What is the best ATV for Deer Hunting

[grizzlygreig]

Very good boat mechanic I know has shown me the effects of running high octane gas (91) in boat motors and the destruction it can do. 87 octane, regardless of brand, is good for all the warm months. When storing engines just add an additive like a stabilizer and there won't be any issues.

can you tell us more?... I always use 91 or greater on my outboards... From my 4 hp to my135 hp...

[300Sniper]

can you tell us more?... I always use 91 or greater on my outboards... From my 4 hp to my135 hp...

He showed me damaged piston and remember him showing me something else but dont recall. He said it was a result of running high octane. He also said to never mix 2 stroke oils as 1 is designed for air cooled and 1 for water cooled. Before talking with him I also always but in high octane somehow thinking I was doing the engines a favour but if its not required then there is no point. High output engines may require higher octane and that will be found in the manual. I run 87 through everything with the exception of my stil chainsaw as they told me to only use premium fuel in it. I always use seafoam or some nice additives from amsoil to keep my engines running as they should. Hope this helps....

[delmer]

I run 87 through everything with the exception of my stil chainsaw as they told me to only use premium fuel in it. I always use seafoam ....

I use the same routine. Stihl specifically calls for premium fuel in their equipment as per the owner's manual. All my jerry cans of gas get Sea Foam added to them as soon as there are filled.

[300Sniper]

Regarding atv's, I bought a new 700 a/c limited in Sept. I asked the mechanic the same gas question and he said to always use 87 unless it wouldn't be used in the winter in which he said put 91 in for storage although 87 with a stabilizer is preferred...

[35wailin]

Cool, didnt know anyone offered that.

My '05 500 Honda Foreman has a pull start. You have to pull a panel off to access it, but it is there...

[topher]

My 6 wheeled Argo ftw

[Fenelon]

I've owned and worked pretty much all brands except Bombardier and Kawasaki, for trapping, hunting, and winter running. I'd only recommend two - Honda as my first choice, Suzuki as my second. You do not need, or want anything over 500cc, unless you enjoy having a 700-900lb+ machine buried up to the belly pan in either mud or snow. That's the biggest problem I see now with the new ATVs. They're making them too big and heavy. Maybe OK for tending fences in a farm field, but they are useless with all that weight when you take them into the bush, or on to a frozen lake. The heavier machines are no fun either on a trail. Go try one and you'll see what I mean. I personally don't like any of the high clearance machines - high center of gravity - dangerous and tippy on straight hill ascents and cross hill driving. Don't get anything that has exposed disc brake rotors. I've had them freeze solid with slush, or be ripped to pieces by the granite/quartz grit after the first mud puddle you cross. My best experience has always been Honda. A 500 4-trac will do pretty much anything you need to do (haul a trailer of wood, haul a moose, plow your driveway). If it's just deer camp, hauling deer, and running trails, I'd even get the lighter 450. Worst by far for me was Polaris - broken belts, constant electrical problems, pistons, valves, crappy frame welds. Any Yamaha I've ever had was a pain in the winter for cold weather use/starting/running. Lots of top end engine and electrical problems too. Any Arctic cat I've had, or friends have had, spent more time in the shop than in the bush.

[mistycreek]

Thank you for everyone's advise and suggestions. I am leaning towards the Honda Foreman TRX500FPE.

[ratherbe]

EFI won't start with a dead battery....pull start or not.........you need the battery to energize the fuel pump....

i run the artic cat 450.........i bought it for ice fishing cause it has the highest ground clearance on the market at 11".......and in deep snow or slush every inch counts.........it is not by any means a trail machine......like mentioned the higher bikes are tippy on hills and the body roll in corners while running trails is dangerous.......you can't just throw your weight into it to slide the back over when you get in trouble......the rear wheel squats and the bike goes straight...

mine gives me trouble starting in the winter...has since day one and reading threw some artic cat ATV forums i figured out that the relay for the fuel pump was freezing up.........now when i turn on the key and don't hear the fuel pump energize i pull the relay out and warm it in my pocket for a minute then put it back in........

[300Sniper]

Not to start anything but just adding personal experiences. Buddy at moose camp rolled his 450 honda 3 years ago in an old clear cut, I rolled it off of him. 2 years before that his cousin rolled his 500 honda driving it on the trailer. None of the bigger big bore machines have ever rolled. This winter me and my buddy went ice fishing at scugog, he's also a forum member and it was slushy. I have a 2012 a.c. 700 and he got a new 400 honda for christmas. My ac was cruising no problem with little throttle and that honda was really struggling, I wasnt going hard and he was no wear close to keeping up and he sure was trying. At camp its the big bikes that are pulling the moose out, not the small ones.

There's lots to be said for the actual driver no doubt, but other then the smaller machines being able to get into tighter places there are only positive advantages to having a bigger bike and all that power...