My new rig!

[bow4elk]

SO if you don't use a trailer how do you get the animal out after you've harvested?

one piece at a time and/or a bike trailer.

[chrisb]

SO if you don't use a trailer how do you get the animal out after you've harvested?

one piece at a time and/or a bike trailer.

At the 13 miles back he was talking about I don't know how efficient that would be. I could see doing it maybe twice for a deer but an elk? That's a lot of mileage.

[bucklucky]

Im thinking there is more than one bike and rider when he is elk hunting??

[chrisb]

I did the trailer thing before and never do that again!

What was your bad experience. I've been kicking around the idea of getting a bike and trailer for a while now and would like to hear the con's

[bow4elk]

SO if you don't use a trailer how do you get the animal out after you've harvested?

one piece at a time and/or a bike trailer.

At the 13 miles back he was talking about I don't know how efficient that would be. I could see doing it maybe twice for a deer but an elk? That's a lot of mileage.

We do 7-10 miles regularly.  Our strategy for early season bowhunting is to get the meat cold immediately.  So we hunt within reasonable distance to running water.  Not to threadjack, but in short we bone out (air cool on bedding sheets as we work) and bag up our meat, then submerge in cold running water for a few hours to get it ice cold and take a break.  Then we pack it out.  Once the meat is cold, you aren't as rushed.  Cold meat is key to long packing jobs to avoid spoilage.  Panniers full, load on back.  Coolers chock full of ice back at the trucks.  Layer meat on ice, repeat.  Works great.  Slow and easy is the name of the game though.

[funkster]

The trailer is just to heavy going over bumps,down hills with bumps..etc. My buddy had the trailer flip over on him right in front of me and all most took us all down. We had a trailer flip with a few bows on it and that is where we got are crews name"ground down cam crew". The name explains it all. Plus you have to lug around a trailer that is very cumbersome when you don't need it.  We usually hunt with 3-4 people in are crew and(knock on wood) everytime we where able to get the gate open. Leave two to gut and hang, while the other two go back to the gate and get the rig. I do perfer meat packs to the trailer,you can carry more weight safer IMPO.

I got to take the bike out this weekend for a 8.44 mile tour and it worked great! The bike was a lot more smoother and comfortable than the old bike. The mountain hills where easier without the rear shock that I had on the old bike. I was able to get more of a power pedal with the hardtail.  I had alittle problem with the front fender coming off but after adjusting it,it worked great.

[mtbiker]

Funkster, what kind of trailer where you guys using?  I'd like to see if I could rent one of those BOB trailers ( http://www.bobgear.com/trailers/ ).  They're designed for mountain biking and the top end one has suspension.  Also, I've read a number of good reviews.  But as mentioned I'd like to rent one first and try it.  They're quite spendy and would hate to throw down a bunch of money and not like it.

[funkster]

I have used two styles. I had a buddy make one just like the "hawkeye bilt" carts and used a converted child's carts the first go round. The hawkeye bilt styled one worked the best but it is just not for me.

Check them out http://www.hawkeyebilt.com/  If you know anyone that welds,you can save about $500 having one made.

[Dirty Mike]

nice

[Cascader74]

You say you didn't like full suspension bikes for hunting?  I haven't taken a bike hunting yet, but looking to for more access. Last time I road one without rear suspension it about beat me to death over all the damn rocks. Just curious how much of a difference you thought it was since I'm in the market for a new hunting bike.

[PacificNWhunter]

Nice bike.

[funkster]

You say you didn't like full suspension bikes for hunting?  I haven't taken a bike hunting yet, but looking to for more access. Last time I road one without rear suspension it about beat me to death over all the damn rocks. Just curious how much of a difference you thought it was since I'm in the market for a new hunting bike.

The difference is when you pedal up hill with a rear shock, the suspension soaks up your pedal as well as the bumps.  I noticed that with the hardtail I was able to get more of a "power pedal" which makes uphill climbs easier. I am also looking into pedal baskets so I can get a solid  down push and up pull instead of just a down push. Hope that makes scents. The second thing I noticed is the disk breaks. They work very well going down long mountain grades. The breaks work just as good wet as they do dry.Although when wet,the discs do get a little louder. I would suggest thees two features if you are looking into a new hunting bike.

[Cascader74]

Does anyone have any recommendations for handle bar racks for a bike?

[funkster]

I use a ATV bow rack. It is simple and fast to get your bow off and the bow does not move much. I did notice when the rubber gets wet it makes a squeaky noise over every bump in the road. I am going to run a piece of black fleece on the inside of the mount. I have used the bow backpack and although it works very well, it is a pain to get the bow out in a hurry which you need because you never know when you are going to run into a elk on a bike. No matter where you pack your bow, if you crash your bike your bow is going to contact the ground.  What ever you decide to use don't ever use a Primos bow sling. You will end up with a burn from your ear to your adam's apple.

Here is a pic of the mounts I use.

[funkster]

Is that bike very heavy? Thats what I hate most about my bike. My wifes is super light so I usually take it instead. I actually didnt realise that bike was a diamondback. I bought mine at walmart about 10 years ago so mine is a beater , $200.00 walmart special that weighs 30 pounds and has never shifted right.

It is very light yet rigid. If you are willing to spend in the $500-$700 range you can get a nice rig. The thing I have noticed is the more you spend you get the better gears for easier shifting,higher quality cranks and better breaks not the entry level run of the muck stuff that you can buy at the chain stores. If I knew that the bike would have made this big of a difference,I would have gotten a new one along time ago.