Elk hunting from a bike

[kglacken]

So Who does it? Ive always wanted to try but my dad has always been a heavier guy and it wasnt his cup of tea, and I will hunt with my dad anytime he wants to hunt and never leave him behind, but he has been dieting and exercising and is getting into really good shape. As a reward for his hard work, he went out and bought a really nice bike to hunt off of. Disk brakes, shocks, aggressive tires, the works. Now, I am in the market. I cant afford a $700 bike like he bought, but for you guys that hunt off them, what should I be looking for? I would like to keep it around $300... Im not sure what that will get me, but Its what I can afford. Also, post pictures of your rig! 

[Hillbilly270]

dont have a picture of mine but i would definitely suggest getting one with front shocks.  You could also throw on a rear rack if you feel the need for it.  A light for the front is a plus but a headlamp will work.  Disc brakes are good but not needed.  good luck finding something and good luck hunting.

[Bullkllr]

For the record, I have a horrible record with hunting bikes.  It's just hard on a bike. I've never spent a lot of money on one. But I've had a Trek,  aStumpjumper, and a Nishiki. Maintained and fixed 'em as long as I could. If something major goes wrong, you're looking at a new bike unless you can find cheap parts and fix it yourself.   That said, I'd rather buy a decent used one and ride it till it dies. Can't believe what bike shops charge for parts, let alone labor, let alone what they want for a new bike .

[Worldhunter]

Just buy a good quality used one. Buy a trailer off Amazon.

[matt345]

Costco sells decent bikes in your price range. Craiglist is a great place to look for used bikes. A front shock is a must I think. A bow or gun rack mounted to handle bars is a great option. I use a trailer for getting animals out once quartered.

[deerhunter_98520]

Just got this  cannondale last year and made the trailer

 

[headshot5]

Just got this  cannondale last year and made the trailer

Looks like a pretty nice setup. 

[brianb231]

We and my hunting partner hunted off mountain bikes and trailers one year here recently and it was a lot of fun. The one thing I would make sure of on the next bike purchase would be DISC BRAKES.

And also the upgraded tubes

Just my two cents.

Brianb231

[JPhelps]

Buy a decent quality (trek, giant, specialized, etc...) bike used off of Craigslist.  Make sure you know what size bike you need and look for disc brakes.  I prefer a hardtail for riding the logging roads.

[pope]

Found one for you: http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/bik/3832866862.html

Not sure a 19-inch frame is what you're after, but this is a good bike with great geometry for climbing fire roads and pretty good components, especially at $200.

[donnyp96]

Definitely suggest a hardtail rear shock can be a real loss when climbing hills. Craigslist would be the first place I'd search for that price range. I ride a Haro but my partners ride specialized and are very pleased with them.

[adamR]

i just went through this ordeal... the first thing you want to do is go down to your local bike shop and test ride a lot of different bikes!  I went to three different shops here in town and everyone I talked to taught me something I didn't know.  I will be honest though my budget started at $300 and I ended up buying a $800 bike.   After you test ride different bikes you'll know what to look for on craigslist. I recommend front shocks which at your price range won't be to tough to find.  I would also recommend disk brakes and shock lockouts, especially if you get a rear shock but you may not find those things for $300.

[buckhorn2]

One of the funniest elk hunting things I have ever seen was two guys and half an elk on a bike when the chain came off heading down a steep hill with a bridge at the bottom on the Quinault on a walk in road.

[funkster]

I will second no rear shock. It will take away a lot of pedal power going up hill. Disc breaks are a must, they get a little loud when you get into mud but with the added weight of gear and potentially an animal, the rubber break pads just don't cut it. I added fenders, bow rack, two bottle holder racks and saddle bags. I love the saddle bags, i don't know how i did it without them.You can keep everything on your bike and use a smaller day pack on your back. Trust me, you can feel the difference on day three of the hunt. Feel free to ask any questions, I have tried out a lot of different set ups.

[Humptulips]

I find myself doing more walking then biking. I use the bike to get in and out of where I want to hunt for the most part.
Things I think you need: teflon tube liners, gun rack, bike rack on the back, as low of gears as you can get and a trailer if you get something.
I use a large size cabelas game hauler and I added a hitch. I actually built a receiver hitch on the seat post of my bike. It works good and it will haul and entire elk in one load but you will be pushing if it is any upgrade at all.

