This Year’s Top Ten UTV Hunting Accessories

These ten UTV upgrades will help you get the most out of your hunting rig

by Barb Melloni

A UTV can do a lot more for a hunter than simply getting them from their truck to the stand. By adding a few practical accessories, it can quickly become something you depend upon season after season — haul gear, navigate rough terrain, assist with managing food plots, and, if all goes well, make the process of removing the animal from the woods a lot easier.

Here are ten UTV upgrades worth considering before hitting the woods this season.

Kolpin Outdoors UTV Vertical In-Cab Gun Rack

There are plenty of ways to carry a firearm on a UTV, but the Kolpin UTV Vertical In-Cab Gun Rack takes a particularly practical approach. The rack mounts to the UTV floor, and its height is adjustable from roughly 27–35 inches, with up to 45 degrees of angle adjustment. That puts a rifle or shotgun within easy reach without laying it across a seat or taking up valuable bed space. The ability to keep a firearm secured inside the cab is a welcome convenience, especially when on the move between hunting spots or while working on your property.

SuperATV Kawasaki Ridge Game Loader Rack

Getting a deer into the bed of a UTV is easier said than done, especially if you’re hunting solo. SuperATV’s Kawasaki Ridge Game Loader Rack takes some of the grunt work out of the equation with an integrated 500-pound winch and 15 feet of synthetic rope. The steel-tube rack mounts without cutting or modifying the cage and is designed so the Ridge’s dump bed can still function. SuperATV offers this back-saving device in numerous configurations to fit a wide array of UTVs on the market.

Polaris Lock & Ride Rear Adventure Rack for General

It doesn’t take long to fill up the bed of a UTV when packing for a hunt. Between the cooler, packs, guns, and other gear, space can disappear quickly. Polaris’ Lock & Ride Rear Adventure Rack for the General adds an additional level of usable storage while still leaving room in the bed for equipment. If you plan on hauling quite a bit of gear to hunting camp, add on a Kolpin Stronghold Auto-Latch Mount, complete with MOLLE panels, for an even more impressive and organized hauling capacity. The extra storage gives you more room to bring what you need while keeping the bed from becoming a cluttered mess. It’s a simple upgrade, but one you’ll appreciate at the end of a long day.

Can-Am Defender Deluxe Headache Rack

When you’re hauling a lot of gear, it’s nice to have something separating the contents in the bed from the cab. Can Am’s Defender Deluxe Headache Rack helps secure cargo, keeping it from shifting forward and hitting the driver and any passengers. The rack also gives you a few more options for setting up the bed, as it can be paired with bed wall extenders and LinQ accessories for a truly customized hunting rig.

RAVEK Automatic Trunk Bed Lights

A UTV can carry a lot of gear, but that doesn’t do you much good if you cannot find what you’re looking for. RAVEK’s Automatic Trunk Bed Lights come on when the tailgate is opened, saving you from holding a flashlight in your mouth or draining your headlamp’s battery while digging through the bed. Two additional modes are available, including an always-on option and a haul-mode option, which keeps the lights turned off even when the tailgate is dropped.

YUTRAX UTV Jump Seat

If you hunt with family or friends, having an extra seat on the UTV can be handy. The YUTRAX Universal Mount UTV Jump Seat adds seating for up to two passengers. The seat has a sturdy steel frame, a cushioned seat and backrest, and individual seat belts. When you don’t need the extra seating, it can be folded up or removed altogether. That flexibility comes in handy when you’re taking someone along one day and hunting solo or hauling a heavy load the next.

Boss Buck 80-lb. Capacity Seeder/Spreader

What helped tremendously during fall hunts is just as helpful during the off-season, as your trusty off-road hunting vehicle can also be a rather useful tool for managing your hunting grounds. The Boss Buck Seeder/Spreader has an 80-pound capacity and mounts to UTVs equipped with a two-inch receiver. This device can be used to distribute animal feed, spread seed for food plots, or even salt your driveway during the winter, all via wireless push-button activation.

Greylight Nomad Trailer

If you use a ground blind or elevated blind, being able to move it between several locations can be a game changer. The Greylight Nomad Trailer lets you tow a compatible blind behind your UTV, while keeping it fully assembled. Adjustable leveling jacks and pivoting wheels help keep things steady on uneven ground. For anyone who plans to hunt multiple spots, being able to move a blind without taking it apart can save a lot of time and effort, not to mention money they’d otherwise spend on multiple blind setups. [Our advice, though, is don’t take it over anything but fairly level ground.]

Garmin Tread 2 Powersport Navigator SxS Edition

When you’re exploring new hunting property, it’s good to have a reliable way to keep track of where you are. Garmin’s Tread 2 is made for navigating off-road trails and comes with maps that cover roads, trails, and topography. The six-inch screen is easy to see and use from the driver’s seat, even when you’re wearing gloves. For hunters running Garmin-compatible dog tracking collars, it can also provide a convenient way to keep track of your pack while on the move.

Can-Am SMART 40-inch LED Light Bar

Getting around the woods after dark is a lot easier when you can actually see what’s ahead of you. Can-Am’s SMART LED 40-inch Light Bar is equipped with white and yellow lighting, both of which provide a wide beam to illuminate your path. For anyone who spends much time on the trails before sunrise or after sunset, the extra illumination is worth having. It makes it easier to navigate especially difficult terrain without relying solely on your UTV’s factory lights.

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Barb Melloni

Barb Melloni was born and raised in rural Indiana, where her passion for guns, hunting, and anything outdoors is rooted. If she is not afield with her coonhound Browning hunting small game or tucked away in a deer blind, you are likely to find Barb instructing a variety of courses as co-owner of Renaissance Firearms Instruction in New York with her husband Frank. While not working, you can find her with a nice cigar on a sporting clays course, relaxing with a backstrap in the smoker or enjoying a bit of long-range shooting alongside friends.