Your ATV or side-by-side is already the most versatile tool on your property. But with the right accessories, it becomes a one-machine food plot operation. Spraying, spreading, plowing, dragging—all without firing up the tractor.
Here's what actually works for land management, based on what we use on our own properties.
The Must-Have: A Good Sprayer
If you only buy one accessory, make it a sprayer. You'll use it more than anything else—killing weeds, prepping plots, spraying herbicide, applying foliar fertilizer. A sprayer pays for itself the first season.
What to Look For
- 15-25 gallon capacity – Big enough to cover ground, small enough to maneuver
- 2.0+ GPM pump – Weaker pumps can't push spray through a boom
- 12V electric pump – Plugs into your ATV battery, no hand pumping
- Boom option – Boomless nozzles work, but a boom gives better coverage
- Adjustable pressure – Different chemicals need different pressures
Skip the cheap $80 sprayers. The pumps die, the seals leak, and you'll be buying another one next year. Spend $200-400 upfront and get something that lasts.
Fimco 25-Gallon ATV Sprayer with Boom
2.1 GPM pump, 7-nozzle boom, reliable. The standard for food plotters. Fits most ATV racks.
Check Price on Amazon →Spreader: Seed and Fertilizer
ATV spreaders let you broadcast seed, fertilizer, and lime without walking every inch of your plots. For larger properties, they're essential.
Two Types
Tailgate/Receiver Hitch Spreaders: Mount on your ATV's receiver hitch. The spinning disc throws material in a wide pattern behind you. Best for: fertilizer, lime, larger seeds (wheat, oats, rye).
Rack-Mount Broadcast Spreaders: Sit on your front or rear rack with a hand crank or 12V motor. Better for: smaller seeds (clover, brassicas) that need precise application rates.
For food plots, a receiver-hitch spreader is more versatile. You can spread 50 lbs of fertilizer in minutes instead of hours with a hand spreader.
Moultrie ATV Spreader - 100 lb Capacity
Receiver hitch mount, 12V motor, adjustable spread width. Handles seed, fertilizer, even ice melt.
Check Price on Amazon →Calibration Matters
Every spreader throws differently depending on material, speed, and settings. Before spreading expensive seed, do a test run with cheap material on a tarp. Measure what comes out per pass. Otherwise you'll over-apply some areas and miss others entirely.
Disc and Plow Implements
For serious food plotting, you need to break ground. ATV/UTV pull-behind implements can handle small plots without needing a tractor.
Disc Harrows
A disc harrow cuts into the soil, chops up vegetation, and creates a seedbed. For plots under an acre, an ATV disc works fine. Look for:
- 4-5 foot width – Wider is harder to pull and maneuver
- Adjustable gang angle – Steeper angle = more aggressive cutting
- Weight trays – Add cinder blocks for better penetration
ATV discs won't replace a tractor for heavy work, but for maintaining existing plots and light tillage, they get the job done.
Impact Implements CAT-0 ATV/UTV Disc Harrow
48" working width, adjustable disc angle, fits Category 0 hitches. Good for plots up to 1 acre.
Check Price on Amazon →Moldboard Plows
For breaking new ground or busting up heavy sod, a small moldboard plow works better than a disc. They're slower but turn soil completely over, burying vegetation and bringing fresh soil to the surface.
Most ATV plows are single-bottom designs. Don't expect to plow an acre in an afternoon—these are for small plots and tight spots where a tractor can't go.
Drag Implements
After discing or plowing, you need to smooth and level the seedbed. That's where drags come in.
Chain Harrows
Chain harrows (drag mats) break up clods and level the surface. Pull them behind your disc to finish the seedbed. They also work for spreading manure, knocking down mole hills, and light overseeding work.
Cultipacker Alternative
Real cultipackers (those heavy rollers that firm the seedbed) are expensive and heavy. A poor-man's alternative: fill a plastic drum or old water heater tank with water and drag it. Not as good, but better than nothing for pressing seed into contact with soil.
Field Tuff Chain Harrow - 4' x 4'
Galvanized steel, drawbar included. Levels seedbeds, spreads material, general plot maintenance.
Check Price on Amazon →Dump Trailers and Carts
Moving stuff—seed bags, tools, deer stands, harvested deer—requires a good trailer. Dump trailers let you haul material AND unload it without shoveling.
For land management, look for:
- 750-1500 lb capacity – Handle most loads without straining your ATV
- Poly or steel bed – Steel is stronger, poly won't rust or dent
- Hydraulic or manual dump – Manual is cheaper but harder work
- Swivel hitch – Prevents binding on uneven terrain
Polar Trailer HD 1500 Dump Cart
1500 lb capacity, poly bed, manual dump, oversized pneumatic tires. Built tough for rough terrain.
Check Price on Amazon →Front-Mount Accessories
Plow Blades
In snow country, a front plow blade pays for itself. But plows also work for grading trails, filling holes, and pushing gravel. A 50-60" blade fits most ATVs; side-by-sides can run 72"+.
Winches
A winch isn't just for recovering stuck machines—it's a logging tool. Pull logs for hinge cutting cleanup, drag deer, tension fence wire. Get at least 3000 lb capacity with synthetic rope (safer than steel cable).
WARN VRX 45-S Powersport Winch
4500 lb capacity, synthetic rope, sealed contactor. The industry standard for reliability.
Check Price on Amazon →Mowing and Brush Cutting
Keeping plots mowed stimulates growth and controls weeds. Options range from cheap to serious:
Tow-Behind Mowers: Pull-behind finish mowers work for maintaining established plots. They won't handle heavy brush but keep clover and chicory trimmed.
Rough-Cut Mowers: Heavier duty, can handle tall weeds and light brush. More expensive but more versatile.
Brush Cutters: For serious land clearing—small trees, thick brush, stuff that would destroy a regular mower. These are expensive ($2000+) but turn an ATV into a mini-bulldozer.
Mowing Clover Plots
Mow clover plots 2-3 times per summer at 6-8" height. This keeps plants vegetative (producing leaves instead of going to seed), controls weeds, and maintains attraction. Never mow lower than 4"—you'll stress the plants.
Storage and Organization
Don't overlook the basics:
- Cargo boxes – Keep tools, spray bottles, and gear organized and dry
- Gun boots – Protect firearms while traveling to stands
- Fuel cans – Dedicated chainsaw fuel saves trips back to the barn
- Tool tubes – Store shovels, axes, and hand tools on racks
Priority Order for Buying
If you're building up equipment over time, here's the order I'd recommend:
- Sprayer – You'll use it immediately and constantly
- Spreader – Makes seeding and fertilizing 10x faster
- Dump trailer – Move everything without killing your back
- Disc harrow – Only if you're creating new plots or renovating old ones
- Winch – Nice to have, becomes essential when you need it
- Mower – Last priority; you can use a push mower on small plots
Start with the sprayer and spreader. Those two tools handle 80% of food plot work. Add the rest as budget and need allow.
ATV vs. UTV for Land Work
Quick take: Side-by-sides (UTVs) are better for land management if you can afford one. More towing capacity, more cargo space, more comfortable for long days. But a capable ATV with the right accessories can handle most jobs on properties under 100 acres.
Don't let equipment be an excuse. People managed land for decades with just a pickup truck and hand tools. Better equipment makes it easier, not possible.