own....animal

The day is here that I'll probably be loading my own animals into my truck.

Early diagnoses is my Dad has Osteoarthritis. He's still moving about and doing stuff, but unless there's a way this gets turned around, the days of he and I hoisting a harvested deer or pig together, are gone.

With the help of a tow strap and a decent berm, I was able to get a 170lb deer into the bed of my Tacoma. Using a very similar method, I failed at getting a 100lb sow loaded. Her ribs were catching the tailgate and stopping the movement. Dad drove to the property and helped me load it.

Although he'll be there more times than not, I don't see him being able to help much with lifting.

Do you have a technique or tools that you rely on to load your animal when you're alone? Dad did build a hoist that he used with a boat winch. It fits inside the receiver hitch. It's a bit cumbersome and could stand to be taller since it still doesn't get the animal level with the tailgate.

The hoist he used on his F250.. not that he and I could have gotten that beast on there ourselves. Lol.

I usually hoist it up into a tree, back under it then let it down in the bed.
I have backed up to a hill or ditch to get the tailgate low enough to drag it onto.

ATV ramp and a winch

Where there is a will, there is a way.

We are all getting older but I still refuse to let it kick my butt.

Well, refusing and good pain killers, that is.

I use two 2x10 and a come along.

Put the 2x10 on the tailgate and give the prize a ride. Up the ramp.e4

Tye the come along to the truck and give it a home.

Park the truck in a secluded spot preferably backed up to a slope. Camouflage appropriately. Leave a trail of feed leading into the back of the truck. Wait till animal is in the back of the truck. Shoot animal. Drive home.

Cut it up in smaller pieces.

Come along and atv ramps for animals.

On a side note, for your dad look in to FORTEO. It did wonders for my mom and her osteoporosis. It’s expensive but worth it.

Investing in a cheap game sled(or plastic kid's sled) is handy for moving game and loading. If you can't lift it, a come along and a board is the easiest low tech/cheap way...

I’ve been wanting to build a hoist that swivels once you get whatever cranked up off the ground. I’ve got the design in my head just haven’t had time to mess with it.

I've snatched more than one from the ground to the back of an ATV or a tailgate. I've pulled a tendon or muscle or two doing it too.

Does your truck have front anchor points in the bed? Cable or chain between them, pulley hooked in the center piece of 2*12 or plywood for a ramp.

The ditch where I hunt is perfect for dropping the truck into and getting the tailgate almost on the ground. This year I'm adding a Z drag attached to the front of the bed to pull the critter in with.

The first time I ever quartered a deer in the field and packed it out I swore I would never drag a deer again. No dragging, no hoisting.

I’ve seen a winch setup that goes into the receiver to pick things up with. Hoist the critter up swing it into the bed and let it down. If it’s tall enough you could hang it to skin that way also.

I lowered the bed.....with a hitch-haul platform, and I use a deer cart. If I have to drag a deer very far, I'm either pumped up or pissed off lol.

Are you field dressing them before loading them?

Maybe this is why those guys lower their trucks in the back and jack them up in the front, these days?

GeorgeBush said:

Maybe this is why those guys lower their trucks in the back and jack them up in the front, these days?

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I'd wager none of those trucks ever get very far off the road. They might get dirty.

Grim said:

Are you field dressing them before loading them?

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No, sir.

kcult said:

No, sir.

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Any reason why not? We've always field dressed them to make packing them out easier. The few organs that get left behind after the bear come through haven't seemed to alter game patterns any where I've hunted in the past.

Grim said:

Any reason why not? We've always field dressed them to make packing them out easier. The few organs that get left behind after the bear come through haven't seemed to alter game patterns any where I've hunted in the past.

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Just never have. I don't have a real reason that I don't.

Something like this could have multiple uses. Harbor freight looks to have one that mounts in the corner with an adjustable arm. If you have a welder or know someone could fab something similar as well.

dman24 said:

Something like this could have multiple uses. Harbor freight looks to have one that mounts in the corner with an adjustable arm. If you have a welder or know someone could fab something similar as well.
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If you'll scroll up a few posts, I included a pic of the one my Dad built. He used it on his F250.

I'm sure I could use it on my Tacoma, but I was curious what others on here have or how they overcame the dead weight of a dead animal.

I made a skinning pole years ago that fits into the receiver on my truck. I made it to stick out far enough that I can let the tailgate down and still use it. It is 2 pieces and the top piece telescopes down into the bottom piece when not used and then raises up 10-11' when extended. It has a boat winch and cable. I have used it to raise a deer up high enough that I can push it over on to the tail gate, then let it down.

Having it stick out far enough for the tail gate to be lowered, makes a place for my meat pans, knives and saw to sit while skinning deer.

I have also used it to raise up the front of my zero turn mower to change out the blades.

Grim said:

Any reason why not? We've always field dressed them to make packing them out easier. The few organs that get left behind after the bear come through haven't seemed to alter game patterns any where I've hunted in the past.

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I went back past a gut pile in a field one evening and saw a deer picking through the pile with 3 more standing around her. No, they don't care about it.

And you think these kids are dumb, you can thank me later.....

SimpleMan said:

And you think these kids are dumb, you can thank me later.....

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I heard the Carolina Squat stanced trucks were good for picking up guys for gay sex.

Our club doesn't allow field dressing where they drop in order to not attract coyotes and such to our happy hunting grounds.

Grim said:

I heard the Carolina Squat stanced trucks were good for picking up guys for gay sex.

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For the record, I personally have no knowledge or experience with either. Just tryna help a brother out.