The Best ATVs for Hunting
ATVs can be helpful for hunters, especially when retrieving wild game. They are smaller and lighter than other vehicles, making them good for accessing tight locations. They are also more maneuverable on off-camber slopes.
Many ATVs on the market today come in Realtree camo, but not all are equipped with features that benefit hunters. We’ve compiled a list of ATVs with those extra features to assist you in making the best decision for your next hunting rig.
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Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 Hunt Edition
Our favorite hunting ATV is the Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 Hunt Edition. It’s the ultimate hunting rig. It’s even better when you buy it with a new Winchester Model 70 .30-06 rifle. This ATV has brush guards in the Front and rear, Front and rear rack extenders, a gun holster, Kolpin Ratchet Claws, 26-inch all-terrain tires with 11.5-inch ground clearance, and rack extenders up Front and back.
This Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 Hunt Edition comes with a 3,500-pound winch, electric power steering, and LED headlights. It also has a maximum payload of 575 pounds and 6 gallons of personal storage. With 90 hp, this machine has enough muscle to tow up to 1,500 pounds.
The Polaris Pursuit Camo model is an excellent choice for people looking for comfort. This model comes with hand and thumb warmers, making staying warm easier. It also has a matching cut-and-sew seat. However, this model is not cheap and costs $15,499 MSRP.
Polaris Sportsman 570 Hunt Edition
The Polaris Sportsman 570 Hunt Edition is just like the XP 1000 Hunt Edition, but it is smaller and more affordable. It includes a Kolpin Gun Boot and mount, Kolpin Rhino Grips, and 26-inch tires in black aluminum wheels. When transporting heavy loads, electric power steering is also beneficial.
The Polaris winch that comes standard on the Ranger XP 900 weighs 2500 pounds. There are also Front and rear brush guards and front and rear rack extenders. The plastic fenders are dipped in Polaris Pursuit Camo. The width of the Ranger XP 900 is 48 inches, making it stable even when going off-camber.
The 570 engine is powerful and can carry a lot of weight. The machine also has an excellent towing capacity. It costs less than the Sportsman XP 1000 Hunt Edition.
Polaris Sportsman 6×6 570
This model doesn’t come in camouflage, but the Sage Green color is suitable for blending in with trees. What makes this model special is its payload capacity. The Sportsman 6×6 starts as a basic Sportsman 570 ATV. But if you add two more wheels and an extended dump bed, it can carry up to 1,115 pounds. This model can also hold two people simultaneously, seating like a stadium and armrests for both passengers.
The bed of the Polaris Sportsman 6×6 570 has anchors to strap down cargo. It is Lock & Rides equipped so that you can add Polaris-branded hunting accessories easily. When you have a lot of things to move, the five-wheel hydraulic disc brakes will do the job. The 6×6 also has electric power steering and can tow up to 1,500 pounds. It has six gallons of dry storage under the front rack. This model has an MSRP of $13,499.
Can-Am Outlander Mossy Oak Edition 450/570
Can-Am offers a variety of ATVs for people who love hunting. The Outlander Mossy Oak Edition is available with a 38-hp single-cylinder or 48-hp V-twin Rotax engine. Both models are liquid-cooled and fuel-injected, with Tri-Mode Dynamic Power Steering and a 2WD/4WD front differential with Visco-Lok auto-locking technology. The CVT transmission includes engine braking.
Additionally, this model comes with many XT package add-ons that are helpful for hunting. Heavy-duty Front and rear bumpers, 3,500-pound winch aluminum A-arm protectors, heated grips, handlebar wind deflectors, and 360-pound steel racks are all standard equipment. It also has 25-inch tires mounted on 12-inch cast aluminum wheels, which increases ground clearance to 11.5 inches.
With the standard 2-inch receiver hitch, the 450 and 570 engine sizes can tow up to 1,300 pounds. Mossy Oak Break-Up Country Camo has been applied to the plastic body. The 450 has an MSRP of $9,499, while the 570 V-twin costs $10,199.
Can-Am Outlander Mossy Oak Edition 650
The 450/570 Mossy Oak Edition has the same features as this model but has a larger engine. The engine is a Rotax 650cc V-twin with 62 horsepower. In addition, it has heavy-duty Front and rear bumpers and full aluminum skid plates. The suspension upgrades are a-arm and Torsional Trailing arm protectors and 26-inch six-ply Carlisle ACT tires mounted on blacked-out cast aluminum wheels.
The 650 has a ground clearance of 12 inches, which is optimal. It’s 3 inches longer and 2 inches wider than the 450/570 to make it more stable. The front and rear racks can handle up to 300 pounds, less than the 450/570, but it can tow 1,650 pounds.
Can-Am Outlander Max 6×6 DPS 650
This Can-Am Outlander Max 6×6 DPS 650 model is designed for two riders. The passenger seat can be turned into a vastly superior storage capacity rack. It has a V-twin engine with a CVT transmission and a 4WD/6WD selectable drivetrain. It also comes with a Visco-Lok auto-locking front differential.
