Favorite Hunting Vehicle (non-Truck)
Contributors to this thread:General Topic
From: Tracker
11-Jan-23
So what is your favorite hunting vehicle excluding pick-ups. My favorite all time was my Nissan Xterra but that is not longer made. I have a Subaru Outback that does all I want as long as I do not need true 4X4 capabilities. Im not in need of a new vehicle.
From: Bake
11-Jan-23
I've never owned a vehicle that wasn't a truck. I didn't know that was an option :) My wife has always driven an SUV, but she never lets me take them hunting.
From: greg simon
11-Jan-23
I have a John Deere 8420 that is really nice for transporting people and gear to a duck blind.
From: Grey Ghost
11-Jan-23
Mine is my Father's 1981 CJ7 and little homemade utility trailer, that I completely restored about a decade ago, including a rebuilt 360 engine and T-19 transmission. Now, it spends more time in the garage than on the trail, but it's still my favorite vehicle and sentimental possession.
Matt
From: APauls
11-Jan-23
I had a right hand drive Toyota Hilux that could get me in and out of some pretty sticky situations. Ultimately throwing animals in the Mr Turtle pool overtop of the carpet was a headache and if you have pails of fryer grease spill for bear baiting it's a bummer which is why I ended up with a pickup.
Right now I guess my quad. The Honda Rubicon 500 is so darn dependable and capable of a machine.
From: DanaC
11-Jan-23
4 of last 5 were trucks (one Ford Explorer in the mix.) Probably switch to a SUV, old bones don't care for the tacoma 'ride quality'.
A few years back a friend shows up with a deer he shot in Vermont - stuffed into the trunk of his Lexus sedan. Gotta wonder what the cleaning bill was ;-)
From: Old Reb
11-Jan-23
Arctic Cat 500
From: fdp
11-Jan-23
Still own a truck, pretty well always and have likely always will but my wife's Subaru makes for a dandy hunting/fishing vehicle.
From: Matt
11-Jan-23
4runner
From: JohnMC
11-Jan-23
Clearly a company car. Free gas, free oil changes, free car washes. Always said only difference between my company car and pick up truck was I'd take the company car places I wouldn't take my truck.
From: smarba
11-Jan-23
Well said JohnMC. The difference between a 4WD and a company car (rental car) is the company car you're not afraid to take ANYWHERE. LOL
From: [email protected]
11-Jan-23
93-97 80 series Toyota Land Cruiser with factory lockers.
From: Tilzbow
11-Jan-23
A 2022 Ford Bronco I took delivery of in May 2022 then customized. It’s too small to haul a good long term camp but does tow nicely beyond the motorhome which is where “camp” was for this year’s NV spike elk hunt. Picture isn’t of NV but was taken in AZ on a trip why wife and I just returned from, mountains are the Catalina Mountains just north of Tucson.
From: PECO2
11-Jan-23
1997 Subaru
From: Shiloh
11-Jan-23
Scott,
Is that a Discovery??
From: WhattheFOC
11-Jan-23
APauls - check out whistling diesel on YouTube. He does a “test” of a Hilux. I was blown away…
From: Bigdog 21
11-Jan-23
Wife's Hummer H2 with a cargo wrack on the back .
From: Knifeman
11-Jan-23
From: AllamakeeHornKicker
11-Jan-23
5 speed toyota, best hunting and fishing rig I've ever had. Gets in and out lots of places, and quietly.
From: Charlie Rehor
11-Jan-23
IdyllwildArcher always referred to his hunt vehicle as the “lezbaru”
Any one remember his story about his Arizona Mule deer hunt and the nap he was taking in the lezbaru when the Game & Fish officer paid him a visit? Funny stuff.
From: ILbowhntr
11-Jan-23
Honda 350 Rancher
From: SlipShot
11-Jan-23
This setup has worked for my sense 2013
From: Tilzbow
11-Jan-23
Shiloh,
It’s a Newmar Dutch Star.
From: Whocares
11-Jan-23
My pickup and atv are second to these.
My pickup and atv are second to these.
From: Rut Nut
11-Jan-23
Hey Charlie, I don’t remember that story.............you have a link?! ;-)
From: midwest
11-Jan-23
I do, Charlie....frickin hilarious!
From: billygoat
11-Jan-23
Dependable, but rather high maintenance...
From: MichaelArnette
11-Jan-23
Definitely my 1998 Toyota 4Runner back in the day
From: elkmtngear
11-Jan-23
Years ago, a buddy and I stuffed a buck into the trunk of his '73 Chevy Nova.
I have put a few pigs in the trunk of my Honda Civic. I keep a tarp in there, for such occasions!
