Must Have Hunting Accessories for Your Utility Vehicle

When it comes to hunting, there’s no shortage of accessories and gadgets you can buy for your firearm or bow. Whether it is something as simple as a camouflage cover or an optics mod, not only do they often add customization for your gear but also improve the chance of a successful hunt.

However, weapons aren’t the only things that hunters can customize and buy accessories for. Depending on what type of vehicle you use for hunting purposes, be it a 4×4 ATV, hunting golf cart or side by side such as a RHINO, some of these hunting accessories will work with different types of vehicles.

Before we begin, keep in mind that you need to get compatible hunting accessories for your UTV. For instance, it is not likely that a Honda Talon cargo tailgate will work well with your RHINO or Mule. When you make the shortlist of SxS accessories, always lead with your vehicle’s make and model. It is particularly important when you buy hunting accessories, as they all need to fit perfectly together to provide you with a successful, safe, and comfortable experience.

Since we mentioned cargo, keep in mind to consider extra cargo boxes, straps, or tie-downs to secure the load, especially if you have an open-ended UTV bed. If you hunt bigger animals, cargo and hauling accessories are necessary to make it on the long way back home with your game intact.

So without further ado, here are some must have hunting accessories for your utility vehicle.

1. Gun Rack

This is the most obvious but also the most necessary from a practical as well as safety standpoint. Properly securing your gun is a must especially when you’re driving over rougher terrain, over bumps, etc. Fortunately all of the vehicles we mention above have gun rack add-ons of accessories that can be mounted.

2. Floor Mats

Regardless of the climate, floor mats are vital for protecting the interior of the vehicle as well as safety. Whether it is raining or you need to trek through mud, this can result in slippery surfaces and be a nightmare to clean.

With a high quality set of rubber floor mats, cleaning is as simple as washing them down with a hose. This accessory is most needed for golf carts as the other types of hunting vehicles we’ve mentioned either don’t need them or have a feature that solves the problem.

3. All Terrain Tires

Along with floor mats, if your utility vehicle you use for hunting is an ATV or side by side, they most likely already have the proper type of tires for off road use. That’s usually not the case for carts however.

Not only are you going to want to pick up a set of off road tires but you should also consider a lift kit for more ground clearance which will come in handy when you need to get across some water and rocks or fallen brush.

4. Roof Racks and Cargo Baskets

Not only are these great additions for your side by side or golf cart when it comes to hunting but they also are great if you use the vehicle of additional work around the property, for gardening or just hauling.

For hunting, not only can you use the cargo basket or roof rack for additional supplies (for full day hunts) but regardless of what you are hunting for, you’ll easily be able to carry your kill back with you whether it is a couple of turkeys, ducks or wild boar.

We all know that one of the most fun things about hunting and hobbies in general is the ability to customize and add aftermarket accessories to fit our personal tastes. With your golf cart, ATV or RHINO it is no different.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our quick list of the best hunting accessories to add to your golf cart or other vehicle. Be sure to check out our hunting category for some more great tips and ideas!

Why use a UTV for hunting?

As a hunter, you have to take care of many things and using the proper utility vehicle (UTV) is one of them. If you’re new to hunting and don’t see the fantastic benefits that UTVs bring, we advise you to keep reading. We list the most significant advantages that a proper UTV can give to your hunting:

Why use a UTV for hunting

Hang and check out trail cameras

Whether you hunt on public or private land, you might want to use trail cameras. Trail cameras can help you as they can scout possible hunting spots. However, you need to set up as many cameras as necessary in several locations. This way, when the season opens, you already know where to go.

The proper UTV will help you quickly scout the property and hang cameras as you go. When you have to check out the footage, you will get there a lot faster.

Get to the hunting spot quickly

If the hunting spot is in the middle of the woods, your truck might not get you close enough. You can travel off-road with your UTV and park a lot closer to the hunting spot. You won’t have to walk/hike for miles every single day.

When you use a UTV, you also get to the hunting spot on time. Any hunter knows that you have to get there before dawn.

Easily hang the tree stands

If you hunt along the East Coast or in the Midwest, you will probably need to hang a tree stand. They make for excellent help to shoot a deer. However, most tree stands are cumbersome and difficult to carry. When you need to get miles away, you will take it with your UTV. Bring a hunter friend to set up your tree stand quickly.

