TL;DR
Get emergency and outdoor gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Outdoor Life published a field test of three deer carts, hauling a doe across grass, gravel, uneven ground, leaves and timber. It named the River’s Edge Game Cart best overall, the Hawk Crawler Multi-Use Cart best folding option and Cabela’s Deer Cart best heavy-duty model; the report’s supplied excerpt does not include Cabela’s full test results.
Outdoor Life published a field test of three deer carts, comparing how they handled a doe across grass, gravel, uneven ground, leaves and timber. The report named the River’s Edge Game Cart best overall, the Hawk Crawler Multi-Use Cart best folding model and Cabela’s Deer Cart best heavy-duty option, giving hunters a comparison of trade-offs in weight, capacity, terrain handling and storage.
Reporter Natalie Krebs said she tested each cart loaded with a “fat Midwestern doe,” then also wheeled the carts when empty. Hunters of different ages and physical abilities tried the loaded carts. The test included moving them into and out of a pickup bed, and considered assembly, noise, maneuverability and construction alongside performance on varied ground.
The River’s Edge Game Cart was the report’s overall pick. It weighs 29 pounds, has a 300-pound stated capacity, an aluminum frame and two 16-inch solid rubber tires. Krebs praised its quick, tool-free assembly, light weight and ease of maneuvering. Its drawbacks include a lower stated capacity than the other tested carts and no simple folding mechanism: reducing it for storage requires disassembly.
The Hawk Crawler Multi-Use Cart was selected as best folding. It weighs 45 pounds and has a stated capacity of up to 500 pounds, four inflatable tires and a sling designed to hold the load. Krebs described its double-axle setup as suited to crossing logs and other obstacles, but identified its weight, need to maintain tire pressure, assembly instructions and price as drawbacks. The report also listed Cabela’s Deer Cart as the heavy-duty winner, but the supplied report excerpt does not provide its detailed specifications or test findings.
Choosing a Cart for the Haul
Recovering a deer from a place a vehicle cannot reach can involve a demanding drag or multiple trips carrying portions of the animal. A cart can change how that work is done, but the comparison shows that no single design suits every hunt: lighter equipment may be easier to carry and load into a truck, while a larger cart may offer more capacity or features for difficult terrain.
The differences have practical consequences in the field. A 300-pound capacity and solid tires may be enough for many hunters and avoid punctures, while the Hawk’s listed 500-pound capacity, sling and folding frame may appeal to people who need to carry larger loads or store equipment compactly. Those benefits come with added cart weight and inflatable tires. The test offers a basis for comparing products, not a guarantee that any cart will make every recovery easy or safe.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
How the Field Test Worked
The report’s premise is that access to a vehicle varies: some hunters can bring a vehicle close to where an animal falls, while others hunt areas where driving is not possible or is prohibited. Krebs also noted that some hunters may not have the time or experience to quarter a deer and carry it out in separate loads. A cart is one alternative to dragging, rather than a replacement for every recovery method.
The test was a hands-on comparison of three products, not a controlled study of every cart available. The reviewer tried the carts on several surfaces and included multiple users, but the supplied material does not state the distances hauled, the doe’s weight, a standardized scoring method or how many runs each cart completed. River’s Edge is described as manufactured overseas and assembled in Wisconsin; the company’s parent was unable to identify the specific overseas country to the reviewer.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Limits of the Published Comparison
The available report excerpt identifies Cabela’s Deer Cart as the heavy-duty winner but does not include its specifications, price, advantages or disadvantages. It also does not give the doe’s weight, distances, detailed scoring results or enough information to quantify how much easier one cart was than another. The listed capacities are product specifications reported in the review, not independently established maximum loads from the described field test.
Performance may differ with animal size, terrain, slope, load placement and the person operating the cart. Krebs advised securing the River’s Edge cart’s load with bungee cords or small ratchet straps on longer hauls, particularly on steep ground. The report does not establish that its results apply to every hunting area, user or model year.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Match the Cart to Your Route
Hunters considering a cart can compare the reported weight, carrying capacity, wheel type, folding design and terrain features with the conditions they expect to encounter. The review suggests the River’s Edge model for people prioritizing a light, straightforward cart, and the Hawk for those who value a folding frame and obstacle-oriented design. Its supplied material does not offer enough detail to independently assess Cabela’s heavy-duty selection.
Before buying, readers would need to check current product specifications, availability, price and manufacturer guidance, as well as local rules on vehicle access and game recovery. The published test does not report a follow-up study or announce further testing; no additional evaluation is confirmed.
deer game cart with inflatable tires
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
Which deer cart did Outdoor Life name best overall?
The report named the River’s Edge Game Cart best overall. Krebs highlighted its 29-pound weight, tool-free assembly and maneuverability, while noting its 300-pound stated capacity and lack of convenient folding.
Which model was selected as the best folding cart?
The Hawk Crawler Multi-Use Cart was the folding pick. It folds without disassembly and has a stated capacity of up to 500 pounds, but the review says it is heavy and uses inflatable tires that can go flat.
What did the review say about Cabela’s Deer Cart?
Outdoor Life listed Cabela’s Deer Cart as its heavy-duty choice. The supplied excerpt does not include the model’s specifications or the reviewer’s detailed reasons for selecting it.
How were the carts tested?
Natalie Krebs hauled a doe using each cart across grass, gravel, uneven terrain, leaves and timber, and also tested the carts empty. Multiple hunters tried the loaded carts, and the test considered transport, assembly, noise and construction.
Does a deer cart eliminate the effort of recovering game?
No. The report says carts can make hauling less exhausting, but does not claim they remove the work. Terrain, load and the cart’s weight and design can affect how difficult a recovery is.
Source: rss
Halloween Picks
halloween
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