From: timex
11-Jan-23
Old 200 Honda, only 2 wheel drive but this thing will spin circles around my bigger 4 wd. Mostly just used to get deer out of the woods, and it's just perfect for maneuvering around in Tite woods
From: huntr4477
11-Jan-23
Tracker, I bought a new XTerra in 2000. I LOVED it! It was probably my all time favorite vehicle. I kept it for 10 years. But... one time my girlfriend and I were going out to eat, a day after I got home from a week of deer hunting. She felt something on the back of her neck. It was a couple deer ticks crawling on her. That's when I decided to go with a pick-up when I traded in.
From: fisherick
11-Jan-23
I have owned 8 4WD vehicles over the years, but the one that stands out above all others was my 1974 International Scout 2. It was a 345 V8, 4 speed with extra low, hi/lo transfer case, dual exhaust and limited slip traction rear axle. There was no place I could not go with that tank.
From: Heat
11-Jan-23
Heck ya Charlie...the "Lezbaru"! LOL!!!
From: Thornton
11-Jan-23
I hope to be using this a lot to scout and eventually go to other states to hunt. My most useful nontruck vehicle is my QuietKat Apex.
From: Bill J.
11-Jan-23
Next fall it will be this, but with the full travel top
From: APauls
11-Jan-23
You think a drone is annoying…try a plane buzzing around your property lol
From: Zbone
11-Jan-23
That International Scout is freak'n cool...8^)
Coworker buddy was a Scout nut, but personally like the old school fj Land Cruisers...
From: Thornton
11-Jan-23
Apauls- I was waiting on a big nontypical to cross early last season and I couldn't figure out why a Cessna 150 wouldn't quit circling the field. 30 minutes later, the big nontypical stood up out of the soybeans where he had been laying all day, and walked into the timber. Around here, they just stare straight up and aren't alarmed.
From: Twinetickler
11-Jan-23
Mine is the OP's name a Chevy Tracker. Will go anywhere, and can drive it down the freeway at 75 mph with heat and AC. Good gas mileage and cheaper than a sxs.
From: Twinetickler
11-Jan-23
From: Zbone
11-Jan-23
elkmtngear - "Years ago, a buddy and I stuffed a buck into the trunk of his '73 Chevy Nova"
Oops forgot - I stuffed a road killed big buck into a Ford Fiesta once...8^) Had to lay the passenger seat down but I got it in there... Man, should have seen the looks I got, especially from coworkers walking in the building from the parking lot at shift change...8^))) Most just looked at me and shook their heads...8^)
Was back before cell phone cameras, wish I had a picture of it...
From: DanaC
12-Jan-23
Had one of those Scout 2's back in the 80's, thing was a bear.
From: Altitude Sickness
12-Jan-23
Suzuki Samurai
From: carcus
12-Jan-23
I hunt a few spots where I want to be incognito so I use my Toyota corolla hatch back so I blend in with the granolas
From: Shaft2Long
12-Jan-23
FWIW Nissan is supposed to rerelease the Xterra.
If the rear seats fold flat that would be a pretty nice option.
From: RonP
12-Jan-23
needless to say the size and cost of most trucks and suv's has gotten out of hand. hopefully other manufacturers follow ford's lead with the maverick. toyota still builds a base model tacoma with the 4 cylinder.
a basic no-frills utility truck or suv with no back seat or one that folds down and has a rubber floor mat would serve most of us well. that chevy tracker and suzuki samarai posted above are two perfect examples.
From: Altitude Sickness
12-Jan-23
Even the Samurai have gotten pricey. I have two and would sell one.
From: Kanati
12-Jan-23
My 2016 Kia Sportage AWD. That with a jet sled in the back has been great.
From: Catscratch
12-Jan-23
Those Scout 2's are my dream machines! I've got a 68 442 convertible that I don't covet as much as those things (and the early Bronco's... I like them too).
From: DanaC
12-Jan-23
There's a dealer near here that sells tons of used Ford Explorers, all of them police vehicles. Mileage on many is decent but no idea on the *hours* at idle while on details. Not sure I want to chance it...
From: LINK
12-Jan-23
Wish I would have never sold it. It could get stinky with a deer in the back. Would creep through sand in two wheel drive where a truck would sink and have a hard time in 4W. One day I’ll have another jeep.
From: LINK
12-Jan-23
Wish I would have never sold it. It could get stinky with a deer in the back. Would creep through sand in two wheel drive where a truck would sink and have a hard time in 4W. One day I’ll have another jeep.
From: RonP
12-Jan-23
beautiful old square body cherokee!
