Bike Hunting

[supagoose]

a lot of the places I hunt have roads that are gated and those roads go for miles. im thinking of biking in and hunting cause I figure I could cover more grounds and go further in. ive never done it before and id like to get some first hand experience from you guys on pros, cons, and what I need. well first off I just bought a new 2013 giant roam which is my first bike since I was 10 and ive been riding it a lot since it go warmer. my big question is how do you guys who have done it get your game out? my buddy was saying that his collage buddy used to bike in elk hunts and he'd just put his elk on his back and bike out but im like *censored* cause ive packed enough elk out out and i know it aint easy. I said *censored* because if you think about how difficult it is to pack an elk out and now try doing it while balancing your self on a bike with at least 50lbs and while also trying to pedal. Ive heard of guys using bike trailers. is there a good bike trailer out there? ive seen diy bike trailers on the web think I might build this summer. this is all for now i probably have more questions but im still half asleep. 

[ghosthunter]

There are several threads on here showing guys with their bikes and meat haulers. Some have built their own other have converted kid haulers for the job.

[bowhuntersd]

Check out Hawkeyebilt game carts. By far the best I've seen yet.

[dreamunelk]

There are a lot of options out there.  Just Google "bicycle trailer".  I have a small one I bought on Amazon that works very well for a little over 100.00.  I only haul small loads with it 50-70 pounds.  Others will brag about getting a whole elk out on one.  How I based what a bought is from working behind those gates and watching the experienced ones.  Some of those old timers have been trailering critters out on their bikes for twenty years or so.  While some use a custom many just use a child trailer adapted to fit their needs.  What most have told me is don't go crazy.  Stick with a normal load and take it easy.
For elk I bone and back it just like I was going to pack it out on my back except i throw it in the trailer.

[blackveltbowhunter]

Congratz on the new bike!  Thats should be a quality hunting bike and serve you well, you should enjoy it alot!

  As far as packing game out.... This college guy must be one HELL of a man. or killing really small elk   Seriously though, a trailer is the way to go IMO. I hauled my first elk out on a bike 15 or so years ago. It was a small elk I killed about 4 miles from the truck, mostly steep down hill with some flat sections. I used a packframe and split the load, prolly about 75 lbs each. And that worked alright ( it was an adventure  ) and I did the same for a few more. But since starting with the trailer I have never looked back.

    Overall I have found the trailer to be much more efficient than weight on your back. It may vary given terrain and how much training you do on the bike, but for the most part I find it allows me to haul more, and in some cases ALOT more than I would be able to without it, along with more comfort doing so.

    As far as trailers go.... I have only used kid trailers myself. And they have worked very well for me. Theyre are often deals on CL, Garage sales, and ebay. I have had them stuffed with  ( weighed ) over double the rated capacity and not had major failures. Again road conditions, terrain etc always plays a role in my decision on how much to haul. Hawkeybuilt bike trailers was fabbing up nice looking rigs, not sure if they still are maybe check out FB as I know they had a page. And new outfit called Meatpacker trailers has a FB page as well.

    Both options offer pros and cons, price being a biggie at least to me. Heres my 

    I have either been given or picked up for well under a 100 bucks several kid trailers for myself and friends. While the custom jobs run 500 or better. Another pro for the kid carts is the majority fold up smaller and have removable wheels making them nice if space is a concern, and if you have kids the cart will pull double duty.  Cons are; durability, mounting systems ( some ), and lack of trailer braking options. 
   Pros for the customs are; they are more durable, the mounting systems seem much more rugged and attach to seat rather than frame. And the option for trailer brakes which in some of the areas i hunt would be very, very nice, They are USA built and support local guys. Cons: Price, size/weight, and functionality.  Although I dont have a weight for the hawkeye carts, the Meatpackers and a couple of the customs buddies have built ended, up weighing nearly twice as much as the kid trailer. Also these are pretty purpose specific and hauling kids in them is not really an option.

   I apologize for getting long winded, hope that helps a little. Enjoy ur new ride....  And dont forget to leave the bike occasionally and kill the ones close to the truck everybody else is riding by. 
   



 

[kentrek]

...its no fun packing weight on your back while trying to ride...a trailer is  must have...

ive got a rebuilt kid trailer..striped it down to the bare frame then reinforced it with a sheet of diamond plate an al angle iron..the biggest issue with the kid carts is side to side wobble with the week axles..a piece of angle iron will fix that..

also if you duck tape all the joints it will be much quieter which to me is pretty important...

dont get the solid rubber tires...they suck in every way


every time you pedle your bike goes side to side so this is why id recommend going with an axle mount type trailer compared to the seat post..you don't wana waste energy moving your load side to side every time you pedal

[JPhelps]

I/We have hunted off of our bikes for the last 15 years. 

I would highly recommend getting a bike with disc brakes (I don't know what model of the Roam you got).  When heading out with a load whether on your back or in a trailer the disc brakes are far superior.

If you are serious about hunting deep on a bike I would highly recommend a trailer of some sort.  Unless you have 4 or 5 guys to all take a quarter their would multiple trips.  We use two different cart designs.  One is a modified deer cart and the other design was a custom design and built cart (that weighs in at just shy of 20 lbs).

We don't use trailer brakes, which requires good disc brake setups.  You must also be aware of the terrain ahead because you may have to get off and have someone help you hold the load back in steep downhills.

Between the carts we have taken out close to 30 bulls and never had an issue.





At the end of this video you can see me hauling out the entire bone in bull up a slight grade with our cart.

Primetime Outdoors - Episode 6 Part 2 - W. Washington Roosevelt Elk

[Turner89]

Here's my cart. It has 20'' wheels. Width 21''  length 30''  depth 12''.   It mounts to the frame. I can't find a brand name on it anywhere. I bought it off craigs list from a woman that had a garage full of them, for $120. I've had it since 07 or 08, and hauled out 10 deer, and a bear. During hunting season I will stash it out in the brush so I'm not tied to it all the time.   I agree with Kentrek, frame mount is the way to go. To much energy with it mounted to the seat post.

[supagoose]

cool thanks those are some really good info. another question how do you guys secure your bike when your off chasing something? I was thinking about bringing along my tree stand lock and just locking my bike to a tree. Another question how do you guys carry your weapon (bow/rifle) while on your bike? is there a bike weapon mount system out there? I watching a montegue paratrooper video and a soldier had his m16 mounted to his bike which I thought was neat idea. I can see having it in your trailer or just slinging your rifle across your back but I think it would be kinda awkward with a bow.

[kentrek]

id keep your bow/rifle on your back...its no fun wrecking with a bow mounted on your handle bars...

[jstone]

I always love watching your videos. I have packed out deer and elk by tying them to the bike and pushing.  Is it better to have the trailer attached to the back tire area or the seat area for stability?

[Smossy]

a lot of the places I hunt have roads that are gated and those roads go for miles. im thinking of biking in and hunting cause I figure I could cover more grounds and go further in. ive never done it before and id like to get some first hand experience from you guys on pros, cons, and what I need. well first off I just bought a new 2013 giant roam which is my first bike since I was 10 and ive been riding it a lot since it go warmer. my big question is how do you guys who have done it get your game out? my buddy was saying that his collage buddy used to bike in elk hunts and he'd just put his elk on his back and bike out but im like *censored* cause ive packed enough elk out out and i know it aint easy. I said *censored* because if you think about how difficult it is to pack an elk out and now try doing it while balancing your self on a bike with at least 50lbs and while also trying to pedal. Ive heard of guys using bike trailers. is there a good bike trailer out there? ive seen diy bike trailers on the web think I might build this summer. this is all for now i probably have more questions but im still half asleep. 

Language!

[JPhelps]

I like the seat post mount better. 

We had a rear axle mounted cart.  When hauling heavy loads downhill if there was a corner it felt like the weight was going to wash out or pull my tire out from under me.

With the seat post mount I feel like I have more control over my load.  I also don't trust that small axle under those huge loads.

[Tim in Wa.]

Yak trailer.they will work well even on a single track

[Smossy]

Yak trailer.they will work well even on a single track

Yakidy Yak, Dont talk back, Jack!