I was browsing old topics and thought I would do an update for any bonehead (me included) that would try this.  I got the regular size jet sled and tried it out.  I was in knee deep water and only got one leg and half my weight in. It was very very very very very unstable and I will never do it again.

QuoteOriginally posted by Hawkeye:
Methinks you need to have someone with a video camera there when you fill it with your $800 bow, $300 tree stand, and step into the sled in 38 degree water for the maiden voyage.

You'd shoo-in for the $10,000 prize on America's Funniest Home Videos, and a real contender for the $100,000 finale!

I have screwed up balance from medical problems so my perspective my be biased, but this looks like an unlikely solution to me...

I love a guy who thinks "outside the box," but suspect this idea would end up with you "in the drink"!        

 I believe Daryl is correct. Seriously, the sled is made of very light plastic and unless you are able exactly center your gear and yourself, everything including you will end up taking an unplanned swim!

Been there done that,saftest way is a zip line from two trees.Board for a seat [swing] locking careabeener and steel cable.

Google Porta-Bote and see if that is what you are looking for.It's a light weight collapsible boat that looks pretty durable

Be careful in a porta bote too. I had one I sold after the maiden voyage in a lake in the sierras in late November. I decided me and the porta boat and cold water wouldn't happen again. I was very lucky it didn't end badly. It wont sink but it will roll you out if it gets unbalanced.

I used to hunt a spot that was a half mile walk in then I had to cross a river to deep to wade. This was public land and I wanted to get away from the hunting pressure.
 I used a blow up boat from Walmart. Worked great! I carried it out in my pack, blew it up at the river and left it there during the season. After a hunt I would stuff it under some small pines and cover it with leaves. Noboby messed with it.
When I killed a deer I call a buddy to meet me on the other side of the river. I sent the deer in the boat and used a rope to pull the boat back to me after buddy pulled the deer out of the boat.

I got doubts. That sled looks awfully small. Test carefully.

I would highly recommend not using that jet sled or anything like it.  I float some decoys around in mine during duck season and stability is nil. Like the others said canoe with a dolly, raft, tyrolean traverse/zip line would work.  The tyrolean would be the best option, but if on public or where anyone might tamper with it the boat/raft might be better.

A float tube / belly boat will address your concerns.  Don't gut the deer till you get it across the deep water, they float.

ChuckC

I think the deer is buoyant anyway so just put the deer in the water and pull it while it floats behind..  the tub idea is cool though..  I use the 3 person plastic snow sleds with holes drilled down the top sides for rope to lace in the deer,, wax the bottom and slides like a banana peel.

I have a 10 ft aluminium boat with 32" bottom that me and the wife use for crossing creeks together along with all our hunting gear and sometimes I will use it to fish with a small electric trolling motor. It will haul 500lb without getting scary. My 260lb cousin and a 100lb doe made it across with no problem. This boat was a 14 footer with 4 ft cut off the back due to damage. I wouldn't hesitate to put that sled in the creek if the sides are strong enough to handle the pressure. Being as wide as it looks in the pic I think it would be stable in the water.

James

Straight sides. Even though high they won't give you any leeway in regards to load or tipping but maybe that's not much of an issue if you stay centered in it or come home skunked! ;0)

Joshua

Is there no limit to the silly things we might try in order to harvest a deer?

And here I thought unsafe tree stands and snakes, and errant broadheads, and slipping knives while field dressing, and freezing to death, and slippery treesteps, and trespassers, and falling in unseen holes, and grizzlys, were all we had to be careful of....

Now it's paddling an overloaded device meant for dragging a deer out???