UTV Hunting Tips
Your utility terrain vehicle, also called a UTV or side-by-side, makes an excellent work and recreational vehicle, no matter what type of riding you’d like to do. People enjoy UTVs for their high passenger capacities (many models seat up to six people at once), cargo space, powerful engines and high ground clearances, which enable riders to get over difficult terrain.
But one way you can use your side-by-side that you might not have thought of yet is as a means of transport for hunting. You can’t legally hunt from your UTV itself, but you can use it to get to and from your blinds and carry your weaponry and game over muddy, leafy ground with ease. Magnum Power, located in Lawson, is proud to be your local UTV dealership, so we’ve provided some of our top tips for successfully and safely hunting with your side-by-side below.
Scout Out The Location
On a bright, sunny afternoon before the season begins, head out to your desired hunting grounds so that you can thoroughly scout them. Knowing what to expect of the area will help you immensely to know where to go and what to do when it’s time to hunt. Look for deer paths and trails, as well as for the types of foliage that your desired prey may like to eat, whether it’s moose, deer or elk.
Determine where in the area you might want to hunt from. A place that’s hidden and downwind of your desired prey is best. You can quickly and easily scout out many different hunting locations on your UTV without having to walk everywhere.
Carry The Proper Gear
Next, you’ll need to make sure your UTV is stocked with the proper gear. Carrying your weapons in a rifle scabbard will keep them safe. A winch is useful for pulling your game out of a ditch to dress it. A GPS unit will ensure that you can find your hunting blinds easily and not get lost, and you can mark the places you wish to go on it. Also pack a first-aid kit, a UTV tool kit, food, water, signal flares and your phone.
Allow Yourself Sufficient Daylight
Riding your UTV through the forest at night is a bad idea. Even if you have LED lights (which we highly recommend for improved visibility), you don’t want to get stuck or lost in the dark. Make sure that you’re keeping track of the time as you hunt so that you can head back to your truck or campsite well before dark. You want to have sufficient light to dress your game, pack up and depart the area, so don’t try to hunt when the sun is low on the horizon. Remember that the weight of your game will slow down your vehicle, too, so you may need to allot more driving time than you did going into the area.
Practice Good Safety
Wear a blaze-orange vest to ensure that you’re seen by other hunters. Avoid setting up your blind too near someone else. Don’t hunt or operate your UTV while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Unload your weapon and case it before putting it on your UTV. Never fire your gun near any roads or buildings, even if you think they’re abandoned.
We hope these tips help you to have a safe hunting experience this fall. In search of a good side-by-side for winter adventures? Stop by our Lawson, Missouri, dealership today to have a look at our full selection of new and used UTVs and other powersports vehicles for sale. Magnum Power welcomes all of our Missouri customers in Clay County and greater Kansas City to pay us a visit.