State Forest Hunting in a hatchback

[TheNateOutdoors]

G'day gents!

I have a little Toyota Yaris - Car is bulletproof, easy to work on, cheap to maintain and I own it outright..
I am on the fence whether i should pull the pin and purchase a 4x4 Ute, or if i can get buy with my current car. The less finance the better..

How difficult/impractical/dangerous is it to hunt NSW State Forests without owning a 4wd?
Would you guys do it? Or is it a complete no no?

Obviously a high clearance 4x4 is the ideal choice... But there is something to be said for making do with what you have, aslong as its not unnessarily dangerous/stupid

[Oldbloke]

I hunted for 30 odd years with 2x2s. FC station wagon, Ford escort, Ford escort panel van, even initially a VW beetle.

Low wages, mum tied to the kitchen sink with two toddlers. Lol.

So, can be done. I always took some rope, small spade some carpet to get me out of trouble but rarely needed. Low clearance is the main issue. A 2x2 tray will go a long way and cheap compared to 4x4.

Go, slow assess any muddy areas, if in doubt walk. It's good exercise and quiet. Perhaps bit wetter in NSW.
Buy some cheap plastic recovery tracks off ebay or aldi.

Currently have a 2014 Triton 4x4, diesel very happy with it. I bought it to stay out of trouble, not get into trouble.

[R95]

Might not get back out if it rains

[TheNateOutdoors]

I hunted for 30 odd years with 2x2s. FC station wagon, Ford escort, Ford escort panel van, even initially a VW beetle.

Low wages, mum tied to the kitchen sink with two toddlers. Lol.

So, can be done. I always took some rope, small spade some carpet to get me out of trouble but rarely needed. Low clearance is the main issue. A 2x2 tray will go a long way and cheap compared to 4x4.

Go, slow assess any muddy areas, if in doubt walk. It's good exercise and quiet. Perhaps bit wetter in NSW.
Buy some cheap plastic recovery tracks off ebay or aldi.

Currently have a 2014 Triton 4x4, diesel very happy with it. I bought it to stay out of trouble, not get into trouble.

Thanks Old Bloke! I think i might of seen another member referencing your Youtube videos - A fella who used to hunt with a VW Beetle. Very Cool!!

Yeah pretty sound advice. Ill see how i go. A used Triton 4x4 might be the most cost effective way to get out there... And get back out again in the wet! Haha.

[Oldbloke]

Sorry, not me on utube.

Clearance will be your main issue.

Try before you buy. Then perhaps later buy a 4x4. But a lot of 4x4s drive past good hunting areas.

[mchughcb]

G'day gents!

I have a little Toyota Yaris - Car is bulletproof, easy to work on, cheap to maintain and I own it outright..
I am on the fence whether i should pull the pin and purchase a 4x4 Ute, or if i can get buy with my current car. The less finance the better..

How difficult/impractical/dangerous is it to hunt NSW State Forests without owning a 4wd?
Would you guys do it? Or is it a complete no no?

Obviously a high clearance 4x4 is the ideal choice... But there is something to be said for making do with what you have, aslong as its not unnessarily dangerous/stupid

I had a Toyota echo sedan for 17 years. Hunted Victoria and NSW deer and pigs with it with my dog.

There are plenty of small hatch awd that you can get that are cheap to buy and run. The best clearance will be a Subaru XV with 220mm ground clearance.

[Flyonline]

As mentioned, rain is one factor to consider, especially on slippery roads. I hunt Vic, but there's plenty of main forest roads you can travel in all but floods in a small 2wd. Another option is to take a bike (if it fits!), and ride in on some of the rougher roads/tracks.

Profty used to have a yaris also so you're in good company

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjEq186nkDA

[Oldbloke]

One of these with a good length of rope served me well. $30 @ bunnings.
1t isn't much and a shortish cable but got me out of trouble a few times.

Screenshot_20241211-153138_Samsung Internet.jpg (83.7 KiB) Viewed 4290 times

Oops, and yes, bikes were popular back in the day.

[TheNateOutdoors]

As mentioned, rain is one factor to consider, especially on slippery roads. I hunt Vic, but there's plenty of main forest roads you can travel in all but floods in a small 2wd. Another option is to take a bike (if it fits!), and ride in on some of the rougher roads/tracks.

