This may be an age old question for some of you, but here goes.
I'm a duck hunter and I need to purchase a 4x4 to go through flooded rice fields and such. A typical load would be 2 people including the driver and say 100 lbs of other stuff. Occasionally you might have 3 people on the bike but then less other stuff. Is a 4x4 in the 350 class sufficient to get the job done, such as the rancher, or do I really need a more powerfull bike? Many hunters use foremans but when I've driven them they seem to be far more bike than is really required. Considering there's a $1,000 or more in price difference, I'd rather spend the money on club fees or even decoys.

 

I would think the rancher 350 would do OK at the limits you spec. My 98 300 4x4 will do a lot of the items you describe. The Rancher 350 is an improvement over my model.
But if I were to go out and purchase a new 4x4 today it would be the Forman 450s model.
Chet

 

Don't forget that the Rancher has 2 inches more ground clearance than the 450. Also the reported top speed for the Foreman 450 is 54 mph, and the Rancher 350 is 51 mph. These factors alone made me choose the cheaper Rancher. Especially the ground clearance difference.

 

The Rancher should have adequate power to get you there. Keep in mind, you can't turn big tires as easily, or travel as fast loaded as you can with a bigger bike, like say the Rubicon, but the 350 should have enough chug to get you there, as long as speed isn't a big issue.

 

A few nice 4*4 quads for cheaper is the Big Bear, Eiger , artic cat 375,rubicon rancher, and any polaris model,these quads all price in 5'999 to 5'199. If you wanted to go bigger you could get a polaris sportsman 500 that is 6'999 though. Hope i was some help if you have questions type back on the forum i know quads like the back of my hand.