Electronic bike and hunting.

[ThurstonCokid]

So my dad recently purchased a electronic bike. It got me thinking where could he use it? I’m assuming all DNR and state land is open for that except if posted with no motorized vehicle access. And national forest as well. Also thinking that all WDFW owned lands would be closed for this bike. Thanks for any advice if you happen to know!


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[3dvapor]

The good news is the electric bike industry is fastly growing in the united states!  My cousin and i recently bought them for our upcoming montana and idaho hunts.  Youll start to see the rules relax on them as the industry grows.  Some of the forest service signs that i have seen while scouting the blues this year show a snowmobile, bicycle, and hiker.  Then says closed to all other motorized access.  lol.   I dont think they know what to do with them yet with out chamging alot of signs.  Were going to use them mostly on Atv trails because theyre way easier to transport and super quiet.

[hunter399]

The good news is the electric bike industry is fastly growing in the united states!  My cousin and i recently bought them for our upcoming montana and idaho hunts.  Youll start to see the rules relax on them as the industry grows.  Some of the forest service signs that i have seen while scouting the blues this year show a snowmobile, bicycle, and hiker.  Then says closed to all other motorized access.  lol.   I dont think they know what to do with them yet with out chamging alot of signs.  Were going to use them mostly on Atv trails because theyre way easier to transport and super quiet.

You have to ask yourself .Does a electric bike have a motor?

If it does that puts you in the motorized vehicles category.
Almost guarantee you call about the signs and there talking about a bike that requires pedals and is self powered only.

You can bet Motorized vehicles will get more enforced in the future due to the electric bike business.

[Bullkllr]

Pretty much every local private or public entity I have checked has "no E bike" rules in non-motorized areas. That is as it should be, imo, but a lot of users seem intent on pushing the envelope 

[hunter399]

Since electric motors are allowed I'm going in this baby.

On a more serious note ,i did read somewhere that if it was under 300 watts ,some do not considered motor vehicle.but that's up to land owner and I think with most timber company it's liability issues.First one to hit a forest worker vehicle or close call will put a halt to that.

So I guess I can take my kids hover board as long as the battery doesn't explode trying to get a elk out.
If it's a really big elk I will bring the power wheel.

[3dvapor]

Right,  my intention is not to push the envelope,  When i hunt i just want to focus on hunting and not worry about anything else.  The bikes for us will be used primarily on the same rds you can use atvs just because i can hear bulls bugling while pedaling.   Ive looked at them for years and finally the motors and batteries i feel have improved enough for me to justify buying one.  I think theyre a game changer!!

[kselkhunter]

Pertinent national forest info attached.  Should be fine on roads where ATVs are allowed.

[3dvapor]

The gray area being allowed on the same trails also allowed for snowmobiles in winter but bikes and walking in the summer as in the case of some of the trails in the blues.  I believe they didnt anticipate motorized bikes on those trails but allow the snowmobiles.  There's a ton of trails like this in idaho and montana.