Profty used to have a yaris also so you're in good company

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjEq186nkDA

Yeah the wet/muddy roads is really my main concern in the Yaris... I own some max tracks and i recon if i get one of those hand winches/winch extension OldBloke posted, I should be alright as long as the weather doesn't go sour...

I have a nice mountain bike that fits on the bike rack. I can cover all kinds of terrain on that thing, but not sure the rules/process around hunting from a push bike haha!

[Die Judicii]

If I was as limited (as you describe) I'd definitely go the Subaru path as McHughcb suggested.

Back during the Ash Wednesday fires in the Sth East of Sth Aust,, I was on a 6WD fire truck in the pine plantations near Nangwarry.
Fine white siliconised sand country that in summer time is far worse than beach sand to try and drive over/through.

At the time the government "Woods & Forests" department had all Subaru utes as their fleet vehicles.

As the fire front was approaching I remember seeing a whole heap of these little utes scurrying out of the loose sandy firebreaks from all directions.
Not a single one of them got stuck or bogged.
I don't know what specific model Subaru's they were,,,,,,, but they were bloody good.

[R95]

It’s not the mud that’s the worry, it’s the clay when it gets wet. Like ice. Even in 4wd s .and there might be a sheer drop on the edge of the road. Also the edges of roads can be a lot softer than they may appear.

Another option to the suby might be an old rav 4.

I would start saving my pennies for a dedicated 4wd though because they can get you anywhere. And that’s where you want to go. Of the beaten paths. You want elevation and visibility.

I know the fine sand to. Your odometer is reading a lot more than your travel. And your fuel is draining faster than you think.

There are more important questions than your car as a relatively new venturer. Carry plenty of drinking water and emergency locating beacon. And some sort of gps for walking. Mines ancient just leaves a dotted line to find my way back to the ute.

Just don’t make any mistakes. Be disciplined and start with good habits. Never leave the vehicle without your kit. Let someone know before you go. Don’t climb over s**t holding your rifle.

[TheNateOutdoors]

I would start saving my pennies for a dedicated 4wd though because they can get you anywhere. And that’s where you want to go. Of the beaten paths. You want elevation and visibility.

I know the fine sand to. Your odometer is reading a lot more than your travel. And your fuel is draining faster than you think.

There are more important questions than your car as a relatively new venturer. Carry plenty of drinking water and emergency locating beacon. And some sort of gps for walking. Mines ancient just leaves a dotted line to find my way back to the ute.

Just don’t make any mistakes. Be disciplined and start with good habits. Never leave the vehicle without your kit. Let someone know before you go. Don’t climb over s**t holding your rifle.

Sound advice mate, thankyou

I've spoken with the wife, I'm going to just pull the pin in the new year, and get myself a Triton 4x4.

It gives her peace of mind that ill be getting in and out if the weather turns sour.
Good news is I've got a bit of offroading experience and still have alot of my old kit such as recovery boards, shovel, jerry can, compressor etc.

PLB will be next bit of kit i buy i think. I need to do some more research but looking into the Garmin Inreach Mini 2..

Appreciate the reply fella's.

[Oldbloke]

I would start saving my pennies for a dedicated 4wd though because they can get you anywhere. And that’s where you want to go. Of the beaten paths. You want elevation and visibility.

I know the fine sand to. Your odometer is reading a lot more than your travel. And your fuel is draining faster than you think.

There are more important questions than your car as a relatively new venturer. Carry plenty of drinking water and emergency locating beacon. And some sort of gps for walking. Mines ancient just leaves a dotted line to find my way back to the ute.

Just don’t make any mistakes. Be disciplined and start with good habits. Never leave the vehicle without your kit. Let someone know before you go. Don’t climb over s**t holding your rifle.

Sound advice mate, thankyou

I've spoken with the wife, I'm going to just pull the pin in the new year, and get myself a Triton 4x4.

It gives her peace of mind that ill be getting in and out if the weather turns sour.
Good news is I've got a bit of offroading experience and still have alot of my old kit such as recovery boards, shovel, jerry can, compressor etc.

PLB will be next bit of kit i buy i think. I need to do some more research but looking into the Garmin Inreach Mini 2..

Appreciate the reply fella's.