A game animal processing apparatus configured to operate in a hanging mode of operation for hanging a game animal above a ground surface and a skinning mode for skinning the game animal while the game animal is hung above the ground surface, the apparatus comprising:
- a hoist having a horizontal arm joined to a downwardly-extending vertical arm such that the horizontal arm is suspended above a ground surface by the vertical arm;
- a cable movably mounted to the hoist such that an end of the cable is configured to be raised and lowered;
- a first hook disposed on the end of the cable such that pulling the cable when said apparatus is operating in the hanging mode of operation causes the hook to be raised vertically towards the horizontal arm;
- a second hook that is disposed on the horizontal arm of the hoist;
- a game hanger having:
- a first hook connection configured to connect to the first hook such that pulling the cable in the hanging mode of operation vertically raises the game hanger towards the horizontal arm;
- a second hook connection configured to connect to the second hook in order to hang the game hanger;
- a pair of prongs that are each configured to support a portion of the game animal such that the weight of the game animal is entirely supported by the prongs when the game hanger is hung from the second hook via the second hook connection;
- and
- an anti-tip device that is configured attach to a rear trailer hitch of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), configured to carry the hoist, and that is configured to operate in a non-contact mode of operation, where the anti-tip device does not contact the ground surface, and a contact mode of operation, where the anti-tip device does contact the ground surface and prevents the ATV from rolling rearwards about a back wheel of the ATV, the anti-tip device having:
- a horizontal first section having a leading end that is configured to removably mount to the rear trailer hitch of the ATV;
- a vertical second section that is joined to a trailing end of the horizontal first section and that is configured to removably receive the vertical arm of the hoist such that the hoist extends vertically upwards from the vertical second section away from the anti-tip device, wherein the hoist is rotatably connected to the anti-tip device such that the horizontal arm of the hoist is configured to be rotated about an axis extending through both the vertical arm of the hoist and the vertical second section of the anti-tip device,
- a ground-contacting component extending downwardly below the horizontal first section and having a ski having a continuous non-planar bottom surface that is configured to contact and slide along the ground surface as the ATV moves,
- wherein, when the ATV is traveling forward in the non-contact mode of operation, the anti-tip device is cantilevered from the rear trailer hitch of the ATV and the ground contacting component of the anti-tip device does not contact the ground surface, and
- wherein, when the ATV is traveling forward in the contact mode of operation, one portion of the bottom surface of the ski contacts and slides along the ground surface while, at the same time, another portion of the bottom surface of the ski does not contact the ground surface.