Lifting animals with antlers with a loader

[jimh406]

I found it harder than expected to get my mule deer buck up to full height it's feet barely off the ground with bucket on. I'm thinking I probably should have put on my pallet forks. The antlers kept wanting to hit the bucket. Got it done, but I was kind of surprised.

What do you guys do ... use pallet forks or a bucket hook?

 

[JimmyJazz]

I have an extra sharp bale spear I use on zombies. The is no bag limit in my area and sometimes I get 2 or 3 on there. I call that a zom-ka-bob.

 

[Clint from Flint]

 

[ZTMAN]

I used a BX for my white tail and it worked out ok.

Used carbineers through the rear leg tendons and connected to bucket hooks. Curl bucket all the way down.

Your L would give a higher lift than my BX, but a mule deer is much larger than a white tail, so it is probably about the same difference.

I think I will just go back to a gambrel in the shed.

 

[NCL4701]

The Kubota is great for just rolling the deer into the bucket to haul back to the shop without having to lift it manually or lash it down. It’s also great for hauling off the gut pile for disposal. We don’t use it for hanging to dress, though.

We used a gambrel on a block and tackle prior to getting the Kubota and still do for skinning and dressing. Before the Kubota one of the older tractors had a loader that would go up about 10’ but that would put us outside in the cold and often in the dark as a running tractor inside isn’t ideal. Using the gambrel with block and tackle puts us in a lighted shop with heat. We don’t use a processor so we spend a little time with it in the shop skinning and breaking it down to kitchen sized sections before final processing and vacuum packing. That requires some raising and lowering throughout the process thus the “running tractor inside” requirement. Maybe I’m a weenie but I like the light and heat when it’s an option.

 

[Magicman]

I suppose that only in the South animals are hung by their hind hocks for dressing/skinning.

 

[NCL4701]

I suppose that only in the South animals are hung by their hind hocks for dressing/skinning.

Not counting fish, I’ve never dressed or skinned anything outside NC so I don’t know how they do it elsewhere. Deer, bear, steers, hogs, pretty much anything too big to hold with one hand and skin with the other that’s the only way I’ve ever done it seen it done. I guess maybe some folks do it different. Never knew. Learned something new here yet again…

 

[jimh406]

Fwiw, I have a local shop do the butchering. Yes, it is somewhat expensive but cheaper than beef by a lot. I could skin it, but they charge if the animal is "dirty" and charge if they skin it, so I let them skin it. . I only process a few animals a year. For me, it's more about the experience although we do eat the animals.

 

[mcmxi]

I found it harder than expected to get my mule deer buck up to full height it's feet barely off the ground with bucket on. I'm thinking I probably should have put on my pallet forks. The antlers kept wanting to hit the bucket. Got it done, but I was kind of surprised.

What do you guys do ... use pallet forks or a bucket hook?

I used the MX bucket hooks with short chains and was able to lift up a good sized white-tail without any issues. I think I could hang a bull elk from the MX bucket.

 

[Clint from Flint]

This way makes it easier at the ranch. 10 point buck...Liles Ranch, Vernon, Texas Dec. 4, 2015

 

[Magicman]

Yup, that is the way we hang them.

Oh my, I broke a motorhome axle in Vernon, TX, back in 1989.

 

[Clint from Flint]

Yup, that is the way we hang them.

Oh my, I broke a motorhome axle in Vernon, TX, back in 1989.

I would imagine U had to go to Wichita Falls to get a replacement axle....not much in Vernon any more....
I'll be going there this weekend to the ranch deer hunting.
Clint

 

[Magicman]

Yup, Christanelli Ford did the tow/replacement and the "used" rear end came from Wichita Falls.

We loaded all of our stuff into the Bronco II that we were towing and continued on to Wyoming. Funny thing was that I had the speedometer disconnected on the towed Bronco II and forgot to reconnect it before we left Vernon. Yup, payed a speeding ticket in Claude. We still ate our steak at the Big Texan in Amarillo.

We both got our Wyoming mulies and the MH was ready to travel when we returned to Vernon.

 

[Clint from Flint]

Yup, Christanelli Ford did the tow/replacement and the "used" rear end came from Wichita Falls.

We loaded all of our stuff into the Bronco II that we were towing and continued on to Wyoming. Funny thing was that I had the speedometer disconnected on the towed Bronco II and forgot to reconnect it before we left Vernon. Yup, payed a speeding ticket in Claude. We still ate our steak at the Big Texan in Amarillo.

We both got our Wyoming mulies and the MH was ready to travel when we returned to Vernon.

Estellene and Claude cops are always ready to have U sign on the dotted line.

I can remember back in the '80s a state game warden friend and I would take his bird dogs and go to my ranch in Vernon quail hunting and I asked him one day while we were there if ever saw any deer tracks there and he said he hadn't noticed any deer tracks.....and now the deer and wild hogs population has exploded.....way too many deer
Clint

 

[jyoutz]

I suppose that only in the South animals are hung by their hind hocks for dressing/skinning.

That’s also how we do mile deer in the west.

 

[UpNorthMI]

A 60” tree boom comes with a quick attach loader plate and will do a fine job of making your loader suitable for any type of deer. I’ve used my front bucket before to save on a lot of dragging, just role the deer body in with legs sticking out. No point in killing yourself too in the hunting process!

 

[Magicman]

I'll be going there this weekend to the ranch deer hunting.

We will be at the Cabin this weekend because our rifle deer season opens Saturday and will be open until January 31st.

I provided the sawmill/sawing on a humanitarian job for a family in need in Rusk.

We provided all of the necessary framing lumber for a new home in 4 1/2 days.

 

[LarryBud]

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[GeoHorn]

We will be at the Cabin this weekend because our rifle deer season opens Saturday and will be open until January 31st.

I provided the sawmill/sawing on a humanitarian job for a family in need in Rusk.
View attachment 69943
View attachment 69944
We provided all of the necessary framing lumber for a new home in 4 1/2 days.

THAT…was a TON or TWO of WORK!

Good on-ya’…

 

[RCW]

Off topic, but our rifle season started yesterday also.

Only about 80% sure, but I think I saw 2 bear cubs tearing through our place last night. About 35 yards from back door.

Too much brush to be certain, but coal black and I didn't see any tails....

We've had bears here for years. Just haven't laid eyes on one before.