I used to have a headlight but find I like a headlamp better.

One more thing that is a must, the largest softest seat you can find.

[funkster]

I will second the headlamp over a headlight.

[JPhelps]

One more thing that is a must, the largest softest seat you can find.

I have to disagree (at least for me).  While the larger gel seats may feel more comfortable they quickly lose their appeal in the hills.

The bigger seat rubs on my legs and changes how I pedal (me knees feel like they are pointed outward).  When riding on logging roads I find the narrower seats allow me to input more power to the pedals and I avoid the leg chaffage.  With a few training rides you can get the "tweener" in shape or used to the riding and it won't be an issue.

[Hillbilly270]

be careful going downhill with an elk in a cart.  too steep a hill and that elk will want to pass you; or you can't stop it if you need to.

[funkster]

One more thing that is a must, the largest softest seat you can find.

I have to disagree (at least for me).  While the larger gel seats may feel more comfortable they quickly lose their appeal in the hills.

The bigger seat rubs on my legs and changes how I pedal (me knees feel like they are pointed outward).  When riding on logging roads I find the narrower seats allow me to input more power to the pedals and I avoid the leg chaffage.  With a few training rides you can get the "tweener" in shape or used to the riding and it won't be an issue.

I will also second this.

[6.8mmARHunter]

Were you ever able to get a bike? I have a Cannondale F400 from more than 10 years ago. I've recently replaced derailleurs, shifters, brakes levers, brake mechanisms, seat and tires. It's got a front shock and hard tail. Back then disk brakes were only a dream. I'd be willing to let it go for $200. Not making any $$$ here, just trying to make room in my garage.

Sam

[GregE]

I've used a Giant 760 ATX for many years- wish it had a lower frame to ease hopping off.  Pack Rat bow holder and front and rear cargo racks help..  bungee to secure bow in the rack.  Battery pack light on front rack along with head lamp.

We met 'Larry" and his kid cart in '09.  The cart brakes had failed and he was semi lost after 2 days.

[6.8mmARHunter]

Were you ever able to get a bike? I have a Cannondale F400 from more than 10 years ago. I've recently replaced derailleurs, shifters, brakes levers, brake mechanisms, seat and tires. It's got a front shock and hard tail. Back then disk brakes were only a dream. I'd be willing to let it go for $200. Not making any $$$ here, just trying to make room in my garage.

Sam

Here's a pic of the bike.

[trophyhunt]

I got this bike for 300 about 5 months ago from a bike shop in Des Moines. Not the color I wanted but its a heck of an upgrade for me.

[funkster]

From my experience, I would not trailer around a bike trailer all day long. They are cumbersome, hard to maneuver and throw your bike around weighted or not. I like to have one in the rig waiting, you can strap an animal leg to your pack, ride out and grab the trailer to get the rest. I have found this to be the easier route than lugging a trailer around all day

[6.8mmARHunter]

I got this bike for 300 about 5 months ago from a bike shop in Des Moines. Not the color I wanted but its a heck of an upgrade for me.

That's a helluva deal right there!

[TheHunt]

be careful going downhill with an elk in a cart.  too steep a hill and that elk will want to pass you; or you can't stop it if you need to.

LOL... Words of wisdom there!!!   

[dscubame]

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mountain_bikes.htm

Here is your ticket to the best bang for the buck. 

[Old Man Yager]

Definitely go with a hard tail, but get a front shock. I've rode both, and the bike without the front shock did a number on my hands. Get a fat seat too, those skinny seats can give you  a bad case of Monkey butt.

[Bullkllr]

be careful going downhill with an elk in a cart.  too steep a hill and that elk will want to pass you; or you can't stop it if you need to.

LOL... Words of wisdom there!!!   

Trailers with brakes are a  great idea.
 Not having the ingenuity to rig trailer brakes, I once was coming down a grade too fast and ended up uphill from the trailer, flat on my back on the road, with my bike (and bow/arrows) square on top of me, still hitched to the trailer with a whole elk. How I didn't get totally messed up I'll never know.

Bike and/or trailer mishaps could be a fun thread of its own.

