Mountain biking behind locked gates

[SWiley]

I tried this for the first time this year and saw more animals than I usually do. The only problem was were I went. It was very close to town so I saw a few day hikers and a few other hunters on foot closer to the gate. My question is, for those of you that do this, what kind of locked gates do you go behind (BLM, Weyerhauser, etc.)? And how far back do you usually go? I really would like to find an area I can ride back a was and be by myself or at least see less people. Thanks in advance!

[throttlejocky20]

One issue is there is a lot of people doing this same thing. And along with that there is a few people out there that are not afraid to put some miles on their boots. You only need to go in as far as needed. A lot of areas have more deer closer to the gates than further in. I go about 6 miles in where I hunt but with that said I see loggers driving in all the time. Spend your time out there this summer and locate the bucks. They might shut down and not move until dark but they will be in the area somewhere. They wont go to far until they start curling that upper lip.

[jackmaster]

i go to this one spot, right in plain veiw, i have a camp back in ther 4.2 miles from the gate, i hunt on foot from there, very seldom do i ever see anyone back there, if i do it is useally someone in a vehicle, and i have only seen two of them over the years, my camp is right on a nice little creek, i retrofitted a kid hauler that hauls eveything known to man, sucks going in cause its slightly up hill, but man o man is it a fast ride out.

[bigtex]

There is less then 1,000 acres of BLM land in western WA (outside of the San Juan islands) so you aren't going to see any BLM gates on the westside.

When you do go behind lock gates you need to make sure you are legally able to do so. A lot of the private timber companies are now requiring a permit for ANY access...

[Jingles]

Gates are lock for a reason if the gate is locked it used to mean no entry regardless of whether you are walking riding a bike or a horse MY feelings are IF THE GATE IS LOCKED EVERYBODY KEEP THE HELL OUT.

[superdown]

Gates are lock for a reason if the gate is locked it used to mean no entry regardless of whether you are walking riding a bike or a horse MY feelings are IF THE GATE IS LOCKED EVERYBODY KEEP THE HELL OUT.

You can't be serious 

[xXLojackXx]

Gates are lock for a reason if the gate is locked it used to mean no entry regardless of whether you are walking riding a bike or a horse MY feelings are IF THE GATE IS LOCKED EVERYBODY KEEP THE HELL OUT.

Wrong.

I ride in about 4 miles, lock the bike to a tree for 8 days off the side of the road, and walk another 2-3 miles. Am yet to come across another hunter in the valleys I hunt, but sometimes I'll find someone on a ridge top. Same expression every time "I'm not going down in there " lol. That's when I say "Perfect, good luck"

[pianoman9701]

Gates are lock for a reason if the gate is locked it used to mean no entry regardless of whether you are walking riding a bike or a horse MY feelings are IF THE GATE IS LOCKED EVERYBODY KEEP THE HELL OUT.

I'm guessing you have some specific gates in mind that he should KEEP THE HELL OUT of? 

[WSU]

I hunt a gate in the coweeman unit that is very popular (there can be few dozen rigs there).  I hunt an area that is a few miles up hill from the gate.  Once on top, it is fairly easy to cover miles of area.  I've hunted there 3 different years and have only seen a handful of hunters.

[kentrek]

Good luck finding a spot to your self with out buying an access permit...lots of bike hunters are getting concentrated due to the lack of open land...if you do, be ready for 30-40mile days to get away from the crowds

[SWiley]

I'm willing to put the miles in both on foot and bike. I'll have to get out this summer and start riding once I find some gates to go behind.

[762Armo]

Every gate I've seen said no vehicle access, no overnight camping, so I take that as it's ok to go in on foot or bike in. Am I correct in this thinking, or can I get in trouble one of these days?
If it specifically mentions I can't go in even on foot, then I'll stay out.

