No one here knows mud better than Midlifecrisis. :P
With that said, I'd personally stay out of deep water and mud. Shock linkages, chains and sprockets, bearings, electrical connections, crankcase breather, airbox, carb vents etc are all vunerable to mud and water entry.
Water in the intake will hydro-lock the motor and ruin it. I did this once to a girlfriend's Acura when we lived in Connecticut. We were stuck in a Noreaster and I drove through too deep a puddle and ruined her brand new car
. Thank God for merciful insurance on that deal...
It's your quad so enjoy it as you see fit. It's just that for me the risk/benefit ratio does not favor fording deep water.
YMMV. :wink: