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.