Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Anyone Use a Sled?

kcnboise,

How do you connect the poles to the sled?

I have been pondering different ideas to make that connection tighter as I do not like the slop in it.

How about a short length ( say a few inches) of some sort of "rubber" hose or pipe? Blue alkathene water pipe might work but might be too rigid especially in the cold..

If your going to take a pulk through rough terrain you must have a "no slop" connection. Everything can be found here: http://www.skipulk.com/products-and-components/components-and-accessories

I heated up the ends of the pvc with a heat gun and flattened them, just leaving enough room for the tow rope to go through. The flats are horizontal at the sled and vertical at the belt. I swapped out the tow rope for a longer piece so that the pvc uncrossed is the same length as the sled, and the tow rope goes through both pieces of pvc. At the ends that attach to the belt I tied overhand knots that stick out from the pvc just enough to get a chain connector quick link on them. The quick links hook onto the belt on the outsides of my hips, not in the back of the belt. There's just enough slop that when the poles are untied and uncrossed that they'll flip back and lay inside the sled.

Anybody still pulking in the winter?

Every winter for me

And yesterday too!

Where you taking all that snow?

Seems like they'd be ideal for winter camping and getting game out.
I'll build one when I get moved back to Idaho.
Guy could drag a small canvas tent/woodstove,chainsaw,plenty food,propane heater, etc. in and then backpack hunt out from a basecamp.

I've seen a couple builds online with sleds like yours. > LIKE...

Yeah they work pretty well. Mine is a Paris Expedition sled, very reasonably priced (but sturdy) with some rope and a couple of crossed pvc tubes. There are definitely fancier ones out there, but this one has served me well for about a decade.

Made one (previously posted).

Found downhill skis, removed bindings, attached curved to fit the tops of the skis 2x6s sunk bolts protruding that fit platform and attached found bed slats ends of which are reinforced angle aluminum.

Glide wax.

Medium large screw eyes in rear of platform allow ski tip to assist in level or ascent. Large screw eyes in front allow attachment of waist harness and slings.

Transports two winter packs and rifles.

Easily disassembles to even fit into a car.

Can be controlled on any well cut snow trail descent with nylon slings walking behind.

Looked up KevinT old comment 'Game Glide' and found this TSC Deer Drag ,guy could make a cheap one with it.


https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...Vl76sWZ9ifPEb8pkUOPInfknBcaAirPEALw_wcB#

Orscheln shows they have 8 in stock, going to buy one,, 5 minutes down the road.

https://www.orschelnfarmhome.com/deer-drag-100052924.html

Bought one, I'll look it over for a bit then get some hardware.

Terrain sled is thin material, stones, sharp objects trashed it post-haste. Might be ok in a city park. I use various sizes of the Jet Sled that are heavy duty.

Used a sled a few weeks ago to pack out 3 bull elk quarters about 3 miles downhill on trail to the road. Shappell ice fishing sled (the heavy-duty one). Just drilled holes where needed to add paracord pull cord and side cords for taller/bulkier loads. Worked great in 15” of snow!

If you’ve done it, I think you will agree with me that it is the wrong choice every time!

>ski pole tip<

Roundoak,

You must travel really fast or really heavy.
Nice pictures, the wolf > hat-tip and a www pat on the back ! ! !

Once was enough too much.

Just noticed this old thread. Was kinda tickled that I saw my name on the top page of the backpacking threads.

I barely get out to hunt anymore and the thought of pulling a sled somewhere to sleep in the snow makes me ache all over.

And we've barely got any snow yet this fall, but the youngest kid was at the house the other day and had some of his stuff out, including his sled.

Most years he takes off the week before Christmas and spends a few days winter camping. Last year he took a rural postal carrier job and had no free time at all from Thanksgiving through new years.