We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
Think you’re getting old due to untimely back and joint pain while pulling a carcass? Well, if you’re a hunter it’s probably because you were carrying too much weight.
So, what’s the root of the issue?
There’s a good chance it’s because of an inefficient dragging system. This is why you should invest in a good dragging harness.
This is why we came up with a post on the best deer drag out there. Believe me, when I say, this post came at the expense of a lot of sleepless nights. Our research team spent hours nitpicking through options to come up with this list.
We’ve shortlisted only the best deer drags on the market for our post. But don’t just blindly follow our advice. We recommend you go through each review to see if it’s worth its weight in gold.
Even if you’re an indecisive buyer, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We’ve added a buying guide at the end for your convenience.
Now, let’s not drag this any further and get on with it.
Product Overview
Let’s start with the crowning jewel of the list, our number one pick for deer drags. It’s the MULTUS Orange Strapped deer drag, whose notoriety is well-deserved.
So, what makes this the best deer drag on the market?
For starters, the MULTUS comes with a safety-orange color. Now, its name gives you an idea about what it does.
It’s very natural for hunters to mistake you for a live deer when you’re moving a carcass through the forest, especially in the dark. This stops friendly fires and tragic accidents. It also helps you to identify your kill in the dark if you keep it at a distance.
That said, it even comes with detachable handles too. This is an advantage because it effectively makes the drag more versatile. It also means you can extend the length by attaching another piece of rope to the handle or even change out a worn cable.
You could also use it as a makeshift leash for your hunting dog!
However, it has a load capacity of around 400 pounds. Which means it's only built for smaller game and whitetails and not big games.
Pros
- Versatile due to detachable handle
- Extremely durable
- Safe to use
- Portable
Cons
- Not built for large game
Product Overview
Secondly, we have the Hawk’s Cinch Deer Drag. This beats a lot of worthy deer drags for the second spot for a reason. So let’s talk about those reasons.
The CINCH's is basically a 9.5-inch-long skinny cable with a foam handle. It's sturdy and durable enough to handle big games, unlike the MULTUS.
It's easy to store, but the small size makes it difficult to grip. And, there's no way to attach it to anything else. The goal is to cinch one end of the rope around a leg and the other around an antler. Or, the jaw if you're dealing with a doe.
This raises the legs and heads off the floor. Not only does this reduce the likelihood of becoming caught or hooked up on something but it also reduces the effective weight. So, you must draw up to 40%.
Lastly, we’d say the foam grip is much more comfortable to hold than an antler of a buck.
Pros
- Can handle a bigger game
- Extremely Portable
- Reduces drag by 40%
Cons
- Has a short cable
More About The Product
Next, we have the DEER SLEIGH’R’s Magnum Game Sled. This comes in third on our list because of a few factors. But it’s only because it’s the only harnessed-based sled on the list.
This makes it the heaviest to use, weighing in at 64 ounces! However, since it has other attributes which enable it to counteract this.
It’s made with high-density, abrasion-resistant plastic that’s smooth on one side and rough on the other. The rough side is used for hauling the game and the smooth one is the outer layer. This allows it to reduce the dragging force by making it smoother to pull.
It also makes it a great option for hunting big game in dense lush forests or rocky terrains. The sled also allows you to carry it further.
Pros
- Durable and washable
- Easy to use
- Can carry big-game
Cons
- Not that portable
More About The Product
In 4th place, comes the Deluxe Deer Drag from Hunters Specialties. Now, like the 3rd drag, this one is also a harness-based deer drag. Which means you have to strap it to yourself to pull the carcass.
However, unlike the Magnum, it’s not a sled, which means it’s more portable.
Like the MULTUS this also comes in safety-orange. This means when you’re dragging the lifeless body of your prey, you won’t be preyed upon by another hunter. Its high-visibility harness protects your life and reduces the stress on your hands.
Also, the shoulder and sternums are adjustable. This means it’ll easily fit any user, making it more user-friendly. The Hunters Specialities also comes with an included rope and hinge attachment for your convenience.
Pros
- Comes with adjustable shoulder & sternum straps
- Makes you more visible
- Comes with a drag rope
Cons
- Has a lower weight rating
More About The Product
Lastly, we have Do-All-Outdoors’ Pro Deer drag. This may be the last on our list, but it did beat a lot of worthy contenders to get this spot.
So, it would be foolish to write it off completely!
