I've been reading a book on deer hunting where they make reference to "buttonholing" a deer's legs for carrying out of the woods like a rucksack.
I was curious if anyone here has ever done it or knows how it's supposed to be done. I don't think I would ever try it on public land or during gun season but maybe it's easier than dragging. Maybe on private land? Anyone have any ideas? Thanks.
I have seen two different people do it but they were around 70 lb. yearlings. They slit the back legs big enough to stick the front legs through to the knee then bent the front legs and roped to the back legs. Don't know if that is what they or you are refering too.
Note: One's back was covered with blood from the deer not being wiped down first.
That sounds right. The writer describes the technique for carrying smaller deer up from some steep bottoms although he mentions using it on larger deer as well. He never makes any mention of the mess from carrying them out this way but I don't know how there couldn't be some.
I looked up some photos on the net and they had the deer on their back as you describe. I just couldn't figure out how they would make the cuts in the legs. Thanks for the reply.
I take better care of my clothes to do that.
It does seem like it would be kind of messy, even after wiping out the body cavity, and wool is hard to clean.
A search on the net for photos shows a few of them with groups of hunters carrying a number of various types of deer this way. Apparently it was a popular method at some time, at least on a local basis.
I gutless quarter everything and then pull the tender loins out of the stomach and throw it into old pillow cases and into my pack.
Unless law or landowner require you not to, and unless it is only a hundred or so yard drag I will never do anything but pack them out again.
I'd rather pack a deer up a mountain 2 miles, than drag it down a mountain 1 mile...
The first deer I ever killed, an older friend showed me this technique. I did not ever do it again.
You gut the deer and wipe it out/drain as good as you can. Then you just make a slit in the hind leg skin between the big achilles tendon and the leg bone. Then stick the front hooves through these slits. Put it on like a backpack.
We had two deer. I put mine on with the butt up, and the tail laid over my head, which got some laughs. I think neck up might be more dignified.
We were wearing Helly Hansen rubber raingear so the dripping blood was not so much an issue, otherwise you would be pretty messy.
It is not all that comfortable either, the deer legs are bony and rub you a lot, the ribcage pokes into your back.
It is also scary to have this big furry thing on your back walking through the woods in hunting season; I stopped and put my white T shirt on the deer for fear I would get shot, and we made a lot of noise talking as we walked out.
Now I do like Zbear claw, but I use game bags, and a garbage bag liner to protect the pack. I get the game bags out of the garbage bag as soon as I get to where I am going, and hang them up.
I have done it with 2 deer,when I lived in Idaho, you cut a slit between the lower leg section and the achilles tendon stuff the front hooves through and fold them upward. You can tie them off with string or just hang on to them, gather up your stuff and put it on like you would a backpack and away you go. It is a little messy but getting a little blood on ya is all part of it.