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Improve your next hunting trip by bringing your trusty UTV along! Use your side-by-side to transport all your gear, traverse difficult terrain with ease, and find the perfect location to wait for your prey. We've rounded up some of our favorite tips for making the most of your UTV hunting trip. If you want more strategies or want to explore side-by-sides for sale, head over to Southern Illinois Motorsports. Our dealership is located in Carbondale, IL. We also proudly serve those in Murphysboro and Marion, as well as our neighbors to the west in St. Louis, MO.

A successful hunting trip starts long before the hunting season. Scouting the location in advance will help you find the best place to set up camp. Your side-by-side can be a great resource for easily cruising around the terrain as you search for the best spot. Look for the types of vegetation that your prey will seek out and keep your eyes peeled for deer paths and trails. You'll also want to find a place with a perch where the wind will blow in your face, which helps you stay downwind of the prey so they don't smell you and leave.

One benefit of using your side-by-side on your trip is that you will be able to pack it full of gear for easy transport to your destination. You aren't limited solely by the items that you can carry by hand, which allows you to pack more cargo.

Start with a rifle scabbard. This will help keep your rifle and scope secure from the elements. It will also keep your weapon secure while you travel by UTV to your destination.

Another key piece of gear is a winch. Use it to pull game out of the brush and onto flat land for easier dressing. You can also outfit your side-by-side with a GPS. You can mark locations on the map that you will want to return to and easily find your way back to your tow vehicle.

When you cruise around the forest in your UTV, you could run the risk of your side-by-side making too much noise and scaring the game away. Fortunately, there are ways you can easily modify your UTV to help decrease the amount of sound it makes. 

First, remove or strap down any loose metal. It's amazing how loud of a clatter loose metal can create! Second, use soundproofing material, such as rubber, to reduce any rattling noises.

Third, keep up with your side-by-side maintenance. Many sounds that UTVs make are due to issues with the powersports vehicle. A whistling noise could be a leak or a crack in the exhaust. Brakes that make a loud, whining noise could be dealing with mud and sand caught in the brake calipers or between the brake pad and rotor. Screeching wheels could be caused by water and mud in the wheel bearings. Regular maintenance can help keep these noisy problems from arising, so be sure to keep up your maintenance schedule. If you start noticing issues, you will want to get them repaired as soon as possible.

We hope you found these side-by-side hunting tips helpful. If you’re in St Louis, MO, or Murphysboro, IL, and want some more hunting strategies or to check out UTVs for sale, visit Southern Illinois Motorsports. Our expert staff is happy to assist you in finding the perfect model for your lifestyle and budget, so stop by today.