Yes Steve, it has a hand winch that works easily. You have to make sure you crank down the bolts that hold the winch part on, or it will turn a little, and shew on the lifting strap. This happened with the first deer I used it on. I horsed the bolts down good, and didn't have any issues with the second deer. You can mount it on the front ( company reccomends this way ), or the back of your ATV. With a heavy animal on the back, it does affect the steering of the machine. The next one I shoot, will be loaded with this gadget, then I will slide the deer off of the lift and onto the rack behind the seat to move the weight forward.
PS: Field dressing an animal is a breeze with this item also. The animal is at your waist height, so you don't have to mess around all hunched over on the ground. You cut around the butt, cut down the abdomen, cut the diaphram, raise the loader to the upright position, and everything falls right out due to gravity. Then you reach up in the chest and finish cutting the windpipe and heart/lungs. It's awesome !
The reason I wanted this item is because I have had two herniated disc in my lower back that I had an operation on. The back is doing better, but I can't lift much weight, and I wasn't about to give up on the sport I love so much. I hunt alone for the most part, and calling one of my buddies to drop what they are doing to help me out wasn't fair to them.
Kolpin lost the marketing rights to this product, and a company called T & W now sells them under the " Louisiana Guard Gog name.
www.Louisianaguarddog.com .