Being at a Disadvantage without a SxS

[ReaptheHeat]

A lot of it really depend on the terrain. I'd kill to have one on the rough roads of sage brush country where you can see for miles. I live in Oregon so the terrain I hunt varies a TON. I think a SxS is a waste on the coast but out east in the high desert, I definitely am at a disadvantage. What takes my truck 2hrs of head on roof banging, crawling speed; takes a SxS 30 min.

You don't know until you try it. I see a lot of "haters" on this forum that have a negative connotation with them and road hunters/illegal access. But then people post that have never used one that think they are useless and think their F350 rides just as good. Truth is a lot of people use them to get to places safely and faster.

If your full size is riding good, you are on some easy roads.

 

[Haro450]

SxS have an advantage in some places and not others. Mainly in vehicle width restrictions. There are some areas through out the country that have extensive trail systems that can only be accessed by vehicles that are 50" wide or less. Those trail systems go several miles into the woods/good hunting areas. Other places anywhere you can drive a sxs you can also just drive your truck. To me travel time in my truck and a sxs are negligible and a sxs is not worth it. But travel time on foot vs. on a sxs/quad totally worth it.

 

[mi650]

A big advantage to them is dragging critters out.

Even though I hunt on my own property, not having to drag them is a huge plus! Usually my wife will drive out after I've tracked them. She's RUTHLESS about driving thru brush & shit to get to a critter!!

 

[Steve300xcw]

I see a lot of "haters" on this forum that have a negative connotation with them and road hunters/illegal access.

This might ruffle a few feathers. While I have no doubt that everybody on this forum follows every law and would never take a sxs where its not supposed to be. However the fact is that every dirtbag out there has one. They tear the shit out of the roads and they take them everywhere that they aren't supposed to be. Most of them leaving a trail of keylite cans behind. If the machines weren't loud enough, the boat speakers they bolted to the cage sure are.

sxs's are a legit lil machine no doubt about. I'll go out on a limb here and say that most of the haters. Actually have an issue with sxs owners.

 

[ReaptheHeat]

This might ruffle a few feathers. While I have no doubt that everybody on this forum follows every law and would never take a sxs where its not supposed to be. However the fact is that every dirtbag out there has one. They tear the shit out of the roads and they take them everywhere that they aren't supposed to be. Most of them leaving a trail of keylite cans behind. If the machines weren't loud enough, the boat speakers they bolted to the cage sure are.

sxs's are a legit lil machine no doubt about. I'll go out on a limb here and say that most of the haters. Actually have an issue with sxs owners.

100%. I come from a dirtbike background and they are hated by everyone. Too much performance for the price. Too easy to be a douche with the power/weight. No skill required. You end up with the beer can chucking, 50 mph in the middle of the FS road types. For every responsible user, there are a handful that aren't. But during a 3rd or 4th rifle hunt where I live? You really have to want it when its snowing and -20 out. The douches are at home at that time.

 

[MountainTracker]

Hunting in ID I use to think that, but I’ve watched deer come out to a logging road and look both ways before fully crossing.

I’ve killed some of my biggest bucks within 1.5 miles of the main road, everyone else drives by these areas. I get back to camp and am asked how, I tell them I walk everywhere.


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[BadDogPSD]

Really like my Ranger for Chukar hunting, saves a lot of wear & tear on the truck. I have mixed feelings using it for big game, but there are times I'm glad to have it.

 

[UpNorth89]

I would say that most places I take mine I could also take my truck. It's just a lot faster, better ride, and saves wear and tear on the truck. I've also watched elk many times just walk into cover for a few minutes when one comes by and come right back out.

 

[Broadhead]

"Disadvantage" is probably open to interpretation. Does getting an extra 30 minutes of sleep count as an advantage because you can get to your hiking spot 30 minutes faster than if you were in a vehicle? Is it an advantage to not stress about breaking or scratching your vehicle? Is it an advantage to not getting the crap beaten out of you driving to your hiking spot?

I can say with confidence that I've been in a few places with a full-size truck, and the associated pucker factor, where a sxs would have been 100% fine. I don't own a sxs but I am in the market for the same reasons @UpNorth89 mentioned above. Safer, faster, and cheaper on the truck.

