I will call GC also but want your advise. One I don't know if it's legal but I been having serious back issues and really can't drag deer 200 and up anymore and am thinking about quartering them up and back packing them out in the mountains I hunt in PA. does anyone else do this and if so what advise do you guys have and second what's a good pack? And does anyone know if it's legal and I could get a document from physician if needed. Carts are a good option but not in the mountains and swamps I have been scouting for this coming season. Thanks

And to clarify the carts are fine in flat and slightly hilly terrain but no way could I drag up a mountain side or across a muddy "bottomless" swamp. It's to far for friends to drive to my cabin to help also like around my house hunting. I just think quartering would be best option.

I've quartered deer and packed out of my cedar swamp. The upside is not dragging out the whole deer. The down side is stepping in a whole and sinking to your waist because of the added weight on your back. I have had a frame type pack that was given to me for several years now, from cabelas. If you have back issues I am NOT sure this a better option for you.

Friends of mine shot a deer way back in and had to make a couple calls to different pgc offices until they got a clear answer, so depending on who you talk to you might get different answers.

Very easy to bone out a deer. Much easier than hauling a big buck out. Even if you have to do it in two trips it's still easier than dragging the beast out.

I started doing this a couple years ago, and I'll never drag a whole deer out again.

I basically quarter them where they fall, and put the quarters, backstraps and tenderloins in a pillow case, then strap that to my pack frame and hike out. First time I did this, I wondered why I ever drug a deer out in my life - it was that much easier.

Much easier to dispose of the parts once you get home too.

When I hunt public land - which is most of the time - I have to take a stand in on my back and put it up every hunt. So I have the pack frame and a large cooler waiting in my truck. If I shoot one, I just take my stand and steps down while I'm giving the deer time to die, go back to my vehicle and get the pack frame and a "kit" that includes the game bag (pillowcase) , my knife, work light, bungee cord etc. for packing it out.

Then I hike back in and locate the deer and quarter it on the spot. Each skinned quarter goes in the pillowcase as well as the backstraps and loins. Then I pack it out on my back.

At the truck, I put the meat in my cooler and drive to the closest place to get ice and ice it down for the trip home.

The real value to this - other than not having to drag a whole deer out, is that I can leave the meat on ice a few days until I have time and energy to bone it out. Usually when I get home from a hunt it's so late and I'm so tired that I just don't want to do anything but take a shower and go to bed. Quartering them out and putting them on ice lets me get some rest and work with the meat at my convenience. It also means fewer things to throw away at home, since I live in town and don't have a place to dispose of the bones, much less a whole carcass.

Yes I agree and I understand the down sides. But as mentioned I could do 2 trips if needed also. I seen a lot of guys packing deer and mule deer out on tv out west where you would have to drag for miles. Young deer I can get by but I'm talking the big mature deer. The ones that are like small horses! Lol.

1/2 mile - I have significant back issues and packing quarters out - at least for me - is far easier on my back than dragging one out.

Also, I don't know of any state that won't allow this so long as you keep proof of sex and/or the head with the quarters.

Legal in TN. I have an old ALICE pack that i keep game bags, gloves, hand wipes etc in.

I have cut them in to 3rds , but only the bigguns . just was not possible any other way . I don't know if it was legal yet was needed. 3/4 mile through swamps .

I do like limbwalker with deer or hogs either one.

Here in Ohio we used to be required to present the deer whole for inspection and check in. No more, it is now by phone or Internet. Since then, no more miserable drags! And these, are large bucks - I have weighed many field dressed bucks that weighed 225 pounds and above on an accurate scale. Even quite a few does that dressed out at 175 pounds.

I have always used an atv on private land. Even with an atv, sometimes i butcher in the woods. 4 quarters, backstraps, internal tenderloins, neck, ribs or just rib meat, and some trim.

Atv is not permitted on public land. So quarter and pack out is the best option.

Check out Bullpacs. I have the Big Bull. Nothing is better in a frame pack. get a Selway bag and carry your gear inside and a stand on the outside. Then pack out deer too.

Also check out Eberlestock. I have many of their packs. The larger sizes will pack in your gear compressed as a smaller size pack, then comfortably pack out as much as you want to carry. It is more versatile, just not as comfortable as the

Best wishes.

Some good ideas and tips. Thanks guys and keep the info coming...

Here's a pic of my last pack out, back at the truck.

When packing any heavy load on your back, use trecking poles. Make them part of your pack out kit.

They make the process much easier and you will be more sure footed. Especially going down hill!

For packs its hard to beat a cheap surplus Marune corp ILBE pack. Rarely is cell service not available where I hunt. I will quickly hop on the internet on my smart phone, check in my deer, get my ID number then cut up and pack out.

I bone em out every time, elk too which is the only way. I can just about bone an animal out as fast as a guy could gut it, you get better the more you do it. A deer could be done in one load or two if a bigun. I carry a foldup hand saw and cut the skull plate taking the horns if I am not going to mount it. If mounting, cape it out and cut the head off at the base of the spine and game bag that separate. I have a Paradox Evolution pack frame but thats prolly over kill for back east, out west we generally hunt with a pack on hour backs. If you are a mile in and kill something, it is wasted effort to have to go get a frame pack then come back for the meat. Best to take a load out right off the bat.

This the regs in Illinois.

In instances where deer are checked in while the hunter is still afield, the deer may not be dismembered while afield beyond quartering the animal. If quartered, all parts of the carcass (except the entrails removed during field dressing) must be transported together and evidence of sex must remain naturally attached to the carcass. Evidence of sex is: A) for a buck: head with antlers attached to carcass, or attached testicle, scrotum, or penis, B) for a doe: head attached to carcass, or attached udder (mammary) or vulva.

After a kill I walk back to the truck and get my "Kit" (pillowcase, small block and tackle, long knife) and my Packboard. I use the small Block and Tackle to hoist them in a tree and bone them out. Then I put the meat in the Pillowcases and pack everything out. Way easier then dragging.

Like 4blade said - if you're way far in then bring that gear with you if you can. I could easily strap my hanging stand and steps to my pack frame and take it all in at once, but I generally hunt between 1/2 and 3/4 mi. from my truck so I don't mind the walk back - esp. since it ensures that I give that critter time to expire while I'm putting my stand up and getting my pack frame.

Hunting out West is a whole other proposition and like he says, we take everything we need with us. But that's easier since I don't hang stands out West, so there is no added weight of bringing out a stand with the deer.

Thanks everyone. Sounds doable for sure. Now just gotta find out PA rules on this.

I wana drive to the varmit or I need to get me some help. Pup days passed me buy and I'm not cutting anything up. Lately I make sure others are near by phone call away. Especially if I go down I'll be fast on the ring, ring better come and get me.

When I'm forced to pack out an animal the only bones I carry are the ones on his head. No need to pack additional weight.

DJ

You can pack out meat in most states, you just have to leave proof of sex. I agree I do not pack any bones unless it is part of the skull. I am not mounting deer anymore no matter how big as I like the European route. Even a large deer will yield maybe 80 pounds of meat so with my pack and frame I can do that in one trip if need be, but would most likely do two. Around home I just get help even if it is only a short drag. I have been hunting the midwest a lot the last 10 years and I do it alone so no help around. I still like a sled as it is fairly easy and I take my time, or a deer cart in flat spots like where I hunt in Kansas and Nebraska. Shawn

Bone and home!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KanEXYWB3gY

I convinced my friend Warren that I didn't know how to do it.

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