Mountain bike bow hunting

[EastWaViking]

I'm trying to decide between some sort of bow holder mounted to the handlebars of my mountain bike, and a daypack that holds the bow.  Any thoughts on which would be the safest for the bow, the last thing I want it my sight knocked off while I'm hunting.

If you have pictures or links to products you think I should be using, to solve this issue, send them my way. 

thanks.

-Viking

[Little Fish]

I don't really have an opinion on pack versus handle bar rack, but I have the mad dog fin grips mounted on my handle bars and am happy with the setup. Initially I mounted them directly to the handle bars, but was having a problem getting clearance for arrows plus string. I added handle bar extensions to give me another 4 or 5 inches of height and mounted the grips to these extensions. This setup also works well for carrying a rifle.

[EastWaViking]

I've been looking through old posts because I remember this topic has came up before, but I can't seem to find the old link. 

Anyone anyone....Bueller?

[grousetracker]

i use handlebar mounts, but a pack might save your bow the vibration of the bike. i like the mounts because i dont like alot of weight on me while riding.

[300rum]

I use a pack.  I really don't care to have my arrows in front of me when I crash.   

[Todd_ID]

I've used a bow sling for mine every time until two years ago.  Opening day before daylight a branch grabbed the sling and my bow did about 10 cartwheels down the gravel road.  Nothing was bent, broken or loose, but I learned my lesson on that.  Now I bungee it to my backpack....no problems since.

[SHANE(WA)]

I wear my guide series crooked horn pack, hold my bow well and protected.I have wore my sling before but moves around and gets in the way sometimes

[BC CHASER]

i use handlebar mounts, but a pack might save your bow the vibration of the bike. i like the mounts because i dont like alot of weight on me while riding.

I have used both and prefer to ride with it on the back due to the vibration.  There is no real safe way to carry them in the event of a crash.  I just ride slow down hills.  I also have a rack on the back of my bike that I strap a milk crate to.  I put my pack in that and carry my bow on back.  I had trouble with hand clearance issues with the gun rack and cut some old handlebars off a bike and am going to weld the with a couple of 1'' tubes 6'' out in front of my handle bars.  Also if you are on wet roads the mud flaps you can buy come in handy, they wont keep you 100% clean and dry but will drastically reduce becoming a mess.

[Kain]

I've been looking through old posts because I remember this topic has came up before, but I can't seem to find the old link. 

Anyone anyone....Bueller?

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,30862.msg364482.html#msg364482

As far as crashing I dont know which is worse having your arrows in front of you or strapped to you.  But some of those packs seem pretty secure.  Just not easy access.  I have ridden my bike up on lots of animals on or near the road.  No shooters but you never know.

[EastWaViking]

thanks for the link, that's the one I was looking for!

Has anybody used a Horn Hunter G2 Day Pack?  It looks pretty nice without the price tag of the Badlands etc.  and it can carry a bow.

http://www.sophuntinggear.com/hornhunter/site.pl?page=hh02

[DOUBLELUNG]

Ive had the Badlands 6 years, I'd use it if I biked.

[lilswab]

I have used a few different packs for my bow.  I like my badlands 2200 along with my bow-sling to protect the string and cams from all the mud(late season) dust(early season) that could get on my bow.  It's not really designed for a bow but I make it work.  I know that badlands parks are spendy but in the long run you will never have to buy another pack!

[Crunchy]

Sling that sucker over you shoulder, nice thing is u can carry it that way while u walk in the dark.

[M_ray]

I do a fair amount of hunting from a mountian bike (don't own horses) so I don't know about safer??? I have wieghed this out in my mind several times before and figured if I wipe out my bow is taking a beating weather it's on my back or on my bike and I know I don't need the extra beating so I use a handlebar bow holder! 

[jstone]

been mountain biking in for almost 10 years and i love it. Pushed several animals out strapped to the bike

[h2ofowlr]

I would use the pack.  I have caught to many branches on the handle bars and crashed one time.  It can also shake the sites loose, eventhough it shouldn't. 

[Cylvertip]

I don't really have an opinion on pack versus handle bar rack, but I have the mad dog fin grips mounted on my handle bars and am happy with the setup. Initially I mounted them directly to the handle bars, but was having a problem getting clearance for arrows plus string. I added handle bar extensions to give me another 4 or 5 inches of height and mounted the grips to these extensions. This setup also works well for carrying a rifle.

Ditto that - I have pretty much the same set up except the mounts are on the bolt on hand guards at the ends of the bars ( could be the same thing your talking about).  Those give you the extra clearance needed.  I put a small strap around the string in the middle  and run it back to the goose neck on the handles bars, then cinch it down to keep the bow from bouncing around.  My bike is also full suspension which helps with the vibration.  Pics in a week or so. 

 - Add the rack on the back to hall some extra water, a bivy, and to store your jacket when it warms up. Also a little bike pack under the seat for tire repair gear, headlight, cable lock, and a plastic bag to throw over the seat while your not riding. Don't forget the fenders front and rear or you'll get soaked/ muddy from road spray.  Tire pump too.

Your ass will hurt from the seat for the first few days of riding, but you can sure cover a lot of miles.....and quietly. My feet sure appreciate it at the end of the day on the ride out.  Did 22 miles one day last year combined hiking and biking.

