Mountain bike hunting

[jds holler]

That pic in my original post was actually from, I think six or so years ago. We were deer hunting with some friends in an area that was spider webbed with old logging roads. Conditions were perfect for bikes, since there had been just enough moisture to sort of "set" the surface. It was my first try at working bikes into our hunting, and I can see the potential, as well as ways to improve on it.

Since we had motor vehicle back-up, we would often drop a bike in a particular spot, make a GPS landmark, and then drop the hunter in another spot where he/she could hump through to where the bike was.

There are plenty of places where bikes wouldn't be worth a damn, but sometimes they can be a big help, and a lot of fun. jd

 

[JRS]

You mean it is prohibited to use a game cart on state game lands in Pa.????? You gotta be kidding us right!!! I lived up there in the early 80's and they would open the gates and let us go in with motorized vehicles to retrieve game during deer and bear season if you called them. What about one of those plastic drags??? Seems like to me a game cart would do less damage to the forest floor than a drag.

The use of bicycles is not permitted.

 

[284winner]

In Michigan, if the land is gated, only foot access applies. If you harvest an animal, you can retrieve it by wheel barrow or deer cart but not any vehicle that transports a person by wheels. Bikes are not permitted typically.

 

[jds holler]

In Michigan, if the land is gated, only foot access applies. If you harvest an animal, you can retrieve it by wheel barrow or deer cart but not any vehicle that transports a person by wheels. Bikes are not permitted typically.

Once again, you guys back east have my sympathy. And I'm glad that my part of the world isn't as "enlightened". The enemy is trying pretty hard around here also. If they have their way, we will have vast areas of public land that will be pretty much off limits to anyone who doesn't have weeks or even months available to back pack in and enjoy it. jd

 

[SheepDog]

In Washington state I have always tried to hunt on land that didn't allow vehicles or even horses. We always walked in and carried the meat out.

 

[dennisinaz]

I've been using mine a little to get into a spot where the Forest Service permanently locked a gate. I was coming down a hill-very slowly- and hit a rock with my front tire and flipped over forward-all that high center of gravity backpack and rifle is hard to work around and hit face first on the side of the road, broke my nose, broke my glasses and banged my rifle. It's 4 miles in. Takes me 2 hours hiking and 45 minutes on the bike.

At least in AZ there are no places we can't take a horse that we can even enter. You can pretty much take a bike anywhere except a wilderness area or certain parks.

 

[MrMajestic]

You mean it is prohibited to use a game cart on state game lands in Pa.????? You gotta be kidding us right!!! I lived up there in the early 80's and they would open the gates and let us go in with motorized vehicles to retrieve game during deer and bear season if you called them. What about one of those plastic drags??? Seems like to me a game cart would do less damage to the forest floor than a drag.

Sorry, not the cart(referring to hooking it on the bike) the bicycle.

 

[msinc]

Sorry, not the cart(referring to hooking it on the bike) the bicycle.

That is crazy!!! I remember when I lived up there we used to ride bikes on the state gamelands year around just for fun and to go way in there and try to see some bear tracks. Obviously we didn't do it for fun in the dead middle of winter when it was 20 below some times, but yeah, I am surprised to hear they have made this rule. I remember once even riding my brother-in-laws Honda fat cats back there...there was never anyone around to stop us and I think they knew they couldn't ever catch someone on a mountain bike let alone something with a motor. Nevertheless, it wasn't posted and we weren't the only ones. Maybe we were the lucky ones that just never saw "the man".....

 

[jds holler]

I suppose the next step will be to ban skis as a method of transporting yourself in these areas. jd

 

[xswanted]

I have a fatbike and have used it on occasion for getting me into places faster than on foot.

I think for off road it's a lot better than a typical mountain bike. Works great for riding rough two tracks or just heading off road if need be. Low tire pressure and fat tires makes a neat combo for a hunter.

 

[snert]

I suppose the next step will be to ban skis as a method of transporting yourself in these areas. jd

Unlikely...seems easterners of import, ski...so whether it be downhill or cross-country, they feel it is more civilized than say "gritting your teeth and riding a mountain bike with a 270 strapped to your back down a mountain". I know this because when I failed a math test in 11th grade at my preppy high school, it was blamed on the fact I missed two days (opener of deer season in PA) tsk tsk tut tut.. In the next breath teacher asked the heir to the Alcoa fortune how his week was in Vail.
Hmmm....he sucked at math too.

 

[Shoebox]

Snert
Centre handle bar shot, 338 might be a bit light
Last time I rode a mountain bike the motor was down on horse power ??!

 

[snert]

Snert
Centre handle bar shot, 338 might be a bit light
Last time I rode a mountain bike the motor was down on horse power ??!

I see, kinda like the boss on a cape Buff. I am thinking one to the transmission and then one to the seat...that will keep it down.

 

[jds holler]

It has been my experience that the most vulnerable part of the mountain bike's anatomy is the --- tire.

It might not be a very humane wound, but it renders the critter easy to track, and slows them down enough that a follow-up shot is possible. jd

 

[markT]

I've had pretty good success with these.. Much easier get a range on them when they are not moving.
Sorry couldn't resist.

 

[Sniper338]

Yall can keep your mountain bike and spandex camo, ill have a polaris ranger or truck to get me there and haul out the kill too lol.

Thats likeca boat without a motor. It dont do my ass any good!

 

[Larryh128]

I rode a mountain bike in to a stand one time. Everything was going great until I came down a big hill with a bit of speed on & found a patch of sand. Luckily I didn't wipe out but the popple trees were awfully close when I got it whoed up. I ended up walking it back out.

 

[snert]

I've had pretty good success with these.. Much easier get a range on them when they are not moving.
Sorry couldn't resist.

VLD bullets!!! What is the BC on that sucker?

 

[jds holler]

You've got me puzzled. What thread pitch did you find that would screw onto that rebar? jd

 

[rardoin]

That rebar is '0' pitch rebar and would obviously use a '0' pitch threaded nut....duh...