Stop Dragging Your Deer. Use One Of These Instead
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Outdoor Life reported testing three deer carts by hauling a doe over grass, gravel, uneven ground, leaves and timber. The report names River’s Edge Game Cart its overall pick, Hawk Crawler its folding pick and Cabela’s Deer Cart its heavy-duty pick; the supplied source excerpt provides detailed findings for the first two models only.

Outdoor Life published a field test of three deer carts, hauling a doe across several types of terrain and naming the River’s Edge Game Cart its best overall choice. The report also selected the Hawk Crawler Multi-Use Cart as its folding pick and the Cabela’s Deer Cart as its heavy-duty pick, offering hunters a comparison of ways to move harvested deer when driving to the animal is not possible.

Writer Natalie Krebs said the test involved loading each cart with a fat Midwestern doe and pulling it over grass, gravel, uneven ground, leaves and timber. Testers also wheeled the carts empty, moved them into and out of a pickup bed, and considered assembly, noise and construction. Multiple hunters with different ages and physical abilities tried the loaded carts, according to the report.

The River’s Edge Game Cart weighs 29 pounds, has an aluminum frame and two 16-inch solid rubber tires, and is rated to carry up to 300 pounds. Listed at $130, it was praised for its light weight, easy assembly without tools and maneuverability. Krebs said straps or bungee cords would help secure a deer on longer trips or steep ground. Its drawbacks include a lower stated capacity than the other carts and the need to disassemble it to fold it for storage.

The Hawk Crawler Multi-Use Cart weighs 45 pounds, uses a steel frame and four inflatable tires, and has a stated capacity of up to 500 pounds. The report’s folding pick was listed at $320, with some listings at $200. Krebs highlighted its folding design, sling and double-axle arrangement for handling obstacles, while noting that it is heavy, costs more and has tires that need air and can go flat. The source names Cabela’s Deer Cart as its heavy-duty pick but the supplied excerpt does not include that model’s specifications or detailed test findings.

At a glance
reportWhen: Published October 2, 2026
The developmentOutdoor Life published a field test comparing three deer carts and named category picks based on hauling performance and practical features.

Choosing a Cart for the Haul

The comparison addresses a practical problem for hunters who cannot bring a vehicle close to a harvested deer. A cart can reduce the need to drag an animal by hand, but the test suggests that weight, terrain, carrying capacity and storage all affect whether a particular model is useful. A lighter cart may be easier to carry and steer, while a heavier folding model offers different features for obstacles and other loads.

Those trade-offs matter because a cart is not automatically easier in every setting. The River’s Edge model’s solid tires avoid the risk of flats, but its open spokes could catch sticks and branches, according to the review. The Hawk’s larger capacity and sling design come with more weight and inflatable tires. Hunters choosing between them need to match the equipment to their likely terrain, the size of game they expect to haul and how they will transport the cart.

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How the Field Test Worked

The report frames carts as one option for hunters whose deer are too far from a road or vehicle to load directly. It also notes that some hunters may lack the time or experience to quarter an animal and carry it out in separate trips. Krebs’s comparison focused on three commercially available carts and practical use, rather than presenting a general test of every way to retrieve game.

The team assessed both loaded and empty carts, as well as pickup-bed handling, assembly and noise. The published category results were River’s Edge for best overall, Hawk Crawler for best folding and Cabela’s Deer Cart for best heavy-duty. These are the review’s recommendations, not independent certifications or guarantees that a cart will perform the same way in every location.

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Limits of the Published Comparison

The supplied report excerpt does not include the detailed review of the Cabela’s Deer Cart, so its weight, capacity, price and specific strengths or drawbacks cannot be confirmed from the material provided. It also does not give measurements for how long the hauls took, the precise distances covered or a standardized scoring system. The findings are the writer’s account of a field test, and individual handling may vary with terrain, load and user ability.

The River’s Edge cart’s stated 300-pound capacity and the Hawk Crawler’s 500-pound rating are product specifications cited in the report; the excerpt does not describe a test pushing either cart to its maximum rating. It also does not establish that either model is suitable for every steep slope, obstacle or hunting area.

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Check Fit Before Buying

The next step for readers considering a cart is to compare the complete product specifications and current prices with the conditions in which they plan to use it. The report identifies the River’s Edge as its light, affordable overall choice and the Hawk Crawler as its folding option, but shoppers should check capacity, folded dimensions, tire type and assembly requirements before purchasing.

Outdoor Life’s published comparison does not announce a follow-up test or later product update. The article’s category picks may remain useful as a starting point, while availability and prices can change. For the Cabela’s model in particular, readers would need the full review or current manufacturer information to evaluate its details.

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Key Questions

Which deer cart did Outdoor Life name best overall?

The report named the River’s Edge Game Cart its best overall pick. It weighs 29 pounds, has a stated 300-pound capacity and was listed at $130 in the report.

What made the Hawk Crawler the folding pick?

The Hawk Crawler Multi-Use Cart folds without disassembly and uses a sling and double-axle design. The review says the design is intended to handle logs and other obstacles, but also notes the cart is heavy and uses inflatable tires.

What did the test examine?

Testers hauled a doe across grass, gravel, uneven ground, leaves and timber. They also assessed empty-cart handling, pickup-bed transport, assembly, noise and construction, according to Outdoor Life.

What is known about the Cabela’s Deer Cart?

The supplied report names the Cabela’s Deer Cart as its heavy-duty pick. The excerpt does not include the model’s specifications or the detailed reasoning behind that selection.

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