Ill probably elk hunting back in an area where I can easy pack in using a game cart, Ive been scouring the internet looking at homemade carts, from the looks of things a one wheeled cart is probably the easiest to navigate with, whats everyones experience using one? How much effort vs packing out an elk should I expect? For the most part if I score I should only have a 1/2 mile pack before I can get to an old logging road to use the cart.
Lets talk game carts, yeah I know but lets
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JimP
Administrator
If it is properly balanced and not too steep one person can handle a whole elk on one, and you are right the single wheel ones are the easiest ones to use in my opinion. But if the road that you are going to be going down isn't too over grown a double wheel one would not be too bad. The single wheel ones are great if you are on a single track going through sagebrush. I have even seen hunters bringing out elk in a wheelbarrow.
Huntinguy0120
Member
Never thought about a wheelbarrow... Until now, lol. I always thought as a rule of thumb that using a game cart had to have three components: you, a buddy, and a single wheel.. Or you and a two wheel cart.
Logging road would make things real nice given there isn't any downed timber or rocks to do deal with. However, I wouldn't rely too heavily on one if I needed to use it for less than 3 or 4 miles.
I saw one homemade contraption that had a single motorcycle tire and had a handbrake on the back so the person in back wouldn't run over the front guy with a heavy load going downhill.
Logging road would make things real nice given there isn't any downed timber or rocks to do deal with. However, I wouldn't rely too heavily on one if I needed to use it for less than 3 or 4 miles.
I saw one homemade contraption that had a single motorcycle tire and had a handbrake on the back so the person in back wouldn't run over the front guy with a heavy load going downhill.
JimP
Administrator
We quickly learned years ago that they are better as a one man operation unless you really needed two to handle it. The guy in the back was always trying to go faster than the one in the front and the front guy was always in a position where he didn't feel safe from being ran over.
I have seen two types with brakes on them, one was a motorcycle tire and the other was just a rear bike tire, it seamed that they both worked equally well as long as you didn't put too much weight on the bike tire one.
I have seen two types with brakes on them, one was a motorcycle tire and the other was just a rear bike tire, it seamed that they both worked equally well as long as you didn't put too much weight on the bike tire one.
Manualman
Active Member
Hilltop
Veteran member
I use a 2 wheeled cart. If you are by yourself and there are any inclines I would keep your load to a half an elk. If it is mostly flat, a whole elk is very manageable. If you are dealing with inclines, up or down, I have found it easier to just use a frame pack.
After running over 10 yards of cement in wheelbarrows just 50 yards around my house, with any heavy load I'm using a 2 wheeled wheelbarrow from now on. I couldn't believe how much easier it was to balance and the tires were a little bigger so they rolled easier.
MtnBuck
Member
I'll be following this with interest. I always thought it would be much less likely to lose my balance and have a bad fall with a two wheeled cart.
JimP
Administrator
Two wheeled carts do work but it all depends on where you are using them and which design of a two wheeled cart you are using. If you are using one with the wheels side by side you are going to be restricted on where you can really use it. Old logging roads and double track ATV trails are nice for this type of a design, but if you are into a area that you are using a cow trail or a single track trail they can be quite difficult. You put one wheel on the track and the other one is hanging up in the brush all the time, you do a 50/50 and straddle the trail and one or the other wheel is hanging up. But I have seen double wheel carts where the wheels are inline much like a bicycle, this type could be used just about anywhere you want to go as long as you feel safe and confident with it.
Its only 1/2 mile to a GATED logging road, could be 5 back to the gate. One of these days Id love to have a 1/2 mile pack.
tim
Veteran member
IDELKFVR
Active Member
I have used the two wheel game carts for years mostly on logging roads that get closed to motorized vehicles during hunting season. You can buy an extended axel and put two wheels on each side which really helps with a whole elk when side hilling with no road. There was one time about six years ago that we had five elk hanging hole in camp you talk about an impressive site two bulls and three cows and they were all brought out with a game cart. Sometimes we get the cart as close as we can and the back pack the quarters to the cart works great. But they definitely have there limitations when on a single track trail. Then we resort to the back pack.
I have a cabelas 2 wheeled game cart and i love it! You have to kindof pick out a route that might take you on a little detour but it beats packing it all out on your back. Even dragging it in to the wilderness boundry and chaining it to a tree saves alot of work!
6mm Remington
Very Active Member
Spike bull whole. A large cow or smaller bull like a rag-horn is about the largest animal you would want to take whole. Has brakes and works great for loading camp on and taking in behind gates. With two guys, which it is made for, you can go over downed trees, steep hills, you name it. Works great. A deer or a couple antelope one guy can handle by himself.
Now there was no trail here! Simple and quick.
Now there was no trail here! Simple and quick.
Thats what Im talking about, do you have any plans?Spike bull whole. A large cow or smaller bull like a rag-horn is about the largest animal you would want to take whole. Has brakes and works great for loading camp on and taking in behind gates. With two guys, which it is made for, you can go over downed trees, steep hills, you name it. Works great. A deer or a couple antelope one guy can handle by himself.
Now there was no trail here! Simple and quick.
While we have never used a game cart there are some places where they could be used. Closed roads of any kind, fairly flat terrain without big rocks or blowdowns. Seems like a single wheel design would be harder for a single user because your expending a lot of energy just keeping it upright. With a double wheel cart you're just balancing the weight over the wheels. But if the trail isn't wide enough for two wheels it's pretty tough to lift it over obstacles.
6mm Remington
Very Active Member
my father and i made them. i helped with a couple but mostly dad.
did i mention they fold up easily for transprt in a truck or suv!!
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