[troyspinetar]

I love hitting the gated roads. At first I started out on foot, then after realizing how much ground I could cover, I started biking in. Ive only ran into one group so far, and it seems they had keys to the gate must be loggers or something
The piece I use is a Longview Timber property. They have it posted at the gate (no motor vehicles, overnight camping, shooting,etc) It does say hunting is welcome during regulated seasons.
I also modified a bicycle "kid hauler" into a "game hauler" 

[fireweed]

I love hitting the gated roads. At first I started out on foot, then after realizing how much ground I could cover, I started biking in. Ive only ran into one group so far, and it seems they had keys to the gate must be loggers or something
The piece I use is a Longview Timber property. They have it posted at the gate (no motor vehicles, overnight camping, shooting,etc) It does say hunting is welcome during regulated seasons.
I also modified a bicycle "kid hauler" into a "game hauler" 

Cool picts!
Too bad Longview Timber just got bought out by Big W.  Bike-n-Bear access might not be "free" next year....

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

I love hitting the gated roads. At first I started out on foot, then after realizing how much ground I could cover, I started biking in. Ive only ran into one group so far, and it seems they had keys to the gate must be loggers or something
The piece I use is a Longview Timber property. They have it posted at the gate (no motor vehicles, overnight camping, shooting,etc) It does say hunting is welcome during regulated seasons.
I also modified a bicycle "kid hauler" into a "game hauler" 

Howed  you get that bear to take a nap in your cart?

[h20hunter]

Probably pretty easy....just wipe the milk off his lips and sing him a lullaby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Probably pretty easy....just wipe the milk off his lips and sing him a lullaby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Maybe you guys can do a write up on this secret technique?

[h20hunter]

D-Rock can...he shoots little bears. I can't help you.

Please keep in mind...I'm just yanking a chain here. Pretty bear, good set up, and I'd pop him if given the chance as well.

[Tbob]

Cool thread, I've always hiked in behind the gates and this will be my first year hunting off my bike. Got myself a trailer as well. I figure I can ride 20 miles in less time I can hike 8.. Really looking forward to the scouting! Have a new gmu to hunt this year and the adventure is on!!

[MerriamMagician]

I just started riding my bike behind gates this spring scouting for turkeys. Love it!! I can cover 2-4x the ground in the time it takes to hike. And if a hill is too steep you simply walk the bike up the hill. Its not as tiring as hiking either if you are in decent shape. 

[pianoman9701]

I just started riding my bike behind gates this spring scouting for turkeys. Love it!! I can cover 2-4x the ground in the time it takes to hike. And if a hill is too steep you simply walk the bike up the hill. Its not as tiring as hiking either if you are in decent shape. 

It's all fun and games until you're 10 miles back and lose a chain or get a flat. Make sure you're prepared.

[Bob33]

I just started riding my bike behind gates this spring scouting for turkeys. Love it!! I can cover 2-4x the ground in the time it takes to hike. And if a hill is too steep you simply walk the bike up the hill. Its not as tiring as hiking either if you are in decent shape. 

It's all fun and games until you're 10 miles back and lose a chain or get a flat. Make sure you're prepared.

I wish there were places you could get 10 miles from a gate, but I'm not aware of any.

[sAsQuAtCh17]

Definitely is a great way to hunt non motorized areas.I've bike in that fish and forest land between Littlerock and Rochester.Its the old Mumby dump and Cambell forestry land I want to say.Lots of big swamps and creeks up in there with prime deer,bear,coyote,and even cougar sign. Not to many people hunt it because Capitol and lower Chehalis and Harris block are a stones throw away and you can drive in those.In that area if you have a bike its definitely the better spot to bow hunt if you are in shape.

[Bullkllr]

Definitely is a great way to hunt non motorized areas.I've bike in that fish and forest land between Littlerock and Rochester.Its the old Mumby dump and Cambell forestry land I want to say.Lots of big swamps and creeks up in there with prime deer,bear,coyote,and even cougar sign. Not to many people hunt it because Capitol and lower Chehalis and Harris block are a stones throw away and you can drive in those.In that area if you have a bike its definitely the better spot to bow hunt if you are in shape.

That area was mobbed in modern deer a few years ago. And lots of quad trails coming in the back from surrounding private property. Lots of nocturnal deer though.

[sAsQuAtCh17]

It had recovered a bit but I have since moved so IDK what the situation is now. Used to live down the road from it by the garbage disposal site. It was much better before the population influx in Rochester.Not the same but still not bad. Always been curious if that area holds any fish.I have seen otters and herons hanging out in the swamps...

