Drag sheets or trays.

[Essex stalker]

I used my sled to drag big fallow across a cultivated field the other night and really struggled, couldn’t understand why until I turned it over to have a look, the base had become clogged with mud between the runners, it was acting like Velcro! Don’t think this would of happened with a bag

 

[Erik Hamburger]

Buy a proper carcass tray - Bushwear does several (around £70 or around £100) that are a combined tray/sledge/drag tray. On obvious point, but get one that fits into your car boot... (!) it is not such a problem if a larger carcass and the legs are sticking out a bit. It is awkward if your nice new tray arrives and you realise it doesn't fit in your car
(OK most of us have a truck/pick-up - not an issue...)

Do NOT buy a cheap plasterers tray from a building merchant - they will crack/break by the handles as soon as you try to lift any weight in it.

 

[John Gryphon]

Yes watched him make it 1 programme ,a standard plastic sheet heated to shape the end and "wedged" whilst it cooled to set in the curved shape we all know. But as G/s stated those £9.99 sleds are everywhere for sale here at the minute ,cheap as chips and not too heavy.

For the smaller UK deer I thought that cutting a side from one of those 1000L liquid tanks and retaining the edge curve would be easy enough.

 

[Firefly]

Made this one up with some stuff off eBay. Prob cost about £30

 

[RM100]

The above looks very convincing, but I just wonder how much meat bruising one gets during a hard half a mile drag. Also, I find the tray floats over puddles and glides so easily. I sometimes have to look back, as the resistance is so little, I am convinced the deer has fallen out. Thankfully that hasn’t been the case. I am completely convinced about sleds.

 

[paulbshooting]

I have a basic old bushwear sled and it has worked well. They don't seem to sell them anymore. It is quite shallow but with great angled front which really helps keep it moving. I keep a length of round timber in the vehicle with it as find it easier to use that on the rope to pull along. Moved a 37kg fallow easily this morning. Simple to wash and fits over seats in vehicle.

 

[Firefly]

The above looks very convincing, but I just wonder how much meat bruising one gets during a hard half a mile drag. Also, I find the tray floats over puddles and glides so easily. I sometimes have to look back, as the resistance is so little, I am convinced the deer has fallen out. Thankfully that hasn’t been the case. I am completely convinced about sleds.

None unless it's still alive, I hasten to add I use this sheet as a last resort. Motorised transport first. I'm too lazy to drag these days.

 

[Howzat]

I bought a Trace roll up type sled from Bushware at about £60 works well

 

[S&L7x57]

I bought a Trace roll up type sled from Bushware at about £60 works well

These seem to be a copy (or the original!) of the Dead Sled of which there are two sizes, a 24" and a 36" wide. Which one is the Bushware or is it actually different in some other way? Does it come with a drag rope, I couldn't make out from the pictures.

 

[pendle]

Cheap p!astic sledge 9.99 on ebay

That's what I have used in the past on roe and fallow .

 

[Grannysmith]

I stalk on very wet moorland and my sledge is invaluable,
I also have a bic dinghy for crossing the rivers and rhenes

 

[chaz243]

My best one so far is a plasterer s bath ..very robust especially over those flints .cut a small hole near the rim in one end and attach a rope or better a cheap thin lifting sling through the hole and over the neck or through the hock and over the other keg and bingo .Cheap as chips transport device. I'll find a link but think they're widely available .black or clear .
Chaz ...

 

[Howzat]

The Trace sled I use, is approx 80cm wide and about 130cms long, its made of very strong black plastic with eye holes and a drag rope I did take a trophy stag of the hill with it in Scotland once .

 

[ijmb79]

I haven’t tried this myself, but I was thinking that a replacement wheelbarrow body might work? You can get plastic ones without any pre-drilled holes. Just a thought.