Cars for Hunting

[oldgoat]

Depends on where you go! I think if I was going to do that out west with a long drive, I'd get a bicycle with one of the little trailers to supplement your plans

 

[Tod osier]

If you are coming out west and you KNOW for sure all of the access points you want to potentially hit are accessible by car then sure, no issues hunting out of a car. However, there are ALOT of times every year that I thank God I had a capable 4x4 vehicle with adequate clearance. I’ve come back to my vehicle and had to get home that night, greeted by a foot of snow for example. Or hunting the breaks in Eastern Montana one year, went in it was dry and the roads were smooth as pavement. Shot a mulie, got back to my truck and it started raining. Those pavement smooth roads turned to completely impassable mud pits. I had to drive out in 4WD Low and white knuckles! Even early summer camping with the family, we’ve come around a corner on a FS road only to find a 3 foot snow drift. I can stop, put it in 4WD and go right over it. In a car, you’d have to backtrack for miles, and that’s if it’s even possible to get around it. For me, I just couldn’t see recreating in the Rocky Mountains a ton without 4WD. It’s been interesting to see in Colorado, while you still see a lot of Subaru’s around, I swear Tacoma’s and 4Runners are giving them a run for their money now!


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Yes, it can be plenty exciting in a truck at times when you do everything right and the conditions throw you a curve ball.

 

[Fatcamp]

Discretion is everything. I would never suggest someone use car traveling in the Rocky Mountains during hunting season. We use ours to travel to Western South Dakota during early seasons. It has been a great tool.

Our truck is awesome, though. Wouldn't dream of risking a good tag on a car unless I had no other options. 4X4 with chains and extraction equipment, wall tent, full kitchen, 30 gallons of water, coolers and room to haul meat. Can't do that with a car.

You could do a variation though. We've been everywhere we hunt with a car at some point. Be ready to walk.

 

[TheGreek]

A whole deer and gear fits good in my Subaru Impreza hatchback. Great gas mileage and a stud on snowy roads. Just wish it had more ground clearance.

 

[trslabaugh]

I've wanted to get a 4wd Honda Element to use for trips. Rear seats come out or fold up towards the sides leaving an open rubber molded floor. You can rinse it out! Good gas mileage vs any truck, room to sleep in back if needed, 4wd, and dependable!

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Oh man...and to think I used to just point & laugh at the Chevy truck guys. Apparently there is an entire world full of hunters we can mock. <g>

 

[Scrappy]

if I had to try and buy gas for a 4x4 pickup to get me to the Rockies I wouldn't be able to afford an elk tag. Can't see myself ever going back to a pickup until they start getting 30mph.

 

[Fatcamp]

View attachment 95014if I had to try and buy gas for a 4x4 pickup to get me to the Rockies I wouldn't be able to afford an elk tag. Can't see myself ever going back to a pickup until they start getting 30mph.

Nice. Got any more pictures? From the side?

 

[Scrappy]

Nice. Got any more pictures? From the side?

 

[Fatcamp]

Next level stuff, Scrappy. I like it.

 

[Scrappy]

Next level stuff, Scrappy. I like it.

It's my soccer mom in disguise mobile until I put the head on top that is.

 

[Fatcamp]

It's my soccer mom in disguise mobile until I put the head on top that is.

LOL. Ours blends in very well. Until we pull the hubcaps, mount a massive box on top, and cover it in a layer of red mud.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

View attachment 95014if I had to try and buy gas for a 4x4 pickup to get me to the Rockies I wouldn't be able to afford an elk tag. Can't see myself ever going back to a pickup until they start getting 30mph.

You mean like the Ram 1500 eco diesel?

https://www.tfltruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/2015_ram_1500_ecodiesel_highway_mpg-1.jpg

 

[Scrappy]

You mean like the Ram 1500 eco diesel?

https://www.tfltruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/2015_ram_1500_ecodiesel_highway_mpg-1.jpg

No thanks my rav4 is four wheel drive, I don't think I would like a two wheel drive truck.

 

[morgan1h]

I drive a 05 ford Escape as my only vehicle. Gets 20-24 mpg and is pretty much a jack of all trades, master of none. Its awd, and I've ripped out the back seats and can sleep in it laying down (I'm 6'3) and store all my gear and coolers enough for deer. I've used it on many trips in the Nebraska Sandhills - really no limitations that a heavier lower mpg truck wouldn't also run into regarding deep sand (the thing that bites a guy out there). A lighter offroad specific vehicle would of course beat both, but my escape performs well enough to very rarely be the limiting for where I can get into.

Getting to mountain trailheads, I can be limited by ground clearance, but if they're aren't bolders half poking out all over, it'll handle most anything else if I take it easy. I've pushed through bad roads, but I usually sort of baby it since its bones aren't overbuilt.

Currently working up plans for building in a better organization system and sleeping section in the back and getting a hitch mount and roof rack for expanded storage and to make day-to-day stuff easier when living out of it on long trips. Leary of the roof rack because of effect on mpg.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

No thanks my rav4 is four wheel drive, I don't think I would like a two wheel drive truck.

Mine's 4X4 and averaged 29mpg before I put a steel bumper, winch, 35" rubber, a 6" lift w/ skid plates, etc on it. Now it averages 21 (including considerable offroad use).

BEFORE:


AFTER:

 

[Fatcamp]

Mine's 4X4 and averaged 29mpg before I put a steel bumper, winch, 35" rubber, a 6" lift w/ skid plates, etc on it. Now it averages 21 (including considerable offroad use).

BEFORE:
View attachment 95338

AFTER:

View attachment 95339

What's it pull?

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Eco Diesel supposedly pull 9200lbs but I personally haven't exceeded 4800...it was like the trailer wasn't even there.

 

[Lou2]

View attachment 95028

beautiful