Elk Hunting on a Mountain Bike

[MHMT]

You can buy soilid tubes for your bike at Walmart. Sure saved me a lot of headaches with the kids bikes, the goatheads were rediculous during the summer here. No more worries with the solid tubes, may ride a little rougher but well worth it.

I haven't used these personally, but I have heard that it is quite a bit harder to ride with them, and are not very good off of paved roads.

I have used the slime stuff that is used in ATV tires. Have rode over cactus and didn't get flats (it will make your tires noticeably heavier though) That being said I still always have at least 2 extra tubes with me on trail rides.

I haven't packed an animal out with a bike yet, but it makes getting there a lot quicker.

 

[Rat Fink]

Here's my rig for the spot I will be hunting this weekend. Replaced the trailer tire tubes with brand new slime filled tubes in case of a rock puncture. Gonna pack in my backpack camping gear and just stay in there Saturday night to save some time and energy. I have the feeling this is gonna work out pretty good.

 

[MHMT]

Cool. Hopefully you'll have some pictures with it hauling some meat. I'm curious to see how it works out for you.

 

[Marshian]

And if you dont get an elk, you can earn meