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Author Topic: Hunting and Mountain Bikes  (Read 695 times)

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Offline insanelupus

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Hunting and Mountain Bikes
« on: February 21, 2005, 12:01:54 PM »
Okay y'all, trying to expand my options.  I do A LOT of elk, deer and bear hunting in NW Montana (gonna have an early spring, the bear season should be great!!).  I am going to do some backpack camping and hunting this spring and fall, but on the days that I'm not able to stay out for a few nights, I still want to get back off the main road.  We have a lot of closed forrest service roads, that get you back to good hunting, the problem is, several miles back, time limitations and getting back to the truck to get my Game Cart (which works great within a mile or two of the road).  I'm wanting to get back 4-5 miles if possible.

I read this article the other night http://www.montanascabbards.com/carry-elk.php on how to pack out elk on a bicycle, which got me to thinking that might work for me.  I've got a great bike (Gary Fisher Tassahara Hard Tail), add a rack and collapsible panniers, a gun rack like for ATV's on the handle bars and have a pack frame with me that I leave with the bike to use to pack the meat to the bike and bingo, I'm there.  Ride in to the hunting area, hunt, if I get something, make several trips and pedal it out.

I'm lifting 3 days a week, average between 30-40 miles a week (over three days), riding, to get in shape.  My workouts started to get me in shape for backpack hunting and camping, but if I could use the bike too I think that would be great!!  What I'm wondering is, has anyone else ever tried this and can you give me any tips and pointers?  I'll post this in Deer Hunting, Western Big Game and Bear Hunting to get a broader range of responses.  Any information would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.
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"My feeling is this, give him pleanty of time, pleanty of birds, and a little direction, and he'll hunt his heart out for me.  That's all I ask." 

Offline rider

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bike for hunting
« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2005, 04:09:27 PM »
With many road closures  in Colo. over the past few years I have used a mtn. bike for the past three years.  I pass many hunters on foot and have shot an elk for the past three years.  Never used the bike to pack them out.  Might be pretty rough.
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Offline Sourdough

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Hunting and Mountain Bikes
« Reply #2 on: March 01, 2005, 09:30:46 AM »
You know those little trailers for kids that they make to tow behind your bike or can be used for jogging?  Got one that holds two kids at a garage sale, use it to take my hunting gear out on the trails closed to motorized vehicles.  Strapped a Kolpin case to carry my rifle to the rear upright.  Hang a small pack from the roof supports to hold skinning knife, ammo, water bottle, and snacks.  This way it is fairly quite.  Sometimes carry my tree stand.  Bring back foxes and cayotes in the tub.  The cover makes it nice by keeping out dust, leaves, and stones.
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Offline talon

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Hunting and Mountain Bikes
« Reply #3 on: March 01, 2005, 02:04:47 PM »
I use one of those bicycle tired  light weight game haulers to bring dead venison and black bear out along 'jeep' trails. I've done this by hand and by wheeler, depending on circumstances, for about 8 years. I know it's feasible to carry up to 350# in the hauler, but I'd recommend you do your hauling by hand, and just put your bike on top of the lashed down carcass. Trying to peddle a bike trailing that much weight on an uneven surface would be tiresome and probably would hurt your bike. 8)
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Offline Sourdough

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Hunting and Mountain Bikes
« Reply #4 on: March 12, 2005, 07:15:17 PM »
Got one, thought it would do what I needed.  It now stays home.  The area I hunt in has good trails but is restricted to no motorized vehicles.  It's consist of a plain one mile wide by eight miles long.  After crossing the plain you have wooded areas with good trails.  This is where I hunt, and I access it with a 12 speed bike.  I converted it to the old Schwin type handlebars that let me sit upright as I ride.  I pull a little trailer made for kids that hauls my gear, and anything I happen ot shoot.  Foxes, cayotes, an occasional wolf, and even a small black bear.  It's too far to be walking.
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Where is old Joe when we really need him?  Alaska Independence    Calling Illegal Immigrants "Undocumented Aliens" is like calling Drug Dealers "Unlicensed Pharmacists"
What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact.

Offline RollTide

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Hunting and Mountain Bikes
« Reply #5 on: March 15, 2005, 06:37:51 AM »
My hunting buddy and myself have used jogging strollers for the last couple year to carry treestands in and deer out on closed roads.  These are the stollers where mom puts one or 2 children in and runs while pushing them.  These are very light, pack very flat in the vehicle, and easily carry 150 to 200 pounds of gear.  THey have 3 wheels instead of 2 like most game carriers, so they are a LOT less tiring since you do not have to continually balance the load on one axle.  I bought mine at a thrift store for 20 bucks, covered it with camo duct tape, stripped all the canvas off it, and put a little cargo netting on it to keep my deer centered and secure while traveling.  I don't leave home without it anymore when deer hunting.  

These carts have greatly expanded our hunting area.  We have discussed using bikes as well.  May implement that next year.  Thanks for all the good ideas.

Roll Tide
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