[bowjunkie]

Craigslist is a good place to find an affordable bike
disk brake a must no rear shock unless it locks
Also buy a kid hauler and modify a trailer I made one total cost 50$
Don't forget to bring a first aid kit for the bike ie extra chain and tube or patch kit

[pope]

From my experience, I would not trailer around a bike trailer all day long. They are cumbersome, hard to maneuver and throw your bike around weighted or not. I like to have one in the rig waiting, you can strap an animal leg to your pack, ride out and grab the trailer to get the rest. I have found this to be the easier route than lugging a trailer around all day

Id think id work on a lighter trailer..in my experiance ive came to the exact oppisite conclusion..i plan on bring meat out and lots of it everytime i go hunting..i hate wasted trips to the truck

I hunt behind a gate and use the bike to get there. The trailer gets stashed in the woods just before the season starts. I also stash game bags, some rope, a couple of towels...anything I might want to use for field dressing... and drinking water. I hide the trailer and kit under a camo tarp close to where I want to hunt. Nobody seems to go where I'm going so I don't worry about things disappearing. It's liberating not having to pull that stuff up the hill every morning. I definitely lock the bike to a big tree and if I ever hear a chain saw buzzing.....

[xXLojackXx]

I ride a cannondale full suspension when accessing my honey hole. Just make sure if it's full suspension that the rear shock can be locked out.

[Shawn Ryan]

Front shocks, no rear shocks, disc brakes are nice, but not necessary.  We used kid-hauling trailers for years to get camp behind locked gates and then ride the bikes to get to hunting areas when needed.  Never lost a load on the steep downhills, pushed the bike and trailer too many times up the steep uphills, though.

[JPhelps]

You have to love taking the entire elk out on the first trip.  We were lucky that he died 30 yards from the road and Tyson and I heave-hoed him to the road and just split him at the 5th rib.

[trophyhunt]

Guys keep talking about locking out the shocks, mostly the rear. Can you guys look at the pic's of my shocks and tell me if mine lock? I posted pic's of it on the first page. The guy that I bought my bike from (at the bike shop) said something about my shock being better about taking power away from peddling than most shocks. What do you experts think? Thanks

[pope]

Not an expert, but a little Google search suggests you have one of these:
http://www.mtbr.com/cat/suspension/rear-shock/rockshox/mc-3-1/prd_414039_138crx.aspx

These shocks were standard issue on Trek Fuel Ex bikes at one point in time. My friend has one and I'll ask him. I'm not reading anything about lock-out ability, but this isn't necessarily your rear shock. Get all the info you can by reading the inscriptions on that shock and use Google or your local Trek dealer to help answer your questions.

[pope]

Front shocks, no rear shocks, disc brakes are nice, but not necessary.  We used kid-hauling trailers for years to get camp behind locked gates and then ride the bikes to get to hunting areas when needed.  Never lost a load on the steep downhills, pushed the bike and trailer too many times up the steep uphills, though.

That is one heck of a load! I'm impressed if you can pedal that kit on a flat road, never mind climbing a hill. Wow!

[skidynastar33]

i got mine at costco, $300 it has disc brakes, front shock. solid bike. plus you have there return policy which is bring it back whenever for whatever! take a look. or go rei because they have a lifetime warrenty on all there stuff.

[Shawn Ryan]

Front shocks, no rear shocks, disc brakes are nice, but not necessary.  We used kid-hauling trailers for years to get camp behind locked gates and then ride the bikes to get to hunting areas when needed.  Never lost a load on the steep downhills, pushed the bike and trailer too many times up the steep uphills, though.

That is one heck of a load! I'm impressed if you can pedal that kit on a flat road, never mind climbing a hill. Wow!

Pope, that load was headed out, mostly downhill, but doable.  I'm not a good cycler, but my buddies are/were.  One would ride alongside me on the uphills, both of us with full trailers, and he would lean over grab the back of my seat and "tow" me along.  He is amazing on the bike.  Good to have friends like that.

[bowhuntersd]

I bought my "GIANT YUKON" from a local bike shop for under $300. I waited until the new models came in and they were getting rid of the old models. Its a great bike for hunting off of. Stay away from a rear shock as it will take away from your pedal power. Good luck and keep looking. 

[deerhunter_98520]

Just got this  cannondale last year and made the trailer

Looks like a pretty nice setup.

Works pretty good for my first go at it