Bring along your hunting friends

Most hunters prefer to go with their hunting friends or family members. With a UTV, you will carry up to six passengers. No matter if you want to take a friend, your child, or your hunting party, you can do it easily with a UTV.

Easy way to pack out the game

No hunter leaves home thinking that he will come back empty-handed. Regardless of what you may think, you have to work hard once you get your game down. It’s not easy to carry 100 or 200-pound deer, especially if you’re alone.

Instead of butchering your buck in the field, you can load it up onto your UTV’s bed and take it back home. Once you get there, you can carefully butcher it with no pressure that the meat will ruin.

How do you know that your UTV is suitable for hunting?

Since there are so many models available, it can be tricky to know which of them works best for your hunting needs, preferences, skills, and budget. We recommend you examine the following elements before buying a UTV.

Off-road performance

UTVs are excellent to travel across rugged terrain and reliable to take you into prime hunting. We recommend looking for a model with high ground clearance and high suspension travel to comfortably over roots, large rocks, and potholes.

If you like hunting on any day and terrain, look for a UTV capable of taking you places. The chances for you to hunt in the rain, snow, or muddy trails are high. Therefore, we recommend buying a fully enclosed cab model to protect you from harsh weather. It will probably come with air conditioning, so you don’t worry about your comfort when hunting in warm weather.

Does it have enough seats?

Any UTV should offer at least two seats. Even if this is enough for you and your friend, it might not be enough when you wish to have a group hunting. You might want to check out the UTVs with three if not four, seats.

For instance, upland bird hunting is a lot more fun when you have friends to flush birds with. Let’s not forget that you also want to bring your dogs to retrieve your birds. You might have to run a deer drive when deer hunting since tree standing was unsuccessful.

Some multi-passenger UTVs can seat four to six passengers, and you can use aftermarket accessories to add racks on the roof/bed to create space for all your friends.

Look for a UTV with generous cargo capacity

The perfect UTV will provide you with generous storage space. It will have a big bed to place your hunting rifles, bows, tree stands, ground blinds, packs, snacks, and everything else you need when afield. At the end of the day, you will want to carry your animal back home too.

Some UTVs have rugged beds that withstand loads of up to 1,000 pounds, which is excellent for deer hunting. Seek that the payload capacity for the UTV is higher than 1,500 pounds—it includes your cargo’s weight, drivers, and passengers.

Pick a quiet UTV

It’s, just like other types of off-road vehicles, tend to make a lot of noise. When you go after your game animal, the last thing you want is to spook him with your UTV. When afield, you have to be as quiet as a mouse. Even if you don’t make a sound when walking to your tree stand, the fire-cracking engine will spook away your game.

Some gas-powered UTVs are quiet thanks to the unique chassis design, and electric models are also a reliable choice. You should avoid diesel engines as they’re louder than the gas-powered alternatives.

Do you also have to drive on-road?

Most UTVs are made for the off-road driving experience. Nine times out of ten, you won’t be able to access your hunting land by driving your UTV on public roads. It’s simply doesn’t come with the safety features to drive along with regular vehicles.

In some states, you will be able to drive your UTV on the roads if you add safety features and parts. Your vehicle will become an on-road vehicle.

ATV or UTV- which one is better for hunting?

The debate about whether the ATV or the UTV is best for hunting has no end, as there are ups and downs on each side. Atvs are cheaper than UTVs is an excellent argument to buy an ATV.

However, ATVs have many limitations when it comes to hunting. They don’t provide storage space, beds, or storage compartments to carry your harvest. It’s not going to be possible to take your tree stand, gear, bow, or other passengers with the ATV. You can use the ATV for preseason scouting and checking out your trail cameras, though.

Once you start using a UTV, you will rarely find the need to go back using an ATV.

ATV or UTV- which one is better for hunting

 

Robert Dwayne

Robert Dwayne

To say that I am an outdoors enthusiast is probably an understatement. I am hyper passionate about everything outdoors: hiking, survival, hunting. On this website I am sharing my stories and experiences, and I hope you'll find inspiration to take up your own adventures!

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