The front rack can hold 100 pounds, and the rear cargo bed with walls and a tailgate can hold up to 700 pounds. This model has 214mm disc brakes with hydraulic twin-piston calipers and Tri-Mode Dynamic Power Steering to support heavy loads. The towing weight limit is 1,650 pounds. Although this model lacks a winch, it is prewired for simple installation. MSRP: $14,399.
Can-Am Outlander Max 6×6 XT 1000
The Can-Am Outlander Max 6×6 XT 1000 is the most expensive hunting equipment on this list. It is powered by an 82 hp, 976cc Rotax V-twin engine and an automatic CVT transmission with high and extra low range sub-transmission. With a Visco-Lok auto-locking front differential, the driver can choose between 4WD and 6WD operation.
One of the standard features of the Can-Am 6×6 XT 1000 is the Tri-Mode Dynamic Power Steering System. Stadium passenger seating can be converted into a rack, handlebar wind deflectors, 3,500-pound winch, quick-release sway bar, heavy-duty front bumper, and arched double A-arm suspension with 11 inches of ground clearance. These are one of the many features that come as standard on the car. It also has a front rack with a 100-pound capacity and a rear cargo box that can handle up to 700 pounds. The 6×6 XT 1000 can tow up to 1,650 pounds. The MSRP is $16,899.
Yamaha Grizzly EPS XT-R
The Grizzly is a smaller, more maneuverable ATV that would be perfect for getting the game out of a tight spot. It has 686cc of power and Yamaha’s Ultramatic transmission, one of the most responsive CVTs on the market today. Without ever letting go of the handlebars, the handlebar-mounted On-Command system enables switching between 2WD, limited-slip 4WD, and fully locked 4WD modes.
Some of the features of this vehicle include a Warn VRX 25 winch, aluminum wheels with 27-inch Maxxis Zilla tires, ground clearance of 11.8 inches, electric power steering, preload-adjustable shocks, and four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes. The front and rear racks can hold up to 308 pounds combined and can tow up to 1,322 pounds. This vehicle costs $11,499.
Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS SE
The Kodiak is very similar to the Grizzly. But Yamaha made some small changes that lowered the price by $1,200. These changes include a smaller tire and wheel package. The Grizzly has bigger tires and wheels, while the Kodiak 700 EPS SE has a medium-sized tire on smaller wheels. This change lowers the Kodiak 700 by one inch. It also shares the same engine, transmission, and locking differential as the Grizzly 700.
Electric power steering is standard and has a tighter turning radius than the Grizzly 700. Another factory-installed feature of the Kodiak 700 EPS SE is a Warn VRX 25 winch. It will be a good hunting Kodiak. The cost is $10,299 (USD).
CFMoto CForce 600
With all of its features, the CFMoto CForce 600 is a great deal. It comes in four colors, including True Timber Camo, and has a 580cc single-cylinder engine. It also has 10.6 inches of ground clearance, 4WD with differential lock, variable rate electric power steering, a high/low range CVTech transmission, engine braking, selectable 2WD/4WD, LED lighting, and a 3,000-pound capacity winch.
The suspension is fully independent with double A-arms and preload-adjustable shocks. The rack capacity is 175 pounds, which is light. It also has a 2-inch receiver that can tow 873 pounds. The MSRP for this vehicle is $6,999 or $7,349 in camo.
CFMoto CForce 800 XC
The CForce 800 XC is a two-rider ATV with the same features as the CForce 600. A 65 horsepower V-twin engine, high/low range CVTech transmission, engine braking system, selectable 2WD/4WD, and 4WD with a differential lock are all features of this ATV. The 26-inch all-terrain tires are mounted on 14-inch cast aluminum wheels, which increases ground clearance to 11.2 inches.
The shocks are adjustable. You can change how they feel. They have a rebound and compression adjustment. Power steering with a brushless electric motor is standard. Some of our favorite features are a 3,000-pound winch that is pre-installed, a USB port, a 12-volt power outlet for accessories, and hand guards. The combined weight capacity of the racks is 175 pounds, also capable of towing up to 873 pounds with a 2-inch standard receiver. The MSRP is $9349 or $8999 with camouflage.
Read more: Hunting Gear Taps Into What a Deer Sees, and Doesn’t
Frequently Asked Questions About Hunting ATV
ATVs are suitable for shorter trips to hunt more miniature games. SxS can get you into the backcountry and on the hunt for a larger game.
An ATV has many advantages over a UTV for hunting. One of the most important is that it can navigate through tighter spaces more easily than a UTV. That means you can go through trees and boulders more easily.
An ATV or utility vehicle meant for a single person is called a “quad” or “four-wheeler.” A UTV or utility vehicle meant for multiple people is also called a “side by side” or “SXS.”
The front wheel decoupling in an independent suspension system helps improve the vehicle’s stability. It happens because it creates isolation between the suspension and chassis.
Many people testing power steering on ATVs think it is useful. They even think it is the best innovation since fuel injection.
The only ATV with an independent rear suspension currently available is the Outlaw. It is essential because it keeps the driving wheels in contact with the ground.
Use your rear differential lock if you want to drive on difficult terrains like dirt, gravel, mud, or snow. It will help you get more traction. You will only need to use it briefly each time you go off-roading.