Best Can-Am ATV for Hunting in Southern Utah: Outlander 500 vs 700 vs 850 vs 1000R

Short answer: for most Southern Utah deer and elk hunters, the Can-Am Outlander 850 XT is the right machine. It has the torque to climb loaded above 9,000 feet, a 3,500-lb winch and skid plate from the factory, and the same 1,830-lb tow rating as the 1000R for about $2,500 less than the top of the lineup. The 700 is the smart buy if you mostly hunt deer and watch the payment; the 1000R earns its price if you bring elk out in one trip or tow a loaded trailer long distances.

Below are the real numbers behind that answer, pulled from Can-Am's published 2026 specifications, plus the Utah rules that decide which machine you can actually ride where you hunt.

Last updated October 22, 2026. Specs are Can-Am's published 2026 model-year figures. Prices are manufacturer MSRP and do not include freight, setup, or doc fee — see "What you'll actually pay" below.

Can-Am Outlander Lineup at a Glance (2026 Specs)

Manufacturer suggested retail, U.S., 2026 model year, transport and preparation not included. Every Outlander is also offered as a two-up MAX with a longer wheelbase.

What Matters on a Hunting ATV (and What Doesn't)

Hunters ask about horsepower first. It's the wrong first question. In order, what decides whether a quad works for the Utah hunt:

1. Width. On the Dixie National Forest, trails marked with the "50" symbol on the Motor Vehicle Use Map are open only to vehicles 50 inches or less at the widest point. Every Outlander in the table above is 48–49 inches wide, so all of them are legal on 50-inch trails. Most side-by-sides are not. If you hunt Cedar Mountain, Duck Creek, or the Markagunt Plateau, this is the single biggest reason to hunt from an ATV instead of a UTV.
2. Rack capacity. A boned-out mule deer is roughly 60–100 lb of meat; a quartered bull elk runs 200–300 lb or more. The Outlander's 240-lb rear rack handles a deer with gear to spare. For elk, you'll make two trips on any ATV or pull a trailer — which is where towing matters.
3. Towing. 1,650 lb (500/700) versus 1,830 lb (850/1000R). The difference matters less than whether you have a receiver hitch and a winch, which is why we steer hunters toward XT trims.
4. Altitude. Southern Utah hunts happen between 7,000 and 11,000 feet. Naturally aspirated engines lose roughly 3% of power per 1,000 feet of elevation. A 50-hp 700 behaves like a 35-hp machine at 10,000 feet with a loaded rack. The 850's 82 hp has the margin to not notice.
5. Then horsepower. For deer, 50 is enough. For elk country, you'll want the V-twin.

Outlander 500 and 700: The Deer Hunter's Machine

Both run the same Rotax 650-cc single; the 500 is tuned to 40 hp, the 700 to 50 hp. Both have a 120-lb front rack and 240-lb rear rack and tow up to 1,650 lb.

The 700 XT is the one we'd point a deer hunter to. It adds the 3,500-lb synthetic-rope winch, front and rear bumpers, hand guards, and 26-inch tires over the DPS, and it's $10,249 MSRP — the least money you can spend on a hunt-ready Outlander without adding a winch yourself.

Buy this if: you hunt deer, you want the lowest payment that still does real work, or you're adding a second machine for a spouse or an older kid.

Skip it if: you hunt elk above 9,000 feet with a loaded rack. You'll feel the single cylinder on the climbs.

Outlander 850: The All-Around Hunting ATV

The 850 is the machine most of our hunting customers end up on. The 999-cc Rotax V-twin makes 82 hp and 66 lb-ft of torque, tows 1,830 lb, and the XT trim comes with the 3,500-lb winch, full skid plate, and bumpers from the factory at $14,049 MSRP. Arched A-arms give it the ground clearance for rocky two-tracks that bottom out a 700.

If you hunt the Panguitch Lake, Monroe, or Beaver units for elk, or you ride Duck Creek all summer and hunt off the same machine in October, this is the one.

Buy this if: you want one ATV that does hunting, trail riding, and ranch work without excuses.

Outlander 1000R: When You're Hauling Elk

Same V-twin as the 850, tuned to 101 hp and 69 lb-ft. Same 1,830-lb tow rating, same rack capacities, same width. What you're paying for is power in reserve: at altitude with 240 lb on the rack and a trailer behind you, the 1000R doesn't slow down.

The XT-P adds 27-inch tires, Smart-Shox, and a 4-disc brake package; the X mr adds snorkeled intakes and 30-inch mud tires for the wet stuff. For the dry mountain hunts in Iron, Garfield, and Beaver counties, the XT is the trim that makes sense.

Buy this if: you hunt elk, you tow, or you don't want to wonder whether the machine has enough.

Honest note: for deer hunting alone, the 1000R is more machine than the job needs. The 850 does everything the 1000R does on a deer hunt, for less.

Two-Up: The Outlander MAX

Every one of these models is available as a MAX with a second seat and a longer wheelbase. If you're taking a kid or a hunting partner up the mountain on one machine, get the MAX. The longer wheelbase is also more stable with a heavy load on the rear rack and a trailer behind. The trade-off is a wider turning circle on tight switchbacks.

Which Utah Hunts Are Still Open This Fall

The general any-legal-weapon buck deer hunt ends October 25, 2026. The season doesn't end there:

• General muzzleloader bull elk (any-bull and spike units): October 28 – November 5, 2026
• Limited-entry late rifle bull elk: November 7 – 15, 2026
• Antlerless elk and deer hunts run on unit-specific dates into winter

Fall is when Can-Am's retail programs are typically strongest and when our floor has the most Outlanders on it.

What's in Stock at D&P Right Now

Hunting-season inventory moves fast. If the model you want isn't listed, call (435) 586-5172 — we can check dealer transfers and usually have an answer the same day.

What You'll Actually Pay

Every price in this article is Can-Am's MSRP, which excludes freight, setup, and dealer documentation. At D&P we quote DSRP — Dealer Suggested Retail Price — which is MSRP plus freight, setup, and our doc fee, in one number. When you compare our price to another listing, make sure the other listing includes those three items; if it doesn't, it isn't the price you'll pay. See why Utah riders buy from D&P for the full breakdown.

Before You Head Up the Mountain

Whether you buy from us or already own one, get it serviced before the hunt. Our pre-season inspection covers belt condition, brakes, fluids, tire pressure, winch function, and anything that rattled loose over the summer. Read our pre-ride checklist and our belt and clutch guide if you'd rather do the basics yourself.

Financing in Minutes

D&P Performance is Southern Utah's Can-Am dealer at 110 E Center St, Cedar City, UT 84720. We've been here since 1978. Riders from St. George, Beaver, Panguitch, and the Wasatch Front: see why Utah riders buy from D&P.

Frequently Asked Questions