DIY Hunting Mods for ATV: Affordable Upgrades For Big Game Success
Zac K. 02.07.25
You’ve seen ATV-mounted tower blinds before, but what else can you do to trick out your quad for hunting success? Depending on the fish-and-game regulations where you hunt, you can do quite a bit of modification to make your machine better for big game hunting, and it doesn’t have to cost you very much.
Bolt down your gun box
Yes, you can buy easy-to-install gun clamps from the aftermarket, but the designs are a one-size-fits-nobody affair. Either they leave your gun exposed to the elements, or they’re hanging in the way, or both.
One solution is to go buy a cheap plastic gun case from Wal-Mart/Cabela’s/etc. and directly attach it to your bike’s rack. This can be as simple as adding a few U-bolts through drilled holes in the case. Much easier than faffing about with a bungeed-down gun case, and if you do it correctly, you leave yourself room to stack a duffle or other gear on top of the gun case for longer trips. Obviously, don’t load the top up with gear if you want quick access…
Add a crate
So your ATV came with an empty front rack, maybe even an empty rear rack. You can add a crate to haul gear securely, and it doesn’t have to cost you very much at all. A lot of guys use old milk crates, because they’re practically everywhere. But if you live in a coastal region, you can try something like a fish tote (used in commercial fishing; check fishing supply stores for stock). My personal favorite is a floating lobster crate, because of its locking, hinged-in-the-middle lid. Also, the slots in the side of this crate make it very easy to strap it down. These are more expensive if you’re buying them new, but if you live near the beach, you might be able to find one washed ashore for free… if you’re cheap, like I am. Hey, you’re reducing pollution, too!
Ratchet straps are the simplest solution to attach these crates, but a combination of zip ties and cam buckles can also work. Don’t use bungees.
Once you’ve got your crate on board, it’s super easy to haul fishing gear, hunting equipment, bait (where legal), even smaller game. The last black bear I shot fit perfectly into a fish tote, and it was a lot easier to carry it that way.
Build a big game sled
If you want to get your animal out of the woods without killing your back, a big game sled will let you reef it through the trees using your ATV’s winch (or even just a rope tied off to a hard point). Drag an animal without a sled, and it catches on everything, especially if it’s got a big set of antlers. The sled glides over rough ground and protects your trophy.
These are available new in various sizes, at various prices. They’re not hard to make out of scrounged material if you know what you’re doing, and that way, you can make one the right size for your needs (maybe you need to drag a moose?).
The trick is to find a material that’s slippery but tough. As you can see in the YouTube video above, building it right can take the agony out of a very difficult haul.
Make attachments for your food plot
A tractor is great, but if you don’t have a John Deere and you do have a Suzuki King Quad or something else with low gearing, then you can still work your food plot. You can buy ready-made attachments for this purpose, but if you’re handy with a welder and know how to scrounge a junkyard scrap pile, you can make cultivation equipment for peanuts.
If that sounds beyond your skillset, check out this video, with a crude DIY drag made from a pallet tearing up the soil.
And if you know how to wire up a motor to a 12V supply, you can even bang together a cheap DIY seed/lime/fertilizer spreader for your food plot.
Is any of this as slick as a store-bought solution? No, but the price is cheap and free if you have this stuff lying around in your barn. And if you live in the country, you might be able to make it in the same amount of time it took to drive to the city to pick it up at the store.
If this sort of project tickles your fancy, you can find an excellent Facebook group for inspiration here.
12V caller power supply
Not allowed everywhere, but where it is legal, you can use your ATV’s charging system to power your game calls. Add a 12V accessory outlet, and buy an adapter that matches your call. This is best used for varmints like crows, coyotes, or hogs, but may also be a practical way to call bears or even snow geese, depending on the laws where you live and your hunting style. See here for an example of what’s available.
Make a Z-drag
If you can afford it, an electric winch is ideal for hauling your quad out of tricky situations. You can also use that winch to haul wild game out of the woods to your ATV. But what if you can’t afford a winch or can’t get your ATV or winch to where the game is? Or what if you want a backup to your winch system because you’re going way off-grid? Then, you should consider a Z-drag.
Wikipedia says “A Z-Drag or Z-Rig is an arrangement of lines and pulleys, effectively forming a block and tackle, commonly used in rescue situations.” It’s a way to use ropes or straps to get an old-fashioned mechanical advantage, with no electricity needed. They’re common in the world of whitewater boating, where they’re used to extract canoes or rafts that strong currents would otherwise trap. They can also be used to haul your ATV out of a bog or to haul a moose/elk/caribou/etc. to your ATV if it’s in a place where you can’t get your winch to.
You can buy a ready-made Z-drag, but you can also make your own. With the strain on this equipment, you must ensure your pulleys and lines are up to the job. A broken component can cost you a limb or your life. This can be dangerous stuff. But, it is a very effective piece of equipment in some situations. See details on how to build a Z-drag for climbing here. A whitewater Z-drag diagram is here. The principles are the same if you’re building one for your ATV.
