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In the CO or WY mountains it's not very practical for a big game hunting vehicle. In the midwest or east, probably fine.

If you do get one, don't forget the Bernie and Coexist bumper stickers. I believe they are a requirement.

They're a great vehicle. Reliable, safe, and will get you most places you want to go when hunting.

I'll suggest a used real 4x4 with low miles might be a better choice. New car prices are ridiculous nowadays.

That's the state vehicle of Colorado...

Diesel can run up to million miles, which I've seen some owners achieve that, most of time over 500-800k miles. I have 246k miles on mine and still run strong.

In AZ a subaru just would not work. Way too many big rocky roads and ground clearance is a necessity. My best friend has a Forester and he loves it but never takes it off a maintained dirt rd. I'm embarrassed to ride it. Just not for me I suppose.

It had the rear engine, enough room for 2 of us to sleep in the back. With the rear engine, it would go through things you would not believe. Pushed snow with the front bumper more than once.

While the Outback may not go where a hi-lifted pickup will, it will serve you well. Look at where you go and when. You aren't going to get everything on a limited budget, but it isn't a bad choice.

Out west most of the areas on federal lands don't allow you to off-road anyway. It's very rare that I even need 4-wd. Your only issue will be ground clearance.

What is it's clearance? What is an F-150,s?

F-150 ground clearance 8.8"

I am looking at several jeep brands for this I am looking at getting a Jeep Cherokee (square front end straight axels, Jeep Liberty, or a jeep grand Cherokee. if I go with the Liberty then I will need to look for a Trail Rated version. I can easily lift any of the three 3 inches for less than 450.00

All older models of course but I can them with less than 150,000 miles for under 4000.00 that is a lot cheaper than any new side by side. The last year they made the square Cherokee with the 4.0 engine was in 2001.

I like the idea that the SUV will be much more quiet than an ATV or SxS. Plus I can keep dry if its raining out and keep gear dry all the time.

If its super muddy or snowy then I still have my atv I CAN USE.

If any Bowsiters have a good clean Cherokee with the 4.0 motor and want to sell it please let me know.

That pic above with the elk antlers on top is awesome!

I got a Tacoma in 2010 and it's been good to me, but I have to admit, the Sub did most everything great for me.

Only "glitch" was that you really had to "line" the back with a tarp and I used body bag's to keep tick's from dropping off deer when I loaded them into the back. Worked fine.

Next in line is Toyota.

The Subaru appears to do very well, but I would prefer a full size SUV with real 4wd. Just my opinions... you could also look at the Jeep Commanders. I had one that was awesome off road, but kinda crappy mileage:/

Scar.

Good deals on full sized Chevy Blazers would be something to look at too. They can get you pretty much anywhere

Here is about the only pic that I have. Most were on my old phone that locked up and I have sold the suby. Mine was a 2003. The tire carrier swings out and the hatch goes up like normal. I'm sure a similar setup could be built for any year. I removed everything that didn't need to be there and started building from there.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq6FPFpDkWE

The 2006 was bought used with 57,000 miles on it. $8000 cash in 2012. By the time I traded it in last year, it had 175,000 miles on it. I had put two rear ends, two transmissions, changed the wiper motor twice, rebuilt the front end twice with OEM parts, and basically swore off anything Subaru. It was jinxed with the disease of two'fers. I hated and still do hate that dang car. The day I traded it in I basically pushed it on the lot. Got a Ford Fusion and do not regret it for one second. A much better designed, more comfortable, much more dependable, much more powerful, much more economical car that goes just as well backwards pushing snow as any Subie.

I will say this about them. On light covered slushy roads, the older Subies would smoke any 4 wheel drive truck alive concerning the speed you could go and still be safe. They were very stable until the wheels got so wide for the weight of the vehicle. My older ones I would pass everything on the interstare when it was snow covered with ZERO trouble. Stable as all get out because they cut through the junk with those narrow tires.

One other thing is for sure, they were all great in any snow when going backwards. AWD or not. When we'd get 18-20 inches, my truck would struggle coming up out of my driveway. My work truck was toast. But, I'd shovel out the driveway enough to get the Subies turned around and push 200 yards of snow blowing up and over the rear hatch. That's the trick to going in deep snow in any modern AW or front rear drive car. My neighbors would wait on mr to "plow" the road.

Anyways, they are a animal rights loving group that over all makes junk as far as I'm concerned. My mother has a 2015 model that has been back 5 times over motor and transmission issues. I'll never buy another one. And don't miss those at all. I've owned much better cars in the past and currently, than any of the Subaru's I have owned. All but one said Ford. God Bless

After market skid plates, winches, tire chains, hell yes it will do mud, sometimes. Which you'll never get it total cleaned out so why do it?

Rated to tow 2000lbs? put a cooler on it or kill the transmission towing anything but that goes for any vehicle according to me

Nice tire swing,huntinelk

God Bless men

I don't really use that as a reason to be against them though. The high number of Subaru jobs is mostly because everyone and their brother owns one where I live. I do see a good amount of melted engines from people ignoring their head gasket. Good little flip if you can buy it and throw a refurbished in it.

I personally wouldn't buy a Subaru except to sell it.. Maybe if the price was right for a wrx I'd do it for a junker rally car. Wouldn't be my hunting vehicle though.

I second what a couple others have said...I bought a used 94' Toyota truck with the 22re motor that I wanted and the cheap topper. I throw my stuff in the back with a rolled up futon mattress and stop wherever I'm hunting for the day and take out my camping equipment and coolers in 5-10 minutes and unroll the futon mattress and voila, a comfy full size bed. I wasn't impressed initially with the gutless 4 cylinder motor but in 4wd low it's a different story....and ground clearance out of this world.....did some fix up but I bought it for 2500.00

When you hear people talk about a million mile motor, they are talking about a Cummins. Not Ford or Chevy's motors. However in most pickups these days the motor is the least of the concern. To get a million miles out of a motor, you most likely will need to put it in 4 trucks.

When I find the right Cherokee I will put a minimum of a 3inch lift kit on it unless I find one already lifted.

I am lifting Michele's 4dr. Wrangler in a few weeks. She asked How high are you going to lift it? Remember I am only 4'11" I said my goal is to have you use a step ladder to get inside!

TMBB

All have great uses and I know there are times when I will take the Outback deer and elk hunting.

The common line here seems to be that people who can do their own mechanical work like other vehicles. I get that. If you can fix about anything, then the other vehicles poor record isn't a big deal.

True unlimited choice four wheeling isn't an option for most hunters out west anymore. In Montana you are forbidden to drive on state lands in hunting season.

In the Breaks road access in the block management areas is extremely limited. BLM only allows you on certain roads.

Violate and other hunters will turn you in.

Kelly, I've gone over stuff nastier than that multiple times in the Subaru, although I eventually did tear the $#!+ out of the undercarriage after a few years of doing it.