Now, unlike the previous drag, the Pro Deer drag is a handle-type drag. This means that you have to tie the deer to one end of your drag and pull using your hands. This minimizes the strain on your back and core muscles.
So if you wanna flex your guns, this is the one for you.
It’s made of durable straps that allow you to pull substantial weight without breaking. You also don’t have to tie the drag on the deer’s head. It’s easy to use, you can just slip on the strap over the deer’s head.
It also comes in bright orange, which allows you to be easily distinguished from the deer you’re hauling. This will probably save your life.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Makes you visible
- Comes with decent durability
Cons
- Cable has a short, fixed-length
- Hard on your hands
Buying Guide
Now, we’ve mentioned in the previous sections the ones we think are the best in the market. However, we’re fervent believers of people’s right to choose.
This purchase was built to educate you on the basics of a deer guide. Which will ultimately enable you to think for yourself about what works for you.
After all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, it’s all about perspective. Our buyer’s guide is the panacea for even the most indecisive of individuals.
So without further ado, let’s get to it-
Types Of Drags: Carts, Drags, Or Sleds?
Now, there are mainly 3 types of Deer drags; Carts, basic drags, and sleds. We’ll go over what each of these is, and which ones are applicable for which situations.
Let’s begin with Carts. These are similar to wheelbarrows where you can haul the carcass on a load and trolley the deer along the path.
There are several types of carts with several wheel numbers (2, 3, 4, etc). All of whom make the job of hauling the carcass easier than ever.
We’ve seen some drawbacks. For starters, it’s very bulky and not portable or easy to carry around. Secondly, carts are only applicable for smooth and even terrains, which is not the most common environment for hunting.
Next, we have the basic deer drags. This is the most lightweight and simple tool for hauling deer. This is essentially a piece of rope with either a handle or harness.
These are the most common type of deer drags on the market and also one of the most versatile. It works on almost all terrains whether you’re out hunting in the grasslands or a rocky mountainside. You simply tie the drags around the antlers/head and the legs of the deer and start pulling.
This keeps the head and neck out of the way by lifting them and stopping them from getting damaged. However, this terrain compatibility does come with its drawbacks. Roped drags require a lot of strength and endurance from its user.
Last but not least, we have the deer sleds. This is the fusion of the two in the sense that you have to pull using a rope, but the carcass is secured in a sled or bag.
These are easier to pull than drags but are a lot less compact. However, they’re still more compact and portable than carts.
Holding Mechanism: Harness Vs Handles
There are mainly two types of holding mechanisms in deer drags. They either have harnesses for you to strap on. Or they have handles you have to grab on to and pull.
Handles are included on most deer drags in the market and are the most widespread of the bunch. With handles, you have to use your hands to pull the drag.
It will take a lot more effort on your behalf, but you will have complete control. This means it’s perfect for steeper hills and uneven terrain where handling is preferred.
Harnesses are worn across the shoulders or waist and allow you to keep your hands free. This allows you to use your legs and core muscles, which are far more powerful than your arms, to pull.
This makes things easy for you, but you lose control as a price for convenience. You won't be able to let go if it pulls you over or down a hill. If you hunt on a lot of hills, handles might be a better option.
Length & Material Of the Rope
The length and the make of the drag also affect the strain on your body. Here we’re gonna talk about what difference makes.
The shorter the length the more control you have over the load or carcass. This is because this reduces the slack between you and the carcass while pulling.
The material of the rope also has an effect. It’s fairly obvious to say that if your rope breaks then you have no way to carry the carcass.
Tensile strength is important, the higher the tensile strength of the material, the better.
FAQs
Question: Is it that hard to drag a deer?
Answer: For some, getting a deer out of the woods might be a difficult feat. A deer drag is difficult to execute by hand, no matter how you slice it. Unless you have superhuman strength, removing a deer, especially a huge buck, from woody ravines and hollows can take a lot of effort.
Question: Are Deer Drags worth it?
Answer: Yes, deer drags are absolutely worth it.
In Conclusion
This concludes our lesson on the topic as that's all we had about the best deer drag on the market. You've probably picked your choice by now.
We sincerely hope you didn't find our post to be a drag. And that you picked one from our recommendations.
If you don't fancy the ones we had to offer you could always use the buying guide for extra research. In either case, we're confident that our post helped you somewhat. And as always stay safe and good luck hunting!
