Looking for a convenient way to skin a deer after your hunt?
A good deer hoist can make all the difference.
You already worked hard during your hunt, spending all day in your deer stand to finally have success.
No need to work harder than necessary skinning and cleaning your game.
We have reviewed every deer hoist on the market in order to find the best from the rest.
A hitch mounted deer hoist or a tree mounted hoist are the most popular options. So we decided to highlight the best all around hoist, the best trailer hitch deer hoist, the best portable deer hoist, and more.
Top Pick
- BUILT FOR HUNTING - The tree mounted deer hoist has been designed for hunting and allows you to hang your game for field dressing. It can be used as a deer hanger for skinning deer, elk and antelope
- EASY TO USE - The tree deer stand hoist is easy to use and allows you to create a simple deer skinning rack by attaching to a tree and using the hand winch, plus steel cable
- HEAVY-DUTY - The game hoist attaches to a tree using the 58” long chain and 1.5” wide ratchet strap. The 300 lb. weight capacity holds large deer and big game
After a lot of research, we picked the Guide Gear Tree Mounted Deer Hoist as our top pick. It is a sturdy, well made hoist capable of lifting deer. It is easy to setup as well as use.
The 5 Top-Rated Deer Hoists
| Editors Pick | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Top Pick | Guide Gear Tree Hoist | 9.8 |
| Best Portable Deer Hoist | HME Hoist Tri-Pod | 9.6 |
| Best Hanging System | Hunter Specialties Lift System | 9.5 |
| Best Hitch Hoist | Kill Shot Hitch Hoist | 9.2 |
| Best Deer Gambrel | Hunter Specialties Gambrel | 9.8 |
Best Deer Hoist: Guide Gear Tree Mounted Deer Hoist
Our pick for the best all around deer hoist is the Guide Gear Tree Mounted Hoist. This thing can be used anywhere you can find a sturdy enough tree.
The solid steel construction means this hoist is rated for 300 lbs. and includes a manual winch. The cable is more than long enough even if you want to mount it a bit higher on the tree.
It mounts to the tree using a chain, ratchet strap, and serrated braces that bite into the tree for more stability.
It also only weights 32 lbs. Overall we think this is your best choice as long as you have a tree capable of mounting to.
Key Features:
- Weight Capacity: 300 lbs.
- Weight: 32 lbs.
- Winch Included
Best Trailer Hitch Deer Hoist: Kill Shot Game Cart
- Swiveling hitch-mounted deer hanger for easy skinning, irrigating, and loading game
- 360 degree swivel with 4 position locking pin system
- Includes 24" gambrel and an adjustable foot to support hoist in hitch
For those of you who are looking for a hitch deer hoist that connects to the back of your hunting vehicle, the Kill Shot is our favorite option.
This model features a 360 degree swivel system that can be used in different orientations. This can also make it handy for loading game into your car or truck.
It is rated for up to 500 lbs and the lift height is adjustable from 81″ to 95.75″. The construction of this model is high quality so you don’t have to worry about its durability.
The entire frame is powder coated steel making it strong and corrosion resistant.
Another nice feature is the 25.5″ clearance that will allow tailgates on most trucks to be opened.
Overall, we think you will be happy with this hitch mounted deer hoist if that is the type you are after. Just connect it to your receiver hitch and you are ready to skin your deer.
Key Features:
- Weight Capacity: 500 lbs.
- 4 position Swivel
- Height 81″ to 95.75″
- 24″ Gambrel Included
- Fits Standard Receiver Hitch
Best Portable Deer Hoist: HME Game Hoist Tri-Pod
- PERFECT FOR AVID HUNTERS - Hoist your harvested big game with the Tri-Pod Game Hoist from HME; the HME Tri-Pod Hoist provides a economical and convenient support stand that can be setup in less than 15 minutes
- BUILT TO LAST - This will make it much easier for one person to hoist their game for cleaning, skinning, butchering, or cooling; this heavy-duty Tri-Pod Hoist is built to last and provides a stable and reliable platform
- TRIPOD - 300LB. CAPACITY - The gambrel is designed to make the hanging of your deer or other large game an easier task. Gambrel and components have an black powder coat finish and are rated at 300 lbs.
