My vote would go to a Toyota or Nissan extended cab, short box with lift, for hunting a rig honestly.
I've got an '88 Wrangler YJ. And, as Hidalgo pointed out, with a soft top, security is non existent. Likewise, in NW Montana heating the soft top is truly an issue during winter too, unless you want to wear your snowmobile suit everywhere you go. Even then defrosting the windshield can be fun at times too. Hauling dead smelly critters is an issue as everyone points out, and honestly there isn't a lot of room for gear without removing the rear seat. Even then, finding someplace safe and easily accessible for your guns is kinda difficult. Console is out of mine, so coats or coveralls between the front seats allow for a makeshift gun rest. Have a set of police issue locking gunracks that I need to install yet.
A lot of Jeep issues carry over into the XJ as well.
As far as good and bad points of the Jeep itself...
-- Jeeps are notorius for rust issues, including the frame. If you buy one, check the frame closely over the rear axle to rear bumper, for frame rot. It's not an insurmountable problem, parts are available to repair them, but that's a body off, cut the frame and weld in new piece repair, which obviously requires some expertise with a welder. Jeep uses a tube frame, and typically they rust from the inside out, so catching this problem is tough until holes rot out in the frame.
-- Front axle lock is accomplished through vacuum switch attached to the transfer case linkage on most after the CJs, (later CJ7s likewise), and as vacuum hoses age, and the switch and actuator ages, those can be problematic also. Manual lock kit is available through Posi-Lok, runs $150 - $200, removal of the old garbage and installation of the kit takes 2 - 4 hours. (Depends on how nasty the lube is in your front end when you pull things apart.) Worth every penny of it, in my humble opinion!!
-- 2.5 liter 4 cylinder works great, transmission behind those in the YJ, is not the greatest! The AX 15 transmission is OK, as long as you don't push it too hard. Sychronizers have long been a problem with those transmissions as well, however. Synchro kits are available cheap on the net, problem is when you get into them, and find other parts worn, the other parts are tough to find and ridiculously priced. Rebuilt AX 15 transmissions are really stupidly priced as well. And, used AX 15 trannies, in decent shape, are tough to come by anymore.
-- 2.5 liter doesn't have a lot of power or a lot of torque, they're not bad for zipping around town, or beating around in the flatlands. In NW Montana you'll be doing a lot of 4 low to find the torque you need to climb hills, (it will dang near climb up the side of building in 4 low however), and highway speeds will be hard to maintain on uphill grades. The 4.0 liter 6 cylinder has WAY more torque and will serve you better out there in God's country.
-- 2.5 liter to 4.0 liter is not a simple engine swap, before you buy one thinking you'll just swap the engine out!! Swapping them over pretty much requires swapping engine, transmission, and transfer case. Anything YJ to present (fuel injected) will of course require computer swap as well. While there are adapters to adapt the transmisson to the transfer case in this swap, typically you're going to find complete powertrains available, where guys are doing V8 conversions, and you can pick up the entire drive train cheap enough that cost of the transfer case is inconsequential. Especially if you wheel your old one after the fact.
-- V-8 swap is cool, but be prepared to replace drive shafts and ring and pinion gears if you don't change those out right away too. If you buy one that's been swapped, be sure to get a list of ALL changes to drive train and what parts were used, it'll make repairs much simpler in the future.
-- While the 2.5 is a good engine, the 4.0 is notorius for 250 - 300 thousand mile engine life. Virtually indestructable!!!
-- Lift kits are available - 2, 3, 4 inch suspension lifts are relatively cheap, 2, 3 inch body lifts likewise. More than that on the suspension most guys go to spring over lifts, because it's cheaper, which gives you 7 inches alone + the above listed kits.
-- Anything bigger than 33 inch tires, you need to start thinking about changing gears in the front and rear to accomodate the lack of torque on the CJ, YJ, TJ, and XJ.
http://www.jeepforum.com/ - Anything and everything you ever wanted to know about jeeps asked and answered there.
All that being said... I dearly love the YJ. It isn't quiet, it isn't pretty, it rattles and creaks, and roars, the top flaps mercilessly in anything over the lightest of breezes going down the road. If you hate road noise, it is definitely not your ride!! It doesn't have a lot of power, lifted it is a pain in the [beeep] to get in and out of, without steps. But, damm is it fun to drive!!!