 

[wind gypsy]

The benefits are very hunter/location specific. I can think of two instances where I would have benefited from having a sxs but overwhelmingly it'd just be a PITA to haul across the country and around mountain roads.
The two instances:
1. Couldn't get my f150 across a creek crossing that started to freeze up and create ice dams during late rifle season. I drove across the same creek without fuss during archery season. I just hunted somewhere else.
2. Narrow forest service road would have wrecked the paint on my f150, so I walked an extra half mile.

If i didn't have to tow it 15+ hours to a western hunt I might feel different. Have an ATV that I've never brought with. Wife gave me green light to use our discretionary funds to supplement ATV with a UTV this spring but I cant justify it for the midwest or my western trips.

 

[j3h8]

I have a side by side... It's my left and right legs. They get me wherever I want to go, if I'm not a lazy ass. Which, being honest, I am more than I care to admit.

I have hunted via SxS many times and yes it is comfortable but the animals we drove past that simply stood still or hid behind a tree are far greater than the animals I see using glass or slowly traipsing through the woods.

If your budget doesn't allow a SxS, look into a dirt bike, quad, or even the new finagled E-bikes. You'll be better off without the SxS payment.

 

[justinspicher]

Where I am in Colorado, the ATV trails won’t get you to any good hunting areas, although during the hunting season everyone out of state thinks they will. My daily rig gets me to every trail head just fine and to actually get to animals you’re gonna have to walk.

 

[rogerdoger]

I would like to have one just to have one, but rarely when I am hunting do I wish I had one. Areas I see them used seem to be areas I am not interested in hunting as they have a lot more traffic and noise. However, I am looking at an Ebike for motoring around on. More trails are accessible and it is quiet.

 

[TaperPin]

So the nephew hunts an area with a long dusty rocky road that really beats you up in a pickup, but he rips up the road like he’s in the Baja 1000 with his sxs, covering every inch of gear with a thick layer of dust. I said I’d rather chew on a sagebrush than ride with him, and getting bounced around all day in a pickup for a marginal area isn't my idea of fun. He killed a nice buck there and I didn’t. Would he have been just as successful driving his 3/4 ton pickup? Idk.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I'll add one more thing to my post. I am 84 years old and I don't have the ability to walk the miles I used to. AS I said in my OP my sxs gets me near the area I want to hunt and it gets parked usually for at least half the day. Then I go hunting. Also mine is narrow enough to be legal on the USFS width limited trails....by 1".

 

[flyfisher117]

Wife and I hiked 1.5 miles and glassed all morning on a ridge, midday we decided to move spots and hiked up our ridge to find a dude in a buggy sitting up there about 150 yards behind us, we never heard him drive up somehow. Scared the living crap out of that guy when we walked up. There were no legal roads so he shouldn't have been there, but still felt super dirty having to hike the 1.5 miles back to the truck lol. He did take a legal road I was unaware of to get within 1/2 mile so that's where we parked a few days later for a shorter walk.

Yeah I’m running into more and more of them either cutting their own path off the road, driving down roads that are shut down, and even ran into a few clowns trying to fit down single track trails.

 

[HuntHarder]

Lol, driving off road is not mainly a SxS problem. It's an every motor'd vehicle problem. E bikes and dirtbikes are far and away bigger off road problems where i hunt vs. SxS's. I went a long time without a SxS. In 2018 I bought my 1st after hating on SxS 's for years. Payments on UTV's is for poor people. If you cant buy them outright, dont buy one imo. I don't use mine a ton, but when I do, it gets me into spots I would not want to take my pickup. The speed is one advantage, the ride is the biggest. I also love not beating the piss out of my new pickup when I can easily glide with my SxS. Negatives for me is having to haul a trailer, dust and temperature, both hot and cold. I think my 2018 has only 3000- 3500 miles.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Most of the areas I hunt they aren’t legal to use on trails, which is amazing those things are a damn plague. Go by Taylor reservoir anytime in the summer, it’s stupid.

 

[cuerro viejo]

The newer mid size trucks are better but 14” of suspension travel and 4wheel IFS is hard to beat, but down sided is having to haul it

 

[OregonSteeler]

I'll add one more thing to my post. I am 84 years old and I don't have the ability to walk the miles I used to. AS I said in my OP my sxs gets me near the area I want to hunt and it gets parked usually for at least half the day. Then I go hunting. Also mine is narrow enough to be legal on the USFS width limited trails....by 1".

If you're 84, I don't care if you're hunting off a wheelchair, SxS, truck, or tank; that's freaking awesome! I hope that I am still able to hunt at 84! You are truly an inspiration!

Good luck this upcoming season!