ATV Duck Hunting

With waterfowl season in full swing, you’re probably looking to upgrade your hunting experience in any way you can. So here at Harold Implement Co., we highly recommend using an ATV. It can make travel much easier and can help you carry around your equipment, not to mention it can help those hunters who have a hard time getting around on their own. In order to help you make the most of a hunting trip on an ATV we’ve provided you with some of the basic preparation techniques. Take a look, and if you decide you need to get an ATV for hunting and for many other activities, then stop by our location in Corning, Arkansas. We proudly serve the regions of Paragould, Jonesboro, Pocahontas, and Piggott, Arkansas, as well as Poplar Bluff and Kennett, Missouri.

Prepare your ATV

Start by making sure your ATV is ready for hunting. Whether or not you have a hunting specific ATV, there are some standard checks you can make before every trip. First, make sure your battery is charged and stored in an area with moderate temperatures and little fluctuation. Change the oil as often as is recommended by the manufacturer and double check before every outing that your ATV isn’t running on sludgy or black oil. Make sure that everything, from larger hardware to the small inner workings of your ATV, are running smoothly and that nothing is broken. You should also be checking the brakes, the drive chain, carburetor, and throttle on a regular basis and attending to any issues that may come up. And finally, keep your ATV clean. Nothing slows down a powersport vehicle like mud in the gears.

Gear to Bring

There are also many upgrades you can make to your ATV and lots of equipment you can use to improve your hunting experience. Despite the fact that your ATV has lots of storage space already, you may find you need even more space, especially if you plan to be out for more than one day. There are many aftermarket cargo carriers you can add to your vehicle, as well as buying an ATV trailer that can be hauled behind you.

We also recommend getting some sort of holder for your weapon of choice. If you’re using a firearm, buy a gun rack to keep you handsfree and prevent any scopes from coming out of alignment. If you’re more into bow hunting, there are bow carriers that can help you easily transport all your supplies.

You may also run into some difficult terrain. Adding a lift to your ATV and switching to mud tires can help you overcome a number of obstacles that would have otherwise brought your hunting trip to a halt. And for additional lighting, either to make setting out decoys easier or finding your way home safer, consider getting LED light bars. They’ve become much cheaper over the past few years and are highly efficient.

Hunting Locations

One of the benefits of using an ATV is that it allows you to change locations quickly, and any seasoned waterfowl hunter will tell you that adapting to changing conditions is an important part of hunting. Even if you have a favorite spot that has worked for you the last few times out, you’ll eventually run into a day in which there’s either too much traffic from other hunters or not enough traffic from the game. Try to be as adaptive as possible and let your ATV help you with this.

Setting Up

Once you’ve reached an area that you’re sure is perfect for catching game, spread out your decoys so you optimize the chances of attracting waterfowl. Try to mimic real duck gathering patterns as much as possible. Throw in different species if you need to or loosen or tighten up your decoy spread depending on how calm the morning is or how big your body of water is. Some days, you may even be able to cut down on the number of decoys you bring with you.

Also make sure your blind building is placed in such a spot that you are completely concealed and helps you blend into the landscape. Many people consider this the fun part of setup and the planning requires a great deal of forethought and problem-solving. Finally, always make sure you have the permission of the landowner to be hunting on their grounds and that you are abiding by all laws and regulations.

When you know you’re taking all the necessary steps to make the most of your trip, hunting with an ATV can be incredibly rewarding and helpful. Let it help you get to those hard to reach places and carry your supplies with you as you travel. If you’re still looking for the perfect hunting ATV, or if yours needs work, stop by Harold Implement Co. in Corning, Arkansas. We welcome all patrons from the areas of Paragould, Jonesboro, Pocahontas, and Piggott, Arkansas, as well as Poplar Bluff and Kennett, Missouri.