ATV Hunting Tips
All-terrain vehicles or ATVs, also called four-wheelers or quads, can be used for more than just recreational off-roading and trail riding. If you’re into hunting and you need a way to transport yourself, your weapons and your game through the woods, an ATV is an excellent vehicle for this! For serious big game hunters, investing in a quad is a great idea that will only make hunting easier and much more fun. ATVs also help hunters with disabilities to easily travel to their hunting locations. Read this list of ATV hunting tips by Altus Motorsports to best determine how you’ll use your 4 wheeler on the hunt!
Scout Out Your Location In Advance
Before you take your quad into the woods at 4 AM, you’ll want to head out during the day to your designated hunting spot to scope it out. Where you hunt will depend upon the type of game you’re seeking. Large game like elk, moose and deer will be after their favorite vegetation, so you can determine their location using deer paths or trails you find.
The ideal hunting spot will have a perch where the wind blows directly towards you, keeping your scent from reaching your prey. Using your ATV to transport yourself around until you find the spot you’re looking for can save you a great deal of time and effort.
Equip Yourself Properly
Having the right gear is essential to having a successful hunt. Get a rifle scabbard to protect your rifle and scope from the elements and hold them securely in place on your four wheeler while you’re driving. Another good tool to install on your ATV is a winch that can help you tug your game out of a ditch or low place to somewhere it can be dressed. Finally, a GPS is ideal so that you can plot out your route to and from your hunting blind and prevent yourself from getting lost in the woods. You can even save good spots in your GPS so you can return later for another productive hunting day!
Leave Some Daylight
While you may get in the zone and want to keep hunting as long as there’s light, this isn’t the best idea. You could find yourself suddenly in a dark forest with game to dress and haul to your truck after the sun slips below the horizon when you weren’t expecting it. Also, you shouldn’t be shooting your guns in low visibility conditions in case you hit something and your bullet ricochets. Give yourself plenty of time to break down your equipment, dress your game, load your ATV and drive back to wherever your truck and trailer are parked. You’ll be glad you did.
Be Safe
Loading up guns on your ATV requires that you be responsible and vigilant to prevent a mishap. Unload your weapon and case it before you put it on your ATV. Take a hunter safety course to verse yourself on the best practices, and take a refresher course every few years. While riding your ATV, you’ll want to make sure you’re wearing a DOT-approved helmet like a motocross or motorcycle helmet as well as sturdy boots, gloves with good grip, long sleeves and pants, as well as a blazon orange safety vest so that other hunters can see you. Watch out for others as well! Drive slowly and cautiously and don’t take any risks.
Ready to check out some ATVs to improve your next hunting trip? Visit our dealership to see our selection of new and used 4 wheelers for sale. Our staff can point you towards hunting-friendly quads that will have space for your game and guns. Altus Motorsports welcomes our customers coming from south of the Red River in the cities of Amarillo, North Dallas and Lubbock, TX.