Like some have said, what else do you plan on using it for? I have a gas side by side, and I only have 3 acres I own, but my neighbors have a combined 30 and there's a ton of public near me (can't drive on it unless designated trails). But I have to go to the end of the road for my mail and my garbage, I've got a big driveway, and I use a wood burning boiler in the winter to heat my house and save on propane. So for me, the side by side does a lot. I use it to haul logs, take the trash out, go get the mail, plow my driveway, tow my log splitter, and go for drives on the trails around me. We even use it instead of a wheelbarrow now too, since it has a dump bed. If I ever end up buying more land, then I could use it for navigating that too. If its purely for accessing hunting spots, get something smaller and cheaper. But if you can use it for other things, the side by side or an ATV is a nice option.
I think that this gets at the real problem - a label issue.
Guy says what’s best ride for hunting.
People answer side by side. Why? Because I can gather firewood also. Wellllll, I’m pretty sure it’s a good tool for firewood gathering, and a fringe benefit you can occasionally use it to hunt. Not the other way around.
Then guy takes that story, and convinces himself it’s the right choice, because it’s versatile!
If he did some accounting, he’d realize he might haul firewood twice because he lives in south Florida. And the main benefit of the side by side to him becomes worthless.
This relates to all hunting gear, really. Most people are telling themselves a story about their hunting habits and needs. Taking a more quantitative approach to gathering the data, before making the qualitative assessment - this is what I WANT or NEED - would yield better results.
Example: drilling a tree for bolts is very time consuming.
Sure, compared to having two sticks laying on the ground ready to strap to tree, and the other two hanging from your saddle.
But when you factor in the entire bundle of inputs, you realize that there’s no material difference.
Other random thoughts:
If you’re getting the ride to make people think you’re a good hunter for status signaling, I think atv is probably best bang for the buck.
If you actually want to be a good hunter- as in, get results - , with minimal investment and distraction, forgo any need for machine transportation, and only hunt close to access.
If you’re willing to stroke 10-15k for a side by side, wait 6-12 months and there willl be a glut of far more capable machines available on used car market. as people are laid off, home equity evaporates, diesel and gas remain expensive, you’ll have lots of options for same price. And they can be driven on road. And do everything a side by side does better.