Michael Guest takes us pig hunting on this capable quad.
The solitude the Great Dividing Range needs to be experienced to be believed. If you’re a keen hunter then you don’t need much of an excuse to venture into the steep slopes and heavily wooded hillsides.
Cloud-capped mountains and misty mornings with the sounds of bubbling creeks and amazing array of bird life are a cloak for the increasing numbers of feral animals. Pigs, goats, deer, cats and foxes have made the mountains their home and seem to be increasing in numbers.
I spend as much time as possible removing myself from the traffic and bustle of the city. Unfortunately the trips these days are short and I try to cover as much ground as possible. The Great Dividing Range is made up of rich soils and a lot of clay and the recent change in climate for the east coast of Australia has seen consistent rainfall bring it back almost to the good old days.
Wet weather and steep tracks climbing high up into the mountains create a greasy, impassable surface, even for the best of four wheel drives. I know my twin-cab has certain traction limitations and to push it past these is a recipe for disaster.
Another downside of attempting to push your four wheel drive up and into your chosen hunting area is the deep wheel ruts and road damage left behind. I know the property owners who allow me the fabulous hunting access I enjoy would take me off the Christmas card list instantly for cutting the roads up.
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