If you stay on the up mtn side of the cart so as not to get run over, I'm thinkin maybe I can keep it from getting away from me on the way down while steering between the boulders and rock formations. (too ruff for 4wheeler or other)

Any body else doing this ?

Backpack.  Seriously, trying to hold a heavily loaded cart back, especially over rough terrain, is almost impossible.  Probably have a little better luck if you are below it on the way down, as long as you don't slip.  Better to pack the meat or camp to fairly level terrain and then use the cart.

I had an Ameristep, the one with the plastic wheels, the center hub broke out of the wheel the first time I used it. Now I just drag them.

If you have a suitable rope.     rope around a tree and control the descent with that. Youn can tie to the cart handle, go around a tree and back down hill, holding the ropes togehter for a somewhat controlled descent.   Even if you can go 10 - 20 feet at a time and run out of rope.

I would advise against being between the cart and the bottom of the hill.   or,,,   as Orion said... back pack it to the bottom.
ChuckC

I used one to haul out an elk last year.  I didn't have much downhill involved, but I can tell you the cart doesn't do well over rocks and/or logs.  I would have been much better off with a backpack and make two or three trips.  

I think the cart can do alright over a decent trail, but will never try using it again cross country.

Depends on what type of cart you are using.  You can get something like the neet kart that is set up like a bicycle and has a brake lever from a bike to control the decents and they work rather well.  If I was on rocky steep terrain and off trail I would pack it to a trail and then haul it.

Here in IN we have to check in the deer in one big ole piece, so unless you are pretty healthy or have a small deer, a cart is the way to go. Don't have alot of rocky terrain here around where I deer hunt, but from what little I have used one I like them. I like the rope idea for descending hills. Mike

The cart is for the trails.  The      Paris Expedition Sled  is for getting the load to the trail.  

No, it's not a kids toy.  Yes, it will sustain an amazing amount of abuse.  Just be sure to have a means of slowing its descent from behind, e.g., a rope attached to the back end.

I know you asked about a cart, but I have to say I found a sled to be better in most situations. I have a Jet sled like they use for ice fishing. This dude will slide over logs ruts, ease through mud and snow. You don't have to have a good smooth, hard rode like you do a cart--which is better in that situation.

As far as going down a hill: Put it in front of you and hold the rope.

Ken,

I have used my cabelas mag hauler in some steep rocky areas here in Kansas, There are not many but a few. The rope system mentioned by Chuckc works well for this, but I have not had long decents, less than 1/4 mile.

Sean

just turn it on its back gut it and hop in and slide on down.  Sounds easy enough to me

Sounds like a great way to get a broken tailbone.  Not even considering whether the cart will take it, it sounds like a guarantee that you will step on a roller rock and with all the strain of holding the cart back, you'll take a bad fall.

I use a cart, I hunt in Northern Osage county in Oklahoma. The terrain is really rocky. You'll spend more time and energy fighting the cart then you would by dragging the deer out. We leave the cart by the road that runs through the property, drag the deer to the road then hual it out on the cart. The property is public land, foot access only and land locked on the west side. My stand is 1 1/2 miles from the truck and the road runs all the way to the back of the property. I have been looking at a different cart, one that sits down between the wheels instead of on top of them. Lower center of gravity should make the cart easier to use.
Daren

I and a friend used a cart to haul out the majority of a bull elk I killed. I killed that bull down deep in a ravine; probably a couple miles. The trail was rocky; it was a forest service trail; but again had rocks in it. One of us would push the cart as the other pulled; and when we hit a rock; the cart would stop instantly. The guy in front would keep moving and lose his ability to keep the cart from turning over; and the guy behind would slam forward- kind of pinning him between the cart 'arms'. That meant the cart could flip; and take the guy behind it over with it.
It was the most miserable experience taking game out that I have ever had.
We both figured that we would get home and die in our sleep of a heart attack.
 On flat ground- not sure how the dang thing would work.
 But in the mountains on a mountain trail.... it does not get my vote !!!

The carts that I have used suck in rocky terrain.  I second the idea of using a sled... try the roll up kind.  They will work even without snow.

I wonder why anyone would use a cart for something as small as a deer. Course' I bone out everything because I don't want to carry what I am not going to eat. The only exception would be if you had to take it out whole because of the law.