From: spike78
12-Jan-23
Dana, a Ford would have to be damn close to free for me to drive one.
From: bowhunt
12-Jan-23
Old Subarus worked good for me and a couple buddies. Between the three of us I have no idea how many animals we have hauled home in them. Deer,elk,bear, and cougar.
The mid 90’s wagon worked when we couldn’t afford a decent truck. The ground clearance was pretty similar to lots of cars on those. The 2010 outback’s got a huge increase in ground clearance. The rear seats folded down flat, I could slide two large coolers in the back. Each cooler callus fit a boned out bull elk.
For one or two guys that do backpack hunts they worked pretty good. Most of the ones buddies and I had were ones we bought for $1500 to $3000, and got lots of great use out of them.
I have done tons of hunts in my home state of Oregon. Have also taken old Subarus on hunts in Washington, Canada, California, Utah, and Wyoming.
On the many trips where my buddy and I both filled our tags, things get a little tricky. Packing light when you leave in the trip is key.
From: fdp
12-Jan-23
A buddy of mine had an old Isuzu Trooper. We/he drove that thing untold miles hunting and fishing hauling dogs, equipment, canoes and about anything else you can imagine over all sorts of terrain and through all kinds of weather.
From: Groundhunter
12-Jan-23
96 jeep Cherokee. Full time 4WD. 96 TOYOTA COROLLA. beat the crap out of em
From: Cowdoc
12-Jan-23
2019 GMC Yukon XL. 5 coolers, gear and a dog and still room to sleep in the back
2019 GMC Yukon XL. 5 coolers, gear and a dog and still room to sleep in the back
From: South Farm
12-Jan-23
My feet.
From: Ambush
12-Jan-23
For some remote hunts, a quad and trailer works. This is at our caribou camp.
From: Ambush
12-Jan-23
Maybe tuff to see but there is a small jet boat tucked in at shore.
From: [email protected]
12-Jan-23
From: 12yards
12-Jan-23
Next to my own two legs, it would be my 2011 Suburban. 212,000 miles now and counting.
From: xtroutx
12-Jan-23
2000 jeep grand cherokee with quadra trac and lift kit. 1966 international scout. Both were amazing to get to places most would not try. Wish I still had them, just a silverado now.
From: Candor
12-Jan-23
my pickup is my daily driver but my hunting vehicle is a z71 '09 suburban with a small lift on it and a roof rack. It seems to work better than using my truck for hunting.
From: DL
13-Jan-23
I used to go in my Samurai. Did a spring over lift and 30” tires. It’s a hardtop like altitude sickness samurai. I took out the rear seat and passenger seat. Put folded blankets in the footwells that way there was enough room for a sleeping bag. No need for a tent. Still have it.
From: lv2bohunt
13-Jan-23
From: fuzzy
13-Jan-23
Best deer retriever I ever had was a 1990 Subaru Legacy AWD sedan. Only negatives were ground clearance and the felt trunk mat which eventually gets soaked with dried in blood and starts to smell
From: RonP
13-Jan-23
can't believe no one posted about hunting from a canoe.
From: Bowbender
13-Jan-23
I've had a truck since '87. Prior to that I had a Subaru 4wd HB. That little thing went more places then it probably should have. With the rear seats folded down there was plenty of room for gear and dead critters.
Any one happen to watch Destination Elk, Corey Jacobsen video series. Well Last year the group in Oregon had a Suzuki Grand Viagra, that was lifted, all terrains, roof rack...was a bad ass little hunting rig.
From: Rut Nut
13-Jan-23
Suzuki Grand VIAGRA..........................................LMBO! : )
I wish I still had pictures of my 2015 Subaru Forester loaded with treestands, and hunting gear for 3 guys. We were just driving from the campground to the farm to hunt the early season, but it was packed full with bow cases and packs etc.....................of course I had a roof rack and a hitch hauler on it.
From: Ricky The Cabel Guy
13-Jan-23
From: fuzzy
13-Jan-23
I need one of those "Grand Viagra" s. Lol
From: bigswivle
13-Jan-23
Kinda hard to bow hunt out of but handy on high tide
Kinda hard to bow hunt out of but handy on high tide
From: fuzzy
13-Jan-23
Was the suspension stiffer than stock? Lift kit? I hear they can get you into some tight spots. (I can do this all day but if it lasts more than four hours .....)
From: greenmountain
13-Jan-23
For ten years my hunting vehicle was a 99 Saturn SL . It was also my commuter car. It had been in an accident so it was ugly . My wife wouldn't ride in it . More than a few deer rode in the trunk from the woods to the reporting station and home to be processed. I finally gave the car away. I now have a 2006 station wagon .
