Your deer is down and it's time to get to work! But why not make this process easier by having a good deer hoist ready to go? So many people are asking the question, "How do I choose a good deer hoist?" and there's not a good answer out there. 

This blog is going to help you answer the most important questions to ask and things to consider before going out and purchasing a reliable deer hoist. I'm going to share some of my own personal experiences, as well as some feedback I've received from family and friends to help you out. 

Take a look at the simple (but important) list of topics below before you even think about going out to your local store and just trying something out.

Trivia Question: What is the average Meat Yield percentage of a field dressed deer? (Answer at the bottom)

Be sure to leave a comment below the article and share your own personal experiences and what you use to get the job done. Thanks and enjoy the information!

How Tall Does A Deer Hoist Need To Be?

According to ThoughtCo., an average, mature deer can be around 6 to 8 ft. in length. 

Most hunters know that you can either hang your deer by the neck or the antlers; however, most deer hoists come equipped with a gambrel which means it is designed for the hunter to hang the deer by its lower legs. This gambrel lets the deer hang upside down, and requires the hunter to cut a hole between the knee and rear tendon.

Deer Hoist Gambrel

Based on the placement of the gambrel and the average length of a deer, a deer hoist needs to be at least 7 feet tall. Again, that's the height of the gambrel. If you're measuring the height of the support beam, I'd recommend something around 9 feet just to be safe. 

One thing to keep in mind - it's always better to buy or build something that's much higher than needed just in case you bag one of those monsters! 

How Do I Build A Deer Hoist?

If you're an avid hunter that bags quite a few deer each and even season, it might best best for you to build your own deer hoist. Instead of writing down each and every potential configuration for a deer hoist, we decided to find a simple video that showcases one of the top designs out there. Enjoy!


What About A Deer Hoist For A Truck?

Most people don't have a barn or garage, or a tractor to raise up your deer hoist on. And for those, you might want to consider a deer hoist for a truck. 

These deer hoists are manufactured by some of the top hunting brands on the market, and are built to hold deer up to 400 lbs. Furthermore, they are relatively compact and easy to move around - weighing in at around 15-20 lbs. 

These particular types of hoists, depending on the model, even come equipped with a reliable hand crank and swivel mount to move your deer around depending on where you're at in the cleaning process. Even better - some of the top deer hoists have an anti-swivel system which keeps your deer right where you want them the entire time. 

Is A Deer Hoist For A Garage Better?

Honestly, having a garage deer hoist isn't objectively a better piece of equipment to have. With everything, it really depends on the hunter and what you need. To get right to it, I decided to list the pros and cons of this setup. 

Garage Deer Hoist Pros

1. More reliable and durable

2. Can process deer if raining

3. Easier to process deer in the dark (if you have lighting)

Garage Deer Hoist Cons

1. Not able to move processing area if needed

2. More expensive to build

3. May get in the way of other equipment

Don't Forget About Electric Deer Hoists!

If you want to take as much work out of the process as you possibly can, you might be doing your research on an electric deer hoist. And man these things are great (not that I've ever had the money to buy one)!

If you really break it down, these devices are just your standard professional, motorized winches that you have to mount overhead. The manufacturers basically just make it green/brown and call it a "game hoist."

To get into specifics, most of these electric winches can pull up to 1,100 lbs with a double cable - meaning they will do way more than you'll ever need if you're just a simple whitetail deer hunter. Of course, if you're hunting in Illinois or the UP, you might need a winch to get a 300 lb. plus buck up off the ground. 

Answer: The average Meat Yield is 45%.

My Final Take

Now, a deer hoist isn't a requirement when it comes to field dressing or gutting your deer. However, it is going to make the process much easier, quicker, and cleaner when compared to doing it on the ground. 

If you have leftover budget for this upcoming season, I would definitely recommend investing in a good deer hoist. So many hunters get lost in gearing up for the kill that they forget to prepare themselves for the real work. Take some time to do a little research on this topic and I'm sure you'll be happy you did. 

To learn more about How Many People A Deer Will Feed we have a blog on that too!