One of the most useful all-around hunting tools I’ve found over the last 2 decades is a UTV (utility task vehicle), also called a side-by-side. Of course, before UTVs and four-wheelers (ATVs/all terrain vehicles), there were three-wheelers. I bought one in the 1990s that almost killed me when the front wheel caught in a dirt road rut, rolled, and threw me down a California mountainside. The three-wheel design was soon replaced by much safer four-wheelers, of which I’ve owned a couple down through the years.
In the early 2000s, I bought my first side-by-side, which had a dump bed and took me safely all over some of Arizona’s toughest backcountry mining roads and trails. The evolution of these products has continued, and today, the UTV is the crème de la crème of these vehicles, not just for hunting, but also for general ranch and farm chores.
Before going on, be advised that top-quality UTVs are essentially 4x4 vehicles, but their design has evolved to create option packages that make them much better suited for a host of hunting and farm work tasks than, say, an old beater truck. They’re lighter, quieter, can haul a lot of cargo and people safely and comfortably, they get excellent gas mileage, and they’re built to last through many years of rugged off-road abuse. They’re customizable, with scads of options and packages so you can build out a rig that’s just right for projects you need it for — ranch and farm chores, hauling food plot stuff, treestands and box blinds, and whatever around the property — to navigating the toughest backcountry roads.
On a 2024 elk bowhunt in southwestern Idaho, my guide Clayton Gallagher of Table Mountain Outfitters tooled us around the mountains in a Can-Am Defender MAX Limited he’s had for a spell. Clayton is a very accomplished big game hunter and guide, having guided successfully all over the West for multiple big game species, and when he told me at the beginning of our hunt that his Can-Am was the best UTV he’s ever used, I thought, Let’s see. So we did, loading it with a ton of gear and beating it up for several days. It was pretty impressive.
First off, while there are several manufacturers in the UTV space, it’s hard to argue that any one fill this niche better than Can-Am. Their units are known for their excellent handling qualities and powerful motors, for their ability to haul and tow big loads, and a host of creature comfort options that are really nice to have when the weather goes south. The Defender line is so extensive that, in 2024, it includes 21 total packages priced from $12,899 all the way up to $36,699. You can see all the packages here if you scroll halfway down the page.
Hunt-Friendly Features
The Can-AM Defender MAX Limited features an 82 hp Rotax HD10 976cc V-twin engine that produces 69 ft./lbs. of torque. Even with the UTV loaded down, Clayton was able to get it rockin on the flats, yet easily climb and crawl over the rough stuff. The dual VERSA-PRO bolster-reinforced bench seats, and adjustable driver seat and flip-up passenger seat, are really comfortable. There’s a Smart-Lok front differential, and the 4,500-pound winch is all you’ll ever need. DPS (Dynamic Power Steering) makes handling easy. Twin tube gas-charged shocks front and rear help cushion the ride, too.
Other package highlights include an auto heating, venting and air conditioning (HVAC) climate system; full hard roof with liner and interior dome light; full color-match doors with electric-opening tinted windows and door locks in front; three-position full-glass tilt-up windshield with wiper/washer kit; rear glass window; Smart-Lok front differential; dual 220mm front and rear disc brakes with hydraulic twin-piston calipers and brake-holding mechanism; panoramic mirror; 7.6-inch digital display with keypad; 65-inch wide with arched A-arm; LED Signature; 30-inch XPS Trac Force tires; XT Front bumper; adjustable tilt steering wheel; and HMWPE full skid plate.
The unit has an estimated dry weight of 2,466 pounds, measures 13 feet 2 inches long x 5 feet 5 inches wide x 6 feet 9 inches high, and has a 9 feet 7.5-inch wheelbase and 14-inches of ground clearance. The fuel tank holds 10.6 gallons. It comes with a 1-year BRP limited factory warranty.
One nice Can-Am feature is the use of the LinQ storage system. This system includes a wide array of storage boxes, bags, racks, coolers, gun racks and storage solutions, and more, all that can be quickly and easily added or removed thanks to the toolless quick-attach, quick-remove design that requires just a quarter turn. That makes it simple to transition from, say, summer farm work to full-blown hunting mode by adding and subtracting removable accessories.
In the Field
I’d like to say that part of this field test was loading and hauling a big bull elk off the mountain and back to camp. That did not happen — and it was all my fault. The ranch we hunted is loaded with elk — and lots of good bulls. Late one evening, Clayton and I maneuvered into position about 100 yards from a screaming bull we couldn’t see in the thick cover. Clayton backed off 50 yards and started doing his best imitation of a lovelorn cow in desperate need of a boyfriend — and that bull snapped. He came bellowing and charging out of the brush 90 yards from where I stood, fast-walked through the timber down into a gully, then up the other side. The brush and his haste didn’t allow for a rangefinder reading, and I had to do a reverse-pivot behind a tree trunk to get the bow drawn and into position. It all happened very fast, and I guessed 35 yards; it was 40. The arrow missed low, and that was that.
Damn. That one hurt. We continued hunting for several days, were in elk every day, and took the Can-Am up, down, and all around. At the end of the hunt, my two overarching thoughts were these: what a great place to elk hunt, and what a fine hunting rig the Can-Am Defender MAX Limited proved to be. If you’re in the market, you can check out the entire line of Can-Am products by visiting their website, brp.com.
Images by Rob Robb
