If a stream or branch is near, gut the deer and use the water to wash. Use a stick handle tied to a 6 foot small rope tied to the antlers or neck (adjust the length to likeness). If the deer is too heavy to drag that way, cut the deer in half in front of the hips keeping the hips together and tie the rope to cut slits in the lower hind legs and drag that rear half. That is the best way without a cart. If you don't want the neck, shoulders nor ribs, cut out the back straps and bag, then stick the cut off head in between the hind legs (still together) and drag the rear half leaving the front and ribs to critters.

After reading this thread and some youtube vids I purchased a jet sled with my Christmas money. I've been hunting a huge bottom and only way out is up steep hill. Son, this thing is the shizit !! Me and another buddy drug a good 8 out with absolutely no problems and it was almost too easy. If we would have had to drag it out by the horns like normal, I'd still be huffin and puffin.

You can learn a ton on this site, just have to sift through some garbage to find it sometimes. Thanks guys !

^^^this. My shooting requirements are pretty high to start with, but they are often adjusted even higher at the moment of truth, depending on the terrain and drag involved. Big 5 or 6 yr old cull buck that I would kill in a heartbeat, in a road or on flat ground, often gets a pass if he's a couple ridges over or walking a creek bottom that's 100' elevation change from where I'm sitting and would have to bring him out.

Quarter it and remove backstraps, inner loins, neck, etc..........put in backpack, walk out. I bought an inexpensive internal frame hiking backpack for just such a thing. My days of dragging a deer more than a few feet are over.

There's a reason why old men like me would rather watch them than kill them. If I kill one, it's where I can back up the golf cart or pickup to it

15 year old grandson, 6 foot and 200 pounds....easy peasy.

They slide pretty easy on these:

flexible sled

If it's a doe, or small buck, and you dont have ailments, or havent physically let yourself go. Gut it and throw it over your shoulder.

DISCLAIMER: ****ONLY DO THIS IF YOU HAVE ORANGE TO PUT ON IT, AND MAKE PLENTY OF NOISE/TALK IF YOU DO THIS... TOO MANY FOOLS WILL SHOOT AT ANYTHING!!!

.

I use a kid's sled to haul them out. I hauled a doe over a mile on public land swamps this season in an area with no ATV's allowed. The sled was useful, but the person using the tool matters far more than the tool.

1. Be physically fit and take care of your body.
2. Have the psychological strength to endure long periods of suffering.
3. Have the wisdom to read the terrain and find the easiest way out.

Downhill

When we would hunt the mountains this is what we did. We used an alice pack frame. Didn't tote much else back then.

Beer and buddies

I use my king quad 750 with a cart on my hitch. If that isn’t available. I just load it into my rear basket.