No truck, now what?

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wolfe28

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Aug 16, 2005
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Between Maid-Rites and Maple Syrup; North of Sweet
I work and live in a fairly urban area, and I wind up driving a lot to visit friends and family. In this day and age, with gas prices being what they are, having a truck isn't the most cost effective form of transportation, and my car gets ~30mpg, and it's paid for. So, if I go deer hunting this year, what suggestions do you have for transporting it to the check station and then to processing?

Thanks,
D
 
Buy a hunting vehicle or a small trailer. Many hunters in my area have 4x4 they only use during hunting season. All it has to do is run and be reliable.
BB
 
I have a 3/4 ton van, use a hitch hauler or put my "Moto Tote" on it for my 200cc street legal dirt (DP/DS) bike. You can get a receiver hitch for a car, but might not be a 2". But, a hitch hauler is handy. I also have trailers. You can get a cheap little 4x4 trailer frame from Harbor Freight for under 300 bucks and build what you want on top of it. I got one set up to haul my little race bikes with my GoldWing motorcycle. Where there's a will, there's a way. :D I can use that trailer hunting with a motorcycle, so cars are no excuse. I normally take my van hunting, though. It gets about 3K a year put on it. I ride or we take the wife's car around most of the time unless I actually need the van for something. Heck, I even have a little pop up camper I pull with the GoldWing.
 
The trailer is a good idea.

But be creative. I once hauled a six point bull elk in the back seat of my 1968 Torino GT. Just remove the seat and take a good sized tarp. Quarter the animal and be careful loading the antlers in (I put a hole in my headliner).

I did have to put up with the smell of a bull elk for three hours while I drove home, but it wasn't so bad.

You should have seen the faces of the DOW officers when I pulled into the check station. :eek::D
 
When I was truckless, I would butcher the animal on my own in the field, then pack the meat in an ice chest with dry ice and take it home. If that is not an option the trailer or friend ideas are what I would try for.
 
I am a big fan of Subaru vehicles. They are AWD, great on gas, and there is a model with a bed. Why not consider trading in for something like that?

They seem to run forever and are common out west in and in the northern states where snow and ice are a concern.
 
wow!!! mcgunner you sure do have a wild imagination. I like the way you think!!!
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I've been riding my bikes my whole life, HATE driving, love riding.

Here's a pic when I was loading up to go flattrack racing in Baytown one fine day. :D I always get looks and comments, but hey, it works! I'm not racing much anymore, lost my medical insurance and flattrack is a rough sport. I'm going to put a little bigger deck on this trailer so I can haul my 200cc off road bike on it when I go down to my place. I can ride it down there at 55-60, but my wing sure is more comfy. :D On the wing, I can more easily carry my gun/s, too.

9008img_0111.jpg
 
Cheap blue tarp lining the trunk. Deer should fit fine, if not tie the trunk lid. Tarp will catch all the mess.

Larry' elk in the back seat is a good one I like that.

Saw a picture of a nice bull elk tied on the top of a yellow Ford Pinto once. that was quite the picture. Not sure how well they could see as it went from the hood to the trunk over the top, but they had him loaded and tied on in one piece.

I hauled two cow elk in the back of a my '65 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser once, it was a load and a half.
 
Why not just rent a truck when you go hunting?
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As long as you don't stand to lose TOO much on your deposit. LOL Personally, I live a long way from any rental places. But, I knew a fellow once that didn't own a car or truck, just motorcycles and he rented when he needed one. Makes sense for the guy that's paying a 500 dollar a month car note not to mention the insurance. As you might expect, I've always been a bit of a minimalist. That's why I have a Remington Spartan don't own any Purdys.:D

Personally, I haven't bought a new truck for ME since 1980 and that's before I got married. I do fine with used. I bought my 4x4 82 Toyota in 1988 for 4K dollars with 75K miles on it, sold it last year for 1500 with 180K miles on it. I bought my 91 chevy van for 8K with 39K miles on it 6 years ago. I have 83K on it now. Have had very little problem other than the AC going out on both and I don't have to have AC even in south Texas since I don't drive the thing much. My wife always had a new car, why should I? I paid cash for both vehicles.

Just for a huntin' truck, why does it need to be a 2007 F350 Diesel?
 
Wow, Thanks!

Thanks for all the input. Between Floopy getting a doe in his acura and MCGunners trailer ideas, I think I'm out of excuses. I have been wanting to go hunting with family in PA, but I highly doubt that I'll be able to get enough time off to make the trip two states east worth while. If I was able to go, all I'd need to do is bring a cooler to take everything home since we would process the deer at camp (aside from the usual hunting gear).
My wife and I have made an offer on a house, so the trailer idea would probably be the best option; I'll need to get all the stuff home for all the work we'll need to do to the place, and I'd want to get the most use out of the trailer. ;)
Thanks again,
D
 
3 seasons ago you could have caught me with a quartered up 8 point in a couple three ice chests secured to the roof rack of an 86 Saab 900 with the cargo area full of guns and gear. NUFF SAID

If a large doe will fit in the back of my tiny 91 Jeep wrangler it'll fit inside your car.
 
Cool it down good, put it on a tarp in the trunk. Hauled a quartered 6-point bull elk out one archery season in my former wife's VW Beetle . . . Bronco was awaiting a driveline. Wrapped the rack in old blankets and it nestled nicely over the roof. Where there's a will, there are relatives, I mean, there's a way . . . too bad we divorced . . . I sure miss that VW . . .
 
the spike rode it home
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Is that really a grown deer?
If so is it a whitetail? Seriously I thought black tail deer west of the Cascades were our smallest deer.
Now don't get all upset this is not a jab at ya, it is a serious question, you said "spike" and I can't see if so or not in the picture.
If so I ain't never saying nuttin about a 223 not being enough hunting deer again.
That is neat tied on you bike like that.
 
I take my 2001 Saab 9-3 Five door to deer camp every year, I used to take my 1990 Saab 900.

Blue tarp spread out in the back (fold down the back seats). I've hauled two deer at one time. Had to use a bungy cord to hold the hatch down. One deer and I can close the hatch.

Trucks are optional for hunting. :D:neener:;)
 
Body bags? I think it was Sportsmansguide that carried them a while ago, and marketed them specifically for this purpose. Surely they could be found at a mil surplus store. If two can be zipped together you're in business.
 
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