[kerrdog]

We use bikes every year.  There are always other hunters on bikes riding around, but I almost never see them in the woods.  I never mind running into other hunters on bikes; usually we stop and talk for a minute……"You see anything?"….."No, you?" …"No. Nice Bike."   Even if you did see elk, you aren't going to say so. 

But I never feel like their presence lowers my chances or anything.  Bikes are quiet, and you're not likely to see a bull riding the roads anyway; just cows.  We just use the bikes to get in there, and leave em on the side of road to hunt an area… 

[firedog]

We use ours a lot in the Coweeman, lots of time ride them in a ditch them and then hunt on foot. Sure nice to have the bike for coming out since the majority of the way out is downhill. Rarely see many people where we are, a few here and there and usually the same guys every year.

[kerrdog]

The Coweeman must be tough on bikes.  It's hills everywhere in there.  We bike Ryderwood, and it's bad enough.  But it seems just a bit less steep country than the Coweeman.  Maybe it's my imagination.

[zackmioli]

did it for a year with success. not killing success but i did get into elk while doing it. then had my bike stolen from my house and haven't been able to get a new one yet. hopefully soon though. id love to find some gates to bike behind that allowed camping.

[bowhuntersd]

Gates are lock for a reason if the gate is locked it used to mean no entry regardless of whether you are walking riding a bike or a horse MY feelings are IF THE GATE IS LOCKED EVERYBODY KEEP THE HELL OUT.

You can't be serious 

Perfect 1 less guy to worry about behind gates. 

[metlhead]

Funny story for you all. August of '98, I biked an extremely long ways into the margaret unit to hunt bear. Back then the reprod was still low, so one could see great distances. Elk were in every opening to be found. Pedaling up to the top of an incline, I bumped two raghorns at a road junction. I stopped to have a staring contest, and heard thrashing only a few meters into the trees. Curiosity gets the better of me, I stash my bike in some salal, and proceed on hands and knees towards the commotion. A few minutes later, I find myself directly under the nose of a great bull who is getting the better of a 10' alder. Not a safe place. A half dozen good thrashes and he stops mid-swing, reaches out and sniffs my forehead, spins and is gone in a flash. I laugh to myself at a quality bull that I "killed", and backed out to continue on my hunt. Not good. Now I have another big bull sniffing my bike. I wave at him, and he decides to hook my bike and flip it. Problem is, my .270 is laying on it and he looks like he wants to dance some. Heck no! As he gets ready to paw, I charge him and miss smacking his arse by only two feet. He bails, nothing broke. You will see lots of critters while biking. I killed five coyotes that day, no bear. Make positive that all roads in are closed to make it worth the effort. Toutle muzzy permit was a joke a few years back, when gates flew open for the lazy roadhunters. I had got a three hour jump before sun-up just to watch headlights as shooting light came on. Completly content herd of 8 elk put their heads up, and faded into the timber just as the road clown drove into the cut, never even seeing them. Done complaining. You'll enjoy the biking. Go prepared and double check that access is open.

[MarkyMark]

Metlhead how do you stow your rifle on the bike?

[metlhead]

Old school-just slung it around my back!

[MarkyMark]

Nice.

[Mumbles]

Bow hunting behind locked gates is what I hope to accomplish this season. Last years nice terrain was fun, but the easy access by vehicles put way too many hunters I. Way too little space. My schedule limits my available hunt time and my hunting partner will head east this season. If anyone wants to partner or group up with an old guy renewing his archery habits, shoot me a message.

[jackmaster]

Old school-just slung it around my back!

thats the safest place for it, guys buy those handle bar gun racks but they vibrate and if you wipe out you have no chance of protecting your rifle or whatever, a bow might be more difficult...metlhead that was a cool story, i have one kinda simular, trophyhunt and i were scoutn this place and he bugled a bull right into the same bush we were hiding in, it was kick ass man, i also had a black bear say 250 on the paw sniffing my boot, he was so close when he looked up at me i could see the moisture inside his nostrils, that was a friggin rush dude....