i shot a big spike on monday and drove my truck over to him to load up with the angle of the truck, my tailgate was waist level(insert big grin here)trying to load this deer was like trying to move a waterbed mattress thats half full (yes i've tried that too) so my question is.if your by yourself how do you load a big critter in your truck... FYI when you bear hug a lung shot deer to load him up.. blood squirts out of both holes

I had to call my neighbor. I drive a Toyota Seqouia and couldn't stand in the back and yank it in...

Just do wat you gotta do!

I bought one of these years ago, for just such solo hunts.

http://www.deerfeeder.com/gamehoist.htm

Keep it at the deer lease, only had to use it one time though.

Find someone to help...

1) Get a length of rope.
2) Tie one end around horns, head or leg of dead critter.
3) Climb into bed of truck while holding other end of rope.
4) Lift body part of dead critter high enough that you can grab it and pull it into the bed.

Alternate: No Rope Dilemma

1) Lay down in bed of truck.
2) Reach off of the lowered tailgate and grasp an antler or other body part of the critter.
3) Heave the beast partially onto the tailgate.
4) While holding the beast in place, rise to a seated position and pull the beast all the way in.

I've done both of these countless times with big pigs and big South Texas bucks alike.

forklift

I always get in the bed of the truck first and reach down to grab a real leg. that way you dnt have a head gettin caught coming up...if you can heave it up to the starting of the sholders you should be able to roll him into the bed...at least thats if you dnt have rope or gear to help you

Rope and a 2 x 12 or a ATV ramp and drag them up instead of trying to lift. I have special carrier on the back of my UTV just for that reason.

Just like you drag'em up the tree to insert a spreader in the hind legs for skinning and quartering. (Before I load my beer I make sure the 1600 pound mule tape is in the truck).
Tie the loop snoose around the legs throw the tape over a tree limb tie it to the hitch and pull it up. You can use the front bumper if you gonna need to work with the headligts. It is much safer that way, so when you decide to go get some ice you will not forget to untie the carcass..........LOL!
Of course, if you don't have any on the property trees you need to plant some.

I basically OWN the gym at all times.

You nancy boys need help? You know where to find me.

I just grab a horn and hop on the tailgate and stand up with it dragging it into the truck. We did 4 bull elk that way as well with 2 folks in the truck dragging horns & 2 folks on the ground with the assist. Hogs are much easier to deal with bc they are short and compact.

I'm finishing up a mount for a winch lift with 500/1000 lb capacity and pivots 360 degrees for the rear hitch on my 4 wheeler. Done the lift a few times and getting to old for that. Lift will mount on the back and I can raise it up, turn it and place deer on the front rack when I let it down. Will work on the 4 wheeler or hitch hook up on my truck either one.

Rope, good tree limb (good time to go ahead and gut while in the tree) hoist deer to chest level back truck under it. lower deer into bed of truck. Done this one on more than one outing. Althought with the biggest one i killed (169 field dressed) I did not have any rope with me, like someone else said laid down in the truck and heaved him in, 30 seconds later another one of the hunters comes by and says the famous words "Need a Hand" could have used you about five mins ago. Oh well as long as you get him in the truck I guess its all good.

gut it where it lays and it will drop a few pounds.

+1 on that. While you have him on the contraption, you can clean & skin him if you want. Then swivel it over to the bed & lower the crank.

My son killed a huge bodied deer last year and I had to concoct a contraption with multiple ratchet straps and ropes and keep tying parts of him off until I could get the front half into my truck bed.
Do what you have to do. I seem to use ratchet straps, cable ties, or duck tape somehow nearly everyday.

Congrats on your deer.

I agree, your best option is a gym membership.

If you have some rope you can thread the rope through one of your tie rings closest to the cab. Tie the other end to your deer. That way you have some leverage. Pick the body up and pull the rope. Most of the time I just pick them up by myself. I shot a huge body buck several years ago that I couldn't get into the truck and this helped me out.

& youthfulness

Using the rope scenario... PLUS, first drop the tailgate and place your ice chest on the ground by the tailgate, lift deer on top of ice chest (much easier & the ice chest keeps him from continually dropping all the way back to the ground!), then from top the ice chest hoist the remainder of the way into truck

Be bigger.

Just start feeding corn in the back of the truck and shoot them when they hop in to eat...problem solved.

Well guys ran into this problem last year. shot a nice 10 but was by myself. called cousin,he's out of town. what to do?. Field dress on ground. back up truck. lift deer by antlers and hook one into cable holdong up tailgate. Hold there and climb into truck bed. Grab horns and drag into truck. Done.