my take on it, get the smallest used 4x4 truck (older nissan, toyota, ranger) you can find... street legal and has a heater! and is likely much cheaper than a UTV. doesn't need a trailer or take up all the room in the back of a bigger truck.
Who uses a UTV for hunting?
- Thread starter Tudenom
- Start date
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
'fraid stubblejumper has it right here.
A standard quad, even one with less ground clearance will go places that your taller machine can't simply because it has a very short and narrow (compared to yours) wheel base.
You will high center first. I speak from experience, I've driven both into our moose camp.
The larger machine needs wider trails, and lower humps on those trails. True, it sometimes can find ways to get around there an atv can just drive through, but then, that's really advantage ATV too.
I found driving through water that the ATV's got through, and I got hung on rocks I could not see, just because I was a bit wider.
Now on the positive side, the additional storage, better ride, and dump box can be real handy on a moose hunt. But expect a little bit of work (not a lot) changing the trails so you can easily get in and out.
If anyone is considering buying a side by side machine, look closely at the frame. Some are built way too light for the jobs a hunter might put them to.
Actually a Ranger will fit in a 8 ft pickup box-you just have to drive over the wheel wells.
powder burner
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta, Canada
I am not entirely sold on the side by side machines. they have their place on a farm, open areas, trails that are not too gnarly.
i rented one and took it on an atv rally ( i wont mention the brand name as it does not matter anyways). when the trail gets tight, very rutted up, it seems you cannot see around that front passenger side. and backing these things up in tight spaces, well bring a chainsaw with you.
If you dont have to drive the thing through very swampy areas, they can be alright. One feature i do like is being able to put a 12 ft aluminum boat on the roof (modifying the back box with an extension set-up for the boat of course) and throwing your outboard,tackle boxes, rods, gear etc in the rear box.
For true hunting applications, I feel that a midsize-ish quad(450-550cc diff lock,4wd, 2wd) and a well constructed atv wagon will give you better options.
Suprisingly nobody here has brought up the issue of how much fuel the UTVs will use compared to a midesize-ish quad. I could be mistaken, but wouldnt the quad use less???
i rented one and took it on an atv rally ( i wont mention the brand name as it does not matter anyways). when the trail gets tight, very rutted up, it seems you cannot see around that front passenger side. and backing these things up in tight spaces, well bring a chainsaw with you.
If you dont have to drive the thing through very swampy areas, they can be alright. One feature i do like is being able to put a 12 ft aluminum boat on the roof (modifying the back box with an extension set-up for the boat of course) and throwing your outboard,tackle boxes, rods, gear etc in the rear box.
For true hunting applications, I feel that a midsize-ish quad(450-550cc diff lock,4wd, 2wd) and a well constructed atv wagon will give you better options.
Suprisingly nobody here has brought up the issue of how much fuel the UTVs will use compared to a midesize-ish quad. I could be mistaken, but wouldnt the quad use less???
We took a Teryx out for a spin behing the Salmon Arm shop. It had the tracks on it.
Incredibly agile, ground clearance galore, power was amazing. It was chipped and had the header kit upgrade on it. Suspension was definately high end. My buddy bought it without the tracks. We have had it out a few times and I am convinced the Rhino is second class to this rig. I have always been a Yamaha fan but for a side by side, this is the rig I would purchase. Take one of these out for a ride and experience the ride yourself. Rear axle locked up and the front diff is a posi only when you pull on the in cab lever. You can adjust the lock up to full on or off and a bunch of clicks in between. A well constructed thought out side by side. Lots of giddeeupgo. Fits in the back of a long box, but need to climb over the inner box fenders. Seen one fella chop up some pallets to fit in there and the fit was better. Bit of weight, around 1500 plus with gear installed so careful with ramp selection. Wouldn't be a pretty sight if the ramps gave out half way up.
My 2 cents worth.
Incredibly agile, ground clearance galore, power was amazing. It was chipped and had the header kit upgrade on it. Suspension was definately high end. My buddy bought it without the tracks. We have had it out a few times and I am convinced the Rhino is second class to this rig. I have always been a Yamaha fan but for a side by side, this is the rig I would purchase. Take one of these out for a ride and experience the ride yourself. Rear axle locked up and the front diff is a posi only when you pull on the in cab lever. You can adjust the lock up to full on or off and a bunch of clicks in between. A well constructed thought out side by side. Lots of giddeeupgo. Fits in the back of a long box, but need to climb over the inner box fenders. Seen one fella chop up some pallets to fit in there and the fit was better. Bit of weight, around 1500 plus with gear installed so careful with ramp selection. Wouldn't be a pretty sight if the ramps gave out half way up.
My 2 cents worth.
I have hauled out many moose on a quad. I can and will take a whole moose on my old man's Honda 300 4x4. It will go anywhere. It's small and light. Great on fuel and of course it's a Honda. When I get my moose later this fall I will post some pics.
The people I know who have a prowler dislike them when they hit muskeg. The are heavy and sink badly in muskeg.
Here in Northern Alberta where I live, Argo is the only way to go. It is the only machine that can handle the muskeg. I don't like riding my quad around here until the muskeg freezes up for the winter.
If you are going to get an Argo, I recommend a tracked Argo.
I get around 90 miles per tank and the tank is 9 us gallons. That's a machine that weighs around 1700lbs with me and my stuff in it.
Actually when I was going down muddy trails rutted up by quads, it was better because I could drive on the high spots where the quads had to straddle the high spots.
Yes my opinion is most are now too wide to fit throu most trails in this area & they're not road legal like an ATV.
Some owners have been warned & charged since the law specifically states something like a ATV must be, riden astride & steered with a handlebar.
Yam Rhyno & Polaris makes a narrow Razer are the only ones I'd consider.
- Location
- Richmond hill, Ontario
My quad is fantastic... we have a couple rangers at out hunt camp too that are great for hauling and moving gguys around... My quad can get in deeper and haul out that deer at the same time.
