Folks,
When I started my stalking career, I could not justify costs of a 4WD but needed to access my grounds, and soon got tired of dragging ever larger beasts up steep hills.
There must be many in my situation, perhaps urban based, perhaps just getting on in years and having difficulty following the gun-line on a shoot day.
For fifteen years, my life saver has been my 'wheel-barrow' - have a look, it may work for you!
I got hold of a little youths quad bike by Yamaha. Simplicity itself, a reliable 4 stroke engine and automatic gears - all three of them. Forward, neutral and reverse! A fabricator provided sturdy racks and built in a removable shooting rail. Rifle/gun holders were mounted on the handle bars and the whole beast moved around on a cheap Halfords style trailer. The trailer is lightweight and a tow hitch on the quad means it will even tow its own transport.
The 'wheel-barrow' is NOT a full sized quad and thus has some limitations - firstly, style. You look like an elephant riding a skate-board! Secondly, load capacity. I weigh up to 16 stone and have carried a couple Red hinds on the racks - but that was asking a bit much of the bike as it only has a 125cc motor.
A light-weight sledge is now used when out for Reds, and the heaviest stag now comes out as though it was on ball-bearings. Sika, Fallow and Roe are simply not even noticed and the bike will comfortably proceed up a 45 degree slope with a couple Does or Fallow bucks on the racks. Simply, it has proved to be massively more capable than I ever anticipated. Being able to arrive at a shoot, drop the tailgate and then drive to your peg or high-seat - secure in the knowledge that at the end of the day, you will be back to the vehicle without strain or pain....excellent.
It is smaller than a full size quad and much, much lighter. If you were ever to get bogged, then simply lift the back end out of the ruts, same with the front and then carry on once more. On its trailer, it is easily handled by one man and the whole lot is wheeled into a single garage for storage - until the next excursion.
So, an option that lets you get around a shoot, cheaply (no tax, MOT or insurance) quietly and quickly. An option that is easily stored, holds its value and most importantly, lets you enjoy your stalking or shooting, irrespective of terrain or fitness!
There are many cheap Chinese quads on the secondhand market - for good reason. They break! I would suggest that reliability is far more important than a minor saving in costs - so stick to quality Japanese bikes and you are less likely to be stuck with the problem of getting parts for repair or maintenance.
Cheers,
Ian
When I started my stalking career, I could not justify costs of a 4WD but needed to access my grounds, and soon got tired of dragging ever larger beasts up steep hills.
There must be many in my situation, perhaps urban based, perhaps just getting on in years and having difficulty following the gun-line on a shoot day.
For fifteen years, my life saver has been my 'wheel-barrow' - have a look, it may work for you!
I got hold of a little youths quad bike by Yamaha. Simplicity itself, a reliable 4 stroke engine and automatic gears - all three of them. Forward, neutral and reverse! A fabricator provided sturdy racks and built in a removable shooting rail. Rifle/gun holders were mounted on the handle bars and the whole beast moved around on a cheap Halfords style trailer. The trailer is lightweight and a tow hitch on the quad means it will even tow its own transport.
The 'wheel-barrow' is NOT a full sized quad and thus has some limitations - firstly, style. You look like an elephant riding a skate-board! Secondly, load capacity. I weigh up to 16 stone and have carried a couple Red hinds on the racks - but that was asking a bit much of the bike as it only has a 125cc motor.
A light-weight sledge is now used when out for Reds, and the heaviest stag now comes out as though it was on ball-bearings. Sika, Fallow and Roe are simply not even noticed and the bike will comfortably proceed up a 45 degree slope with a couple Does or Fallow bucks on the racks. Simply, it has proved to be massively more capable than I ever anticipated. Being able to arrive at a shoot, drop the tailgate and then drive to your peg or high-seat - secure in the knowledge that at the end of the day, you will be back to the vehicle without strain or pain....excellent.
It is smaller than a full size quad and much, much lighter. If you were ever to get bogged, then simply lift the back end out of the ruts, same with the front and then carry on once more. On its trailer, it is easily handled by one man and the whole lot is wheeled into a single garage for storage - until the next excursion.
So, an option that lets you get around a shoot, cheaply (no tax, MOT or insurance) quietly and quickly. An option that is easily stored, holds its value and most importantly, lets you enjoy your stalking or shooting, irrespective of terrain or fitness!
There are many cheap Chinese quads on the secondhand market - for good reason. They break! I would suggest that reliability is far more important than a minor saving in costs - so stick to quality Japanese bikes and you are less likely to be stuck with the problem of getting parts for repair or maintenance.
Cheers,
Ian
,no access for my little banger so had to half drag /carry it out.along with a set of broken sticks,ps knackered alltogether without these(limulus) binos rifle etc.suffice to say i came home early.but freezers full again.
