Travois,... anybody use'em?

[rollingb]

After studyin' on how to build a Metis cart (or, Red River Cart), I'm seriously thinkin' of just going with a plain ol' travois when I've got a bunch of gear to move.
Any of you fellas haul your lodge, and stuff, into camp on a travois?

[sse]

What would you use to pull it, rollingb, dogs, mules or women folk...?  

[rollingb]

What would you use to pull it, rollingb, dogs, mules or women folk...?   Wellllllllll,.... my "dogs" is too liddle,... my "mules" claim they'er over-worked as it is,... and my "women folk" probably wouldn't tolerate pullin' a (loaded) travois much more'n a couple'a miles,..... soooo,... I reckon, I'd have to use one of my 5 horses (sure hate to tho, 'cause each one of'em, is a pampered, and prized, animal).

[sse]

and my "women folk" probably wouldn't tolerate pullin' a (loaded) travois much more'n a couple'a miles

That's right and they know how to shoot, so I guess that's out of the question... :shock:  :lol:

[rollingb]

and my "women folk" probably wouldn't tolerate pullin' a (loaded) travois much more'n a couple'a miles

That's right and they know how to shoot, so I guess that's out of the question... :shock:  :lol:

Good point, and thanks ol' bud fer tha reminder!!

Reckon I'll scratch "women folks" completely off'n my list of (possible) travois-pullers.

[SAWMA]

I have used one in the past. It was a tripod of poles about seven foot in length, with a group of smaller poles for a table top. Kind of like a meat smoker for over the fire. Had to leave camp mid day on Sunday before auto's were allowed. Folded it down, loaded my things, and off to the parking area. Balance was good and it dragged without any trouble. A horse would have made it real nice. Giddy up!

[tg]

I used one years ago to bring out a fork horn buck, I dragged him down an old grown over logging road then down a firetrail between a clearcut and a stand of timber, it worked oK but considering the time I spent cutting and lashing I probably could have dragged the deer out with a rope in the time it took me to build the travois...

[Greg Roemke]

My son and I used one on our last elk hunt.  I took a bull too far away from camp, and about 600 feet or so lower then was prudent.  My son was only 11 at the time, and bringing it out, even by quarters was wearing me down pretty darned quickly.   We fashioned a travois out of some saplings, braced it with a couple of poles at the bottom end.  I was amazed at the difference.  I pulled it over small bits of fallen timber, rocks, etc.  I'm pretty sure it saved me from a cardiac arrest.   We went back to where we got the elk about six months later, and it was also hard to believe that you could still see the scrapes in places where the travois was dragged.

[sse]

My son and I used one on our last elk hunt.  I took a bull too far away from camp, and about 600 feet or so lower then was prudent.  My son was only 11 at the time, and bringing it out, even by quarters was wearing me down pretty darned quickly.   We fashioned a travois out of some saplings, braced it with a couple of poles at the bottom end.  I was amazed at the difference.  I pulled it over small bits of fallen timber, rocks, etc.  I'm pretty sure it saved me from a cardiac arrest.   We went back to where we got the elk about six months later, and it was also hard to believe that you could still see the scrapes in places where the travois was dragged.

Would have loved to see some pics of that process...great work.