I bought one of the tow hitch winches a couple years ago . I thought I could lift the deer and set it on the tail gate and push it in the truck bed . I have a cap also . I better try to test run this before I'm in the woods and it doesn't work the way I want .
loading deer
- Thread starter sako2
- Start date
Ridge_Runner
Handloader
- Sep 29, 2006
- 1,419
- 834
have a kevlar rope instead of cable on the winch of my SXS, I run it up over the cab and drag them up on the bed of the SXS, if a limb is handy I run it back and over a limb and lift them straight up, less of a pain getting the antlers to clear the tailgate
"Testing" is how I learned that I needed a hitch extender for my UTV for it to work.
It might be the 23 year army career, but I'm a huge fan of rehearsals before going live.
Ralt71
Beginner
- Jun 6, 2025
- 163
- 176
I still throw mine in the back of the truck or the SxS. I lifted the Northstar two years back though and there is no more throwing one back there. I put a temp headache rack in and run my winch over my roof and off the bed. It works great!
I thought I had a picture with the rack in it, but I don’t. I’ll have to be sure to take a picture this season.
I thought I had a picture with the rack in it, but I don’t. I’ll have to be sure to take a picture this season.
- Nov 4, 2004
- 26,428
- 12,136
Ralt71,
Nice looking Ranger. The lift kit really give you the ground clearance. I went with a ThumperFab headache rack and a 1500 lb winch.
Polaris Ranger Winch Headache Rack
The Polaris Ranger Cargo Bed Rear Hunting Winch Headache Rack is designed to give you the extra support you need when lifting heavy objects like deer, boar and other game into your rear cargo bed. The rack mounts high on the rear cab frame, allowing the game winch the leverage required to lift a...
thumperfab.com
JD338
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Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #26
Should work if you close the cap put the deer on the tailgate then open the cap.
- Thread starter
- #27
yes , it's been a while , and it's good to be back . sometimes life really comes at you fast .
I already determined I needed the extender . to clear the open tail gate on both the truck and my SxS
that's how I was planning .
Blkram
Handloader
- Nov 25, 2013
- 3,223
- 3,824
I have also seen where you attach a strap around a tree high up, to the animal, and with a ramp on your tailgate, back up and the animal will load up the ramp into the bed of your vehicle. Did this to load a bison back in the early 90s. Worked pretty slick. Have also done it with a moose.
Ralt71
Beginner
- Jun 6, 2025
- 163
- 176
That's a nice set up JD and much easier than what I do. I am actually taking the lift off, I went overboard with that one. It's 10", 35" tires and 20" wheels. I'm up in the trees on every trail, lost a lot of turning radius, and it doesn't feel as cool getting in and out of it with my old man wobble. I have the super atv 3'" in the garage and a set of MSA 16" wheels with 31" tires. It just takes doing right now.Ralt71,
Nice looking Ranger. The lift kit really give you the ground clearance. I went with a ThumperFab headache rack and a 1500 lb winch.
Loading up a deer is easy.Polaris Ranger Winch Headache Rack
The Polaris Ranger Cargo Bed Rear Hunting Winch Headache Rack is designed to give you the extra support you need when lifting heavy objects like deer, boar and other game into your rear cargo bed. The rack mounts high on the rear cab frame, allowing the game winch the leverage required to lift a...
JD338
My headache rack is homemade and I take it off after hunting seasons, it's there for nothing more than keeping the winch cable out of my roof. One like you did would be better since it looks like your winch is right there on it. I just don't a permanent headache rack.
