SUV for hunting

I've owned 2 SUV's

1992 T10 Blazer (2dr)
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4dr

I fit an entire moose INSIDE both. with myself and one other hunter.

Todbartell remembers the last one.... just use "Baja Rosa" and "Quesnel" in the same sentence and watch him twitch ;)
 
i would use that basket in a hearbeat. . . for deer only. no moose or elk because they will average 5-800 Lbs wont they? i mean id be worried about it breaking from weight only(although the tongue weight of the hitch is probably 1200 Lbs)

if your worried about dirt or salt then tarp your deer and bungee cord the tarp around it.... i have also seen many deer thrown in trunks with large plastic sheets thrown in to protect the carpet.
 
Tarp + back end of SUV = game transport. I've had critters as big as elk in the back of a 4dr ChevTracker (and yes, the elk looked pretty uncomfortable in that position, LOL), no worries. Just use a tarp to keep the blood/mess from getting on your interior, and you'll be fine.
 
crazy_fool1 said:
i would use that basket in a hearbeat. . . for deer only. no moose or elk because they will average 5-800 Lbs wont they? i mean id be worried about it breaking from weight only(although the tongue weight of the hitch is probably 1200 Lbs)
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Tongue weight rating for a class 3 hitch is 500 lbs, 1000 lbs for a class 4 hitch. Most SUV's would have class3 hitches. I would say your best bet is to tarp the cargo area and load your deer or whatever in there. Drive home with the windows open if cooling is going to be an issue.

Jim

Edit: I know of one guy who has hauled several deer home in the trunk of a Dodge Spirit (glorified K-car).
 
casterpollox said:
I originally thought of a small trailer, but I have no where to store it when not in use.
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I'm thinking of a small utility trailer, too, and I have nowhere to store it. Maybe I'll just have to keep it hitched up and tow it everywhere until I think of something. Meanwhile, I fold down the back seat and lay down a tarp in the back of my '95 Cherokee. So long as I can't afford a dedicated hunting vehicle, I won't get a vehicle that is too nice to take hunting.
 
i've used one of those receiver hitch cargo baskets. It worked great. $55 at p.a.
jimmyhunting1.jpg
 
When we hunted in my Escalade ESV, I built a plywood box to put in the back - did a good job containing blood and legs and whatnot. Had three does in it on one particularly good evening. Driving an EXT now so I chucked the box. Will try to dig up pics of the ESV loaded with deer.
 
I transported one doe and one buck last year, and one small buck this year in my Pathfinder with second & third row seats in the folding position. In addition to tarp wrap, I use plastic on the floor to avoid blood stains on the carpet.

Some times the game might smell badly. I had to use a hell of air freshners and fabric scents to eliminate smell.
 
I tossed a deer in the back of a ford aerostar AWD van I had a few years ago, huge blood stain resulted. Was funny to see peoples' face when they they were checking it out when it was for sale, was never hassled about the price :D
 
I used last year my Durango..deer goes in the back on a sheet of poly..worked just fine. My mother-in-law uses her Escape and prior to that her Blazer. No problems whatsoever.

In regards to th ecargo carrier...I have one that I sed on the bacl of my motorhome. Bought it at Canadian Tire and it is pretty durable but I was not offroad with it just gravel roads.
 
I used my spare tire mounted on the back door of my old 99 Suzuki Grand Vitara to tie down a medium sized black bear a couple of years ago. Wrapped him right over the tire. I had no issues. I would use a tarp or something in the dirt though.

My suggestion for a rack like that would be to try to get it 6-12" higher with some spacers welded on to the bar, this could also improve the direction of the weight towards the hitch.

But honestly, I have gotten used to lugging a small utility trailer with me. So much easier.
 
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