From: FORESTBOWS
13-Jan-23
From: DGW
13-Jan-23
My 1982 Jeep Scrambler we drove it to New Mexico for archery elk hunt that year. We still joke about how it had room for 2 guys and all our gear back then.
From: Elkslaya
14-Jan-23
Polaris 570 takes me to the jump off point on occasion.
From: Zbone
15-Jan-23
That's freakn cool lv2bohunt, what year is your fj40?
From: Candor
15-Jan-23
DGW - so true. How much the gear "needs" have grown.
From: Jaquomo
15-Jan-23
From: bowhunt
15-Jan-23
Here’s a couple pics from a weak long spring bear hunt quite a few years back a buddy and I did. We had rain snow wind fog and sunshine on that trip. We also killed 2 bears over 6ft long nose to tail.
The old Subaru was packed pretty full on the way home, and had a smashed catalytic converter from going over big snow drifts to get to a trail head where we setup camp.
From: JakeBrake
15-Jan-23
That Int’l Scout pickup is freaking cool!
From: Ironbow
15-Jan-23
My Trek fat bike with 4.6” tires. I am the only motor.
From: bowhunt
15-Jan-23
Another fun Subaru week long hunt was in 2012.
We headed out for a week long hunt. I was up on a 20 ft cliff and called a bull I for a 15 yard 1/4 away shot.
From: bowhunt
15-Jan-23
That bull was about 4 miles out a finger ridge. We knew there was a herd of elk about 1.5 miles further out from my bull. So we went out there before packing meat. I called a bull in for my buddy.
From: bowhunt
15-Jan-23
A weeks with of camp stuff and two bulls in a 98 outback.
That was a tight squeeze
From: Goelk
15-Jan-23
Iv2bohunt I had a 1973 Landcruiser. Straight 6 and it could go anywhere. I was able to get 415,000 miles before engine block blew. Really miss it. LOL
From: Rob Nye
15-Jan-23
Have not decided if Canam or Polaris more reliable yet both are sweet machines.
From: Rob Nye
15-Jan-23
Argos are high maintenance but can be invaluable in some conditions.
From: Rob Nye
15-Jan-23
Still love the Canam Outlander Max quads they have been awesome.
From: Boreal
15-Jan-23
2004 Hemi Durango
From: SoDakSooner
16-Jan-23
Hunted with a Toyota Corolla for many years. Graduated to the Jeep about 6 years ago.
From: lv2bohunt
16-Jan-23
Zbone The FJ40 is a 1970 model. I’ve had it about 8 years. Had a 74 before this one.
From: lv2bohunt
16-Jan-23
Goelk FJ40’s are great rigs for exploring forest roads for hunting spots. Mine only has 58k miles, hope it last as long as yours.
From: Kannuck
17-Jan-23
From: eBike John
19-Jan-23
eBike John's Link
That red Hummer is a monster! I can't afford that unfortunately. There's always an electric hunting bike for getting in and out: www.eBikeGeneration.com
From: GhostBird
19-Jan-23
I've been enjoying my ebike. Thanks John.
From: South Farm
19-Jan-23
If money were no object, I'd honestly have to go with a helicopter. One with floats would be even better!
From: DRR324
19-Jan-23
Converted this 48V Yamaha to run in the woods instead of the golf course. 3” lift, larger tires, camo wrapped and added a metal box on the back. Quiet as mouse when heading out to hunt.
From: Basil
19-Jan-23
Had a 1970 Chevy Nomad wagon, all vinyl interior, 6 cylinder. Hauled more critters in and on that than probably any vehicle I’ve owned. Lots of trapping, hunting & sleeping in the back of that. Wish I had a picture.
From: Camo Jan
20-Jan-23
Have a Dodge Grand Caravan with the middle seats stowed down so the whole center section, because of the sliding side door, can carry a lot of cargo & deer.
From: Horn Hustler
20-Jan-23
Been in every state but two.
Bh
From: Bill J.
20-Jan-23
Bill J.'s Link
My dad bought a snow dog for ice fishing. I’d like to try it for recovery. Check out this video!
From: Buckhunter
20-Jan-23
My favorite
From: Buckhunter
20-Jan-23
Another pic
From: Cheesehead Mike
23-Jan-23
Well, I wouldn't call it my favorite but back in the 90's my tranny went out in my truck a couple days before gun season so I had to drive my Geo Metro 3 hours to my deer camp. 50mpg with a buck on the roof going down the interstate!
From: fuzzy
23-Jan-23
Some great stories and pictures on here.
From: Dikndirt
23-Jan-23
E-bike for me!