If you are looking for a hoist you can move around with you, the HME Tri-Pod Hoist is a great choice.
Some of us are hunting in different areas all the time and don’t have the convenience of a permanent setup. This model is perfect for throwing in the back of your truck and taking it with you wherever you hunt.
It can lift up to 300lbs with a hand cranked winch, more than enough for deer.
It is easy to assemble and still lightweight enough that it can be moved around without much hassle.
All in all, it is a great choice for hunters on the go.
Key Features:
- Weight Capacity: 300 lbs.
- Lift Height: 98″
- Weight: 51 lbs.
- Winch Included
Best Deer Hanging System: Hunter Specialties Hoist System
- Features 55' tangle free rope
- Can easily raise/lower 1,500 pounds
- Hoist & Grambel Combo
If you are simply looking for a gambrel and pulley system to use in an existing location, Hunter Specialties Hoist System is our pick.
This kit includes pulleys, rope, and a gambrel.
They offer this kit in various load ratings (1500 and 600 lbs weight capacity) . The heavier the game you want to be able to lift, the more pulleys you will want.
The advantage of more pulleys is that the more you have, the easier it is to lift a given load.
For example, if you have a 4:1 lift ratio and want to lift 400 lbs then you will need to pull on the rope with 100 lbs.
This is a well constructed kit that includes everything you need to hang a deer if you have somewhere to attach the upper pulley.
Key Features:
- Weight Capacity: Up to 1500 lbs.
- Up to 6:1 Lift Ratio
- 55′ Rope
- Gambrel Included
Best Deer Gambrel: Hunter Specialties Gambrel
- All Steel.
- 20-Inch Wide
- Rated 600 lbs
If all you need is a gambrel, this one from Hunter Specialties is a good choice.
It is made from heavy duty steel and rated to hold up to 600 lb capacity.
It is 20″ wide so will work well for deer and has excellent reviews.
These are heavy duty and well made, you will be happy with your purchase.
Key Features:
- Weight Capacity: 600 lbs.
- 20″ Wide
- Steel
Who Should Buy a Deer Hoist
Anyone hunting deer or other large mammals should consider purchasing some sort of hoist system to help them clean and skin the deer. Surely it is possible to do without but it will be significantly more difficult to skin and keep the meat clean.
What type of system you go with is up to you and depends on your hunting situation. For some, a portable hoist will work great while others will benefit from a more stationary setup.
Once you have used a hitch mounted deer hoist after having skinned deer on the ground for years, you will quickly realize how useful they can be.
Important Features to Consider When Selecting the Best Deer Hoist
- Weight Capacity. You should consider the size of the deer and other animals you hunt and will want to hoist. You do not want a system that is undersized. Having an animal fall while skinning with a sharp knife is a recipe for disaster.
- Lift Height. Whether you are building your own setup or purchasing a full hoist, make sure it is tall enough for the area and heights you want to be working at.
- Weight. Weight is most important if you are considering a portable hoist. If you are going to be moving it around you will probably prefer it isn’t overly heavy. Something like a good deer cart can help a lot to transport it.
- Quality/Durability. Many manufacturers have outsourced their production to different locations in order to cut costs. It is important to keep an eye out for a design that has had recent quality issues as this might be a sign of a products quality degrading.
FAQs
What other gear do I need for processing meat?
If you plan on processing and storing your meat in the freezer, you will find having a good vacuum sealer very beneficial. It will pay for itself in not time.
Beside that, a good knife is essential. Checkout some of our picks for the best hunting bone saws here.
Other Deer Hoists We Reviewed
Guide Gear Portable Tripod Game Hanger
The Gear Guide Tripod Hoist was not our favorite. A number of owners comment that the assembly of this unit is not very easy. Some have also noted that the winch is poor quality and are prone to breaking. If you have ever used a faulty manual crank winch, you know how much of a nightmare a bad one can be. Because of this, we would recommend going with one of the models above.
Conclusion
The goal of this article is to help you select the best deer hoist for your situation. Whether that means a portable hoist or the best truck hitch deer hoist, the guide above should help you figure out which one to buy. The most important things to consider are:
- Solid Construction so it lasts for years and gives you a good return on investment
- Weight Capacity large enough to support the deer you hunt
- Good Manual Winch that makes it easy to hoist big game