Yamaha gets my vote, have had the 300 grizzly for about 1.5 yrs and it has been great. Yamaha just makes good stuff. I have owned, I don't know how many in my 45 plus years of bike and 4 wheeler riding.
I've had both 4wd utility and 2wd sport atvs. I've settled on a Yamaha grizzly 700 with power steering. Comfortable ride with plenty of power to play if you want.
I have had quite a few of both, and still have several (too many, according to my wife). While a sport utility is the most fun, I don't think they are optimal for hunting situations. Many of them are 2 stroke, they are far noisier (and often smokier) than their 4-stroke counterparts. You CAN get or manufacture racks to fit sport quads (I did for my warrior), but they still lack quite a bit. Utility quads are far more "stealthy" than sport.
As far as brands..hell, that's similar to asking who makes the best gun. Try several out and see what fits your need. I have found Honda make the most bulletproof motors, but many seem to have drivetrain issues. I've had good and bad Polaris. I love the old kawasaki Bayous. That's another thing to consider if you plan on taking it hunting - if you do much riding through tight areas, the smaller ones have a HUGE advantage. A 750 may be great for pulling and on open hills, but I will guarantee you will do some cussing if you try to maneuver one in the tight Ozark hills of NE Oklahoma. I use a small Kawasaki 220 for the woods and a Polaris Ranger for more open country. I'm not saying they are the best, but they do work for me.