Small 4x4 hatchback or rear door

[Eyefor]

I prefer a tailgate because (as previously stated) you can sit underneath it in all weathers.

Have you looked at the Subaru Forester? Excellent go anywhere cars with rear folding seats giving a large load space.

 

[Mick9abf]

You can get two reds into a Duster with the seats still up no bother at all if you take the the head and legs off and that’s without stacking them.

 

[Freeforester]

You can get two reds into a Duster with the seats still up no bother at all if you take the the head and legs off and that’s without stacking them.

Ditto a Subaru Outback, basically same height as the Sub. Forester, good boot space - with a liner of course, have had 5 red deer hinds in with the back seats down.
Edit: Outback has an overhead tailgate type, but the key benefit is the slightly lower tail lip height, a bit like the older quads versus the newer ones, the 3-4” less height making loading them far easier than the newer models.

 

[sy247]

Side door certainly. Older petrol crv is a great option.

With a side door you can mount a tow bar winch frame. Will make loading fallow bucks a lot easier, also nice for a suspended gralloch

I've got a Honda CRV 2.0 petrol from 2006 and it's a great vehicle. Very reliable and comfortable. I can get a plasterers bath in width ways and there is loads of space if put the seats flat in the back. I've only used in on
tracks and easy off road stuff but if it had some off road tyres on I suspect it would probably be quite capable.

 

[dryan]

I've got a Honda CRV 2.0 petrol from 2006 and it's a great vehicle. Very reliable and comfortable. I can get a plasterers bath in width ways and there is loads of space if put the seats flat in the back. I've only used in on
tracks and easy off road stuff but if it had some off road tyres on I suspect it would probably be quite capable.

I had a 2004 one and it was great on tracks and dry fields, had a couple of monster bucks in it with the seats down and builders plastic sheeting. Super reliable and cheap too. Rust killed mine but it had near 300,000 miles on it.

 

[sy247]

I had a 2004 one and it was great on tracks and dry fields, had a couple of monster bucks in it with the seats down and builders plastic sheeting. Super reliable and cheap too. Rust killed mine but it had near 300,000 miles on it.

That's good know, mine has done about 110k but feels like a new car! I've had to have some welding on the rear arches recently but I want to keep it going for as long as possible.

 

[dryan]

That's good know, mine has done about 110k but feels like a new car! I've had to have some welding on the rear arches recently but I want to keep it going for as long as possible.

I ended up with holes near the petrol tank, it wasn’t worth the hassle of removing the tank to do the welding.

 

[CWY308]

I have had a many stalking vehicles Vitara/Xtrail/shogun and couple of CRV and now RAV4 hybrid. They all work. It’s the grunt getting them into the boot that’s the issue. Bigger deer can be a 2-man job or a sore back. Go Japanese so so have the reliable vehicle sorted and then look for a towbar, sled or something to get them from the deck into the motor. Just buy a decent boot liner you can hose clean afterwards.

 

[SSN100]

Thanks all, some helpful pointers. A quick look on Autotrader and of the suitable vehicles at least 50% are white or silver.

Other than looking constantly filthy, do you think colour makes much difference. There are a couple of areas where I tend to drive into or through the area before stalking.

 

[pendle]

@angel eyes

 

[Smellydog]

I have no issues getting fallow into a duster.

 

[Ranger22]

My run a round is a 2008 Rav4. I’ve no issue with the back door and loading deer into it. If it’s raining I sit in a comfy seat out of the rain !

 

[angel eyes]

My 06 Rav4 I have modified the tailgate with a longer check strap making it open a lot wider

 

[SSN100]

There are some good value rav 4s in my vicinity.

 

[Tim.243]

 

[SSN100]

No strong opinions on the importance of colour?

 

[Smellydog]

No strong opinions on the importance of colour?

I noticed when I had a white vehicle nothing liked it!
Brown or blue seems to not phase birds bizarrely.
Red didn't seem so good.

 

[pendle]

White or silver no good.
Silver also looks like white as dusk comes.
Green .blue or red seems ok

 

[Foxyboy43]

I have a Jimny and a Mitsu SRX both used for shooting and dog. Jimny’s rear seats were removed the day I bought it so pretty good boot space now - I love my Jimny (side rear opening) but on a wet day the raised door of the Mitsu provides very welcome shellter.

 

[Puds]

I’ve got a 4x4 Duster, and use a big tub across the width of the boot to hold carcasses. It fits fallow absolutely fine, and there’s plenty of room on the back seats for rifle & kit.