MZS

Thanks for the advice on ATVs Jenks and PastorJim! I will stick with at least 350 CC. And considering I am in clay that can get pretty slick, I think 4WD would be a must. Mostly just will be working some small plots, but I might end up using it for ice fishing and other stuff. I am not too much of a trail rider.

HDMontana

Can't count the number of times I have cussed about someone coming in driving an ATV into the forest service where they are not allowed and screwing up a setup with me working a bull elk. If it is where ATV's are allowed then so be it but I really don't like it when people drive them where they are not suppose to. Now, that being said, the older I get the more appealing they are to me. I currently do not own one, but am really considering getting one within a year or two. Packing out elk quarters is hard work and the thought of getting closer with an ATV would greatly save wear and tear on me. Sometimes I am in 4 miles one way on foot after elk. ATV's definitely have their place , especially for handicapped and elderly hunters, and hopefully in the near future, in my garage.

HDMontana

This is my current ATV. Gets me into places motorized vehicles are not allowed.

Jenks

I don't use my ATV on public land. We have a lot of it here in a national forest and ATV's are not allowed. I do use it on a family farm where there is not supposed to be other hunters. I would be upset too if someone ran off some game that I was trying to get close to. On a farm, deer become used to tractors and don't seem to be very afraid of ATV's. I have passed within less then 100 feet of deer and sometimes they just watch me, sometimes they run. I don't carry a loaded gun on an ATV, it is in a hard plastic case strapped to the front rack. I do sometimes use the ATV to try to move deer when other family members are in stands. I used to do this on foot, but age and heel spurs stopped that.
I have not been on a trail ride, we don't have any close. I expect that it is fun, especially when in pretty country. I ride mine around the house every now and then to keep the battery charged. I live in the country and have a long driveway around the house. I did that this afternoon, in fact. I do not live on the farm that I hunt on, it is almost 300 miles away. I have a small trailer that I cart it up there on.

BOWHUNTERCOP

I'm looking at Kawasaki 750 EPS Brute Force

Pro-Line

I own 400 acres in WV and my ATV helps me with my limited schedule. I can go in and hunt a weekend and haul me and my stuff up the mountain and hunt...without killing myself in the process.

When I go for extended periods, I usually leave it at camp. I've killed a lot of deer that I would have driven past.

I bought my current ATV 10 years ago. It is a Bombardier Quest 650 4x4. It has 2000+ miles on it and I've bought tires, filters, oil and a spark plug tube ($15). It has been a monster since the day I got it.

At this point, I think all brands are solid. The only thing is the bells and whistles. I'm not a Polaris fan myself...but to each his own. The only complaint I have about mine is that it is full time 4WD and it's a little rough to steer.

Jenks

A Kaw. 750 would be a lot like my 650, just a bigger motor. The power steering would be good, mine does steer hard unless I am moving. Kind of like old vehicles before power steering. I imagine the Bombardier 650 is much the same too. They used to sell a switch and wires for about $100 to convert Honda 4WD's that did not have the 4WD on/off switch. Maybe they sell those for Bombardier too. I hardly ever have mine in 4WD, I expect it would steer harder if it was on.
Is Pulaskiville near Pulaski? My g-g-grandfather is buried somewhere in Mercer Co, WVA, not too far from Pulaski, VA. There are some bigger mountains near there, an ATV would be the ticket if I had to climb them. Beautiful country.

Pro-Line

I'm in Ohio......

Jenks

Sorry about that Pro-Line, I have VA on the brain. My wife is from there. HDMontana has another way to get there that is a whole lot better then walking. A bike would be great except when it comes to hauling out something heavy You would have to be younger then I am for it to be very attractive, too. I am trying not to use the legs too much. I expect that the dirt bikes would do well too. I guess you could haul some weight with one too, the ones that are about 125cc and up. I have heard folks from out west talk about "goats", which they described as a motorized two-wheeler that is made for the woods. With the evolution from two wheeles to four wheels and then to side by sides, we will be back to the Jeep soon. I never owned one of them, but they have to be handy.

HDMontana

A children's Bike trailer is a great way to haul out and elk quarter. As long as you don't have to many up hills:rolleye0011