I was fortunate enough to get a doe Saturday and was going to get her with the tractor. My wife says, "Aren't you going to take the boxblade off?" I replied, "Why? It won't be in the way." The deer was about 1/2 mile from the house and I had to cross a small ditch to get to her. When I crossed the ditch going in, I noticed that it was a bit sloppier then usual (from all the rain lately), but I had not trouble crossing it. So I drive down a firelane to within about 50 yards of the deer, drag the deer to the tractor, and load her in the bucket.
When I start back out, I get to the ditch crossing and step on the rear differential lock just to be sure. When the rear tires drop in the ditch, all four tires are spinning and I'm not moving! I dump the doe, curl the bucket all the way down and try using the bucket curl to help me back out of the ditch. Still no go! And, the tires are digging deeper! Finally, I realize that when the rear tires dropped in the ditch, the boxblade had bottomed out on the ditch bank and was acting as a very effective anchor!
So, after about 20 minutes of wrestling with the boxblade, my son and I finally got it off. I then easily backed the tractor out of the ditch and reattached the boxblade. I took an alternate route running over some 2"-3" saplings and crossed the ditch at a point with lower banks. We loaded the deer back up and headed home. I'm looking forward to country fried cube steak, gravy, biscuits, mashed taters, and sweet tea!
I think it would have been less work/time to drag the deer 1/2 mile to the house, but it wouldn't have been nearly as much fun.
I also think that I'll listen to the wife the next time she suggests removing an implement before going to get a deer.
Later,
BR
When I start back out, I get to the ditch crossing and step on the rear differential lock just to be sure. When the rear tires drop in the ditch, all four tires are spinning and I'm not moving! I dump the doe, curl the bucket all the way down and try using the bucket curl to help me back out of the ditch. Still no go! And, the tires are digging deeper! Finally, I realize that when the rear tires dropped in the ditch, the boxblade had bottomed out on the ditch bank and was acting as a very effective anchor!
So, after about 20 minutes of wrestling with the boxblade, my son and I finally got it off. I then easily backed the tractor out of the ditch and reattached the boxblade. I took an alternate route running over some 2"-3" saplings and crossed the ditch at a point with lower banks. We loaded the deer back up and headed home. I'm looking forward to country fried cube steak, gravy, biscuits, mashed taters, and sweet tea!
I think it would have been less work/time to drag the deer 1/2 mile to the house, but it wouldn't have been nearly as much fun.
I also think that I'll listen to the wife the next time she suggests removing an implement before going to get a deer.
Later,
BR
