Steep Canyon Hog Retrieval

[MikenSoCo]

My in-laws family has been hunting a steep roadless area since the 20's. Here's their tried and true method... First skin out and expose the tendons on the rear legs. Gut the pig/deer. Attach a rope to each rear leg through the tendon( you brought two lengths nylon rope). Find a stout tree branch, even if you have to drag the animal down hill. Hoist the animal into the air using the ropes, and tie the ropes off spreading the legs as far as possible. Each rope is now pulling the legs in opposite directions. Skin out the entire animal and remove head( save cape if mounting). Pull out the small meat saw you brought and cut right down the spine. The two halves are now swinging freely of eachother. Pull out your elk quater game bags and bag it up. If you're alone, swing one half across the top of your shoulders with the two legs coming around down in front of you like handles. Hike to the truck and repeat. The other half cools while your gone. The gambels are nice but tend to spin while skinning. This is by far the best method I've used...Give it a try! P.S. There is no way to drag a big animal up steep brushy slopes in one piece, been there tried that.

 

[SDHNTR]

Thats a good one. I can picture it and it sounds like it would work quite well.

 

[bigtusker]

Try this.

all you need to remember is to pack a roll of black electrical tape with you.

 

[Kickaha]

MikenSoCo,

Thanks for the good tips! I never carry a gambel anyway in order to keep the weight down.


BigTusker,

Great pic! I think the pig needs to be wearing a blaze orange hat though. At least around some of the hunters I've seen.

 

[bigtusker]

This particular pig and hunter are on private ground, on a private hunt, no need for blaze orange here. However, I totally agree with you if this were public land.

 

[SDHNTR]

Bigtusker,
The only problem I see with carrying a hog that way that has not been skinned (other than weight) is the ticks. Most hogs I have killed have been covered with ticks. I'd be a little hesitant about slinging it right over my shoulders. Call me a wus, but YUK!

 

[pitdog]

SDHNTR,
Don't forget the lice!

 

[bigtusker]

Ok, you are a wus! Ticks don't eat much!

 

[songdog]

Now that's what I call "piggy back".

 

[MNHNTR]

hmmm... sounds like it could work...... about the lice though... i've seen the ticks.... I dont recall the lice?

 

[Dirk J]

I'm with bigtusker ticks dont eat that much, and isnt that why you have a wife so that they pick them off of you.

Dirk J

 

[MikenSoCo]

Hogs with no hide hide no critters. Just fresh,sweet, clean meat.

 

[Bill W]

I'm with the guys complaining about ticks!!!

I'm not worried about the few bites of blood they'll take. I'd be a lot more concerned with the diseases they carry and leave behind. Ticks will hit you with everything from Rocky Mountain Spotted fever to Lyme disease to any number of various ricketcial (sp?) diseases.

I've never had to pack a pig out on my back, but if I did I'd be drenched in bug repellent.

Bill