Portable Electric Winch

By Keith Denoncourt

Facing the Challenges of Recovery

Has the game you harvested ever fallen in a difficult-to-retrieve location? Or have you ever limited your adventure because there was no easy way to get yourself or your harvest out?

For the 2024 hunting season, I adopted a "hurry up and wait" approach, often calling in a prime location and staying put. My goal was to harvest a bull moose or a whitetail buck near my home. However, due to health restrictions, I intentionally avoided hard-to-reach areas.

This was a disappointing compromise. As I age, I have to accept that venturing into remote areas alone to harvest large animals is dangerous. Despite having ropes, pulleys, come-alongs, and the winch on my ATV, tackling the Boreal Forest solo is still tough work. Add in the presence of predators, and it becomes a risk to both my health and the recovery of the game.

A Lesson in Preparedness

When I joined Non-Typical Nation with Brody Teale, we agreed that safety must come first. Brody once told me, “Keith, if you ever need a hand getting something out, never hesitate to call. I’ve got a cool recovery tool to show you!” He explained how his portable electric winch had saved him in several recovery situations. Little did I know how soon I would need his help.

The next day, I headed to a wildlife corridor about 10 km from my home—a hidden gem I’ve harvested from before. This time, I ventured deeper into the corridor, comforted by the knowledge that Brody could back me up if needed.

The Moment of Truth

After about two hours of waiting, I spotted movement 150 yards across the ravine. Two whitetail does appeared, followed by a buck. I had a clear shot, but my health restrictions made me hesitate. The steep ravine and late hour meant retrieving the buck would be a Herculean task. Frustrated, I passed on the shot.

As I sat behind my quad, I was surprised to find cell service in this remote area. I decided that if the buck reappeared, I would harvest him and call Brody for help. Fifteen minutes later, the buck stepped back into view—this time at 100 yards. I took a steady shot with my .300 Tikka Win Mag, and the buck dropped instantly.

Getting to him, however, was another story. The ravine was steep and covered in snow, so I slid down on my back and crawled to the buck. After paying my respects and tagging the deer, I called Brody. Without hesitation, he and his son, Jackson, set out to help.

The Power of a Portable Electric Winch

By the time Brody and Jackson arrived, we had only 10 minutes of daylight left. With their help and the portable electric winch, the recovery became seamless.

Jackson, a seasoned helper despite being in Grade 5, guided me on using the winch in the dark. His prompts were invaluable, and within minutes, the buck was ready to load into the quad trailer. Without their assistance and the winch, the task would have taken hours, multiple trips, and likely required quartering the buck—a daunting task in the cold and dark.

A Harvest to Remember

Once the buck was secure, Brody finally remarked, “That’s a nice buck!” Only then did I fully appreciate the moment. The recovery process had been so efficient and stress-free that I had almost forgotten to take in the significance of the harvest.

The portable electric winch made all the difference. I’ve since added one to my personal gear, knowing it will be a game-changer for future hunts.

Stay Tuned

Stay tuned for operational videos and personal reviews of the portable electric winch. It’s a tool every hunter should consider adding to their recovery gear.

As always, stay safe in the outdoors.

— Keith