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Best Deer Skinning Hoist (2023 Reviews)

September 11, 2020 by TheSage

Deer skinLooking 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

Guide Gear Tree Mounted Deer Hoist Stand for Hunting, Game Hanger for Hide Skinning, Field Dressing
Guide Gear Tree Mounted Deer Hoist Stand for Hunting, Game Hanger for Hide Skinning, Field Dressing
  • 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
Check Price on Amazon

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 PickBrandRating
Top PickGuide Gear Tree Hoist 9.8
Best Portable Deer HoistHME Hoist Tri-Pod 9.6
Best Hanging SystemHunter Specialties Lift System 9.5
Best Hitch HoistKill Shot Hitch Hoist 9.2
Best Deer GambrelHunter 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

Kill Shot Truck Hitch Mounted Deer Hoist 500 lb Capacity with 360 Degree Swivel & Gambrel for Cleaning, Skinning, Loading Game
Kill Shot Truck Hitch Mounted Deer Hoist 500 lb Capacity with 360 Degree Swivel & Gambrel for Cleaning, Skinning, Loading Game
  • Easily hoist a deer carcass for dressing, skinning or loading using your vehicle’s hitch receiver
  • Features a 360 degree swivel with 4 position locking pin system and heavy duty winch
  • Includes adjustable foot to support hoist - fits Class III or IV hitch receivers
Check Price on Amazon

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.

manual winch

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

HME Tri-Pod Black Steel Game Hunting Hoist | Economical & Convenient Support Stand | Up to 300 lb. Capacity, 98' Lift Height
HME Tri-Pod Black Steel Game Hunting Hoist | Economical & Convenient Support Stand | Up to 300 lb. Capacity, 98" Lift Height
  • 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.
Check Price on Amazon

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

Sale
Hunters Specialties unisex adult 1500 lb. Hunters Specialties Super Mag 6 1Lift System with Magnum Gambrel, Multi, US
Hunters Specialties unisex adult 1500 lb. Hunters Specialties Super Mag 6 1Lift System with Magnum Gambrel, Multi, US
  • Features 55' tangle free rope
  • Can easily raise/lower 1,500 pounds
  • Hoist & Grambel Combo
Check Price on Amazon

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

Hunters Specialties Gambrel, 600 lbs, Multi
Hunters Specialties Gambrel, 600 lbs, Multi
  • All Steel.
  • 20-Inch Wide
  • Rated 600 lbs
Check Price on Amazon

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.

big deer at dusk

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.

butcher processing meat

Other Deer Hoists We Reviewed

Guide Gear Portable Tripod Game Hanger

Deer hoist for skinning

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.

rusty faulty manual crank winch

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

Filed Under: Deer Hunting, Gear Reviews

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