Out in Montana last fall, a guy came along with a little wheeled cart and helped me haul out the buck I’d just shot. I’d see such contraptions before, but had never used one. Well, that thing sure made it a lot easier to get my deer across a creek and back to the truck. I guess I had that hunt on my mind when I saw a press release for this new cart, which appears to have a better design and be more substantial than the one I used. I asked the company to send me some info and pictures to share with you, and here’s what they said:
Hunters have been packing out deer, elk, sheep and other big game for decades on pack animals, or making multiple trips out of the backcountry carrying heavy loads on their backs. Teem LEED introduces the world’s smallest, collapsible, user-adjustable big game cart for making that work easier and more efficient.
The Honey Badger is a game changer. It is the first lightweight all-terrain pack wheel designed for deer and elk hunters. This multi-purpose game cart can pack out an entire elk, deboned or quartered, in one trip. With the deer accessory, it can roll an entire deer out of the woods. It straps to your backpack for the hike in and weighs only 13.5 pounds. The kit comes in multiple wheel sizes with or without disc brakes, and accepts bicycle panniers or pack animal saddle bags.
The wheel can carry a buck up to 200 pounds with the deer accessory. Other big game such as elk can be carried out deboned or quartered, with up to 250 pounds of meat on the frame. The difference between the deer and elk weights–deer are carried on top, whereas quartered or deboned game are carried lower directly on the sides of the frame, which allows for more weight.
To carry a deer, you add sidebars and a front load bar. The wheel is placed upside down on top of the animal with the handlebars directly over the neck. The neck is strapped to the top handle bar and the lower quarter to the two side bars. Then the user flips the wheel right side up. It is simple physics. The load is carried completely over the axle of the patented frame design.
The Honey Badger Wheel is the alternative to pack animals and gives backcountry hunters the ability to take out all their meat without the heavy load on the back. It is the first hunting product offered on the crowdfunding site kickstarter.com and is available for purchase now until the end of April.
Purchasing the setup now saves you 20% off the future website price, and all supporters receive the Honey Badger Wheel between July and August 2016, just in time for the season. Visit kickstarter to see the Honey Badger Wheel in action and support the project.
Hanback here: I find it very cool that the Honey Badger doubles as an off-road stroller/kid carrier. Young, active outdoor families will love that.
While we’re at it, have you ever used a cart or similar carrier to get your deer out? I never had, but now I’m thinking I might. Sure does save your arms and back.
Like most hunters, I’ve “manned” the deer out year after year after year. The best hunting spots I keep secret are those that are way back in and don’t allow vehicles. I purchased a two-man game cart some years ago and the thing just never worked out. I think this new single wheel idea is absolutely what the hunting community needs. It is a bit of a disruptor to the game cart market. The guy who built it has videos with a 200 lb deer just rolling through the woods like it was nothing. I can’t think of a better way to get in with a lightweight device and be able to easily get your game out without tearing it up and destroying your back. I love this idea and think this is a great product.
I’ve used several methods the worst of which was a simple sapling with the deer lashed up tight…that was a long 1 mile tote for a buddy and me. I have a home made carrier I made from a wheelbarrow frame and a dirt bike wheel/tire that works well. With it I’ve hauled a camp back into the bush several miles with one trip in. Out takes two trips the first with camp the second with a couple deer or an elk. BD