[bow4elk]

As everyone is stating here, racks and packs both work well.  It just depends on preference.  I use All Rite gun/bow rack on my handlebar extensions as well and I take a couple sets of rubber snubbers to secure it making sure nothing is rubbing.  Any pack can be converted to pack your bow easily by getting a couple nylon web cargo straps ($1.50 at Ace or any place with a camping section).  Just find a way to weave them through loops or features on your pack and cinch them tight.  An extra shirt or jacket can be used for additonal padding around your sight and/or rest.

A rear rack is a must , as mentioned, and I can't overemphasize investing in some good halogen lighting.  I have a 5W and 15W on the front plus another 5W for my helmet.  The helmet light is invaluable for late night tracking or butchering/packing after dark.  I have the Vista Light Nightstick Code 25 set up and LOVE it.  The batteries last a very long time and the whole works has endured years of use in heavy rain, heat, etc.  It's not cheap but it's worth the investment.

http://www.totalbike.com/news/article/149/

[Rob]

I have this on my bike.  I have had both my bow and my rifle in it.  works well.

[Austrian Hunter]

Clint,
I just ordered the Badland Bow hunting fanny back, see pics below.  The bow cam fits in the fanny back bottom and the bow get strapped on your back, I tried it at my archery shop and love it, you still can get allot of supplies, calls etc in the fanny back.  the pics I found on line.  I would think that works for biking

[rasbo]

I have this on my bike.  I have had both my bow and my rifle in it.  works well.

same one I have I like it

[Rob]

Sorry, should have noted that these just the standard ATV gun rack mounts.  I don't see the exact ones on the Cabelas web site, but these are more or less the same
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat21412-cat21466-cat20149_TGP&id=0067360523550a&navCount=6&podId=0067360&parentId=cat20149&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

[bow4elk]

yes, that is the All Rite Products gun/bow rack.  Works well as does the Mad Dog finned model.  My partner uses it and it works great.  That's the Badlands Monster fanny pack.  It has a strap across the top that you can wrap around your lower limb.  I've also laid my bow across the top of the pack, but I prefer the Hypervent or Diablo for most of my hunting.

I was just thinking that we should just post some bike pics like Rob did.  Good way to share ideas...

[Austrian Hunter]

Clint,
I just ordered the Badland Bow hunting fanny back, see pics below.  The bow cam fits in the fanny back bottom and the bow get strapped on your back, I tried it at my archery shop and love it, you still can get allot of supplies, calls etc in the fanny back.  the pics I found on line.  I would think that works for biking

!!!Check out their Warranty!!!
The Legendary Badlands Unconditional Warranty

“We don’t care what happened, or whose fault it was, we will fix it for free forever.  We could care less if you bought it at a garage sale or a gear swap, as long as it says Badlands on the pack it’s covered.  All we ask is that you use and abuse your pack as much as possible so we can learn how to make better products”

[bow4elk]

!!!Check out their Warranty!!!
The Legendary Badlands Unconditional Warranty

“We don’t care what happened, or whose fault it was, we will fix it for free forever.  We could care less if you bought it at a garage sale or a gear swap, as long as it says Badlands on the pack it’s covered.  All we ask is that you use and abuse your pack as much as possible so we can learn how to make better products”

And that's no BS - you break it, they fix it or replace it.  If it has a badlands logo on it, they cover it unconditionally.  You can see some YouTube videos on the web site where guys are trying to destroy a 2200 by adding weight and shaking the pack until it eventually fails, but only after an extreme amount of weight.  Check it out:

www.badlandspacks.com

[EastWaViking]

great looking pack, what is the name of it?  thanks.

[Austrian Hunter]

great looking pack, what is the name of it?  thanks.

That's the Badlands Monster fanny pack.

[Little Fish]

Cylvertip....it sounds like we have the same setup. I have a rack on the back and added a milk crate for carrying my pack plus other stuff on the way in. I also swapped out seats for a gel seat. It's not as comfortable as my truck, but many many times better than the seat that came on the bike.

[Cylvertip]

Pics of the "behind gate rig" 

[adam.WI]

I hunted all weekend with it in my hand after on the first day when it was strapped to my back a heard stopped 30 yards off the side of the road and just stood there while I attempted to unattach my bow, they took off when the last buckle was undone

[let.it.fly]

yea, u can realy cover some ground on a bike. when i was younger i used to race cross country(mountian bikes). it was nothing to do 30 miles in a training day, i would ride 120 + miles a week. i remember doing a ride for MS(multiple sclorocis(spelling?)). it was in carnation. we did 100K in one day. not sure how many miles but it sure kicked my ass 9-10 hours on a bike isnt to fun for the back side. but i raised a few hundred $  for the ms foundation. i havnt gone out hunting on my bike, mainly becuase my huntin buddies (ones my fiance) do not have bikes. oh well maybe its time for some "me time".

[coldsteel3d]

I generally strap my bow to my badlands 2800, which I love and can vouch for their warranty 100%. I also have a pretty sweet rack on the back that I can strap a lot of extra stuff to.

[PA BEN]

[EastWaViking]

WOW!  Great pictures.  Quite a load pulling a moose with a bike!!!