Use this must-have hunting accessory to haul big game and equipment
When I began deer hunting as a young man, I would shoot a deer, then drag it back to the boat. If I happened to be deep in the woods, this would be a time consuming, grueling endeavor. I quickly graduated to an aluminum deer cart with high spoked wheels. It was a great cart, but when hunting on public land we would have to find a place to hide it during the hunt.
One day after a hunt, I went to retrieve my cart. Apparently, someone else felt they needed my cart more than I did. Goodbye to $120. I bought another and tried to be better at concealing it. As years went by, I realized that the cart was not working well in the swampy areas that I hunted.
Game changer
One day, my hunting buddy, Randy Levingston, bought us a couple of deer sleds. They were 65 inches long by 24 inches wide by 5 inches deep and constructed of heavy duty plastic. Immediately, the sled became a game changer for my deer and hog hunting pursuits.
The sled has saved me a significant amount of time and effort. It glides easily through water and/or mud, and pulling it over grass is a breeze as well. At only 4 pounds, it is also extremely lightweight to carry.
My sled is well made and very tough. At over 10 years old, it is still in perfect condition. We have pulled out 150-pound hogs and assorted sized deer. We have even put two deer on the sled and pulled them out with ease.
Many uses
The sled has become our most versatile and important piece of hunting equipment with a variety of uses. During duck season, you can load up your decoys and retrieve your birds (it floats). During rabbit season, put your rabbits in the cart and move it along with you during your hunt. Use it to haul ladder, lock on and climbing stands to your desired location. God forbid, if one of your party gets injured and can’t walk out, the sled can literally become a lifesaver.
The sled
There are several versions of the sled. One is a version with higher sides that is used mainly for transporting duck decoys. This version is much heavier and would be more difficult to transport in the woods.
The sled that I use is $35 and was purchased at Home Depot.
Good times
Our most recent use of the sled was unexpected. It was so much fun and involved the entire family. Last January, we used the sled for the surprise snow fall we experienced in south Louisiana. Morgan City was blanketed with over a foot of beautiful snow. We had a blast riding the sled down the levees for two days. We loaded up the sled with as many as four kids at a time. Even after hours and hours of sledding in the snow, and even some ice covered pavement at times, the sled came out in perfect condition.
The sled is a very inexpensive, economical, durable, multi-use piece of equipment that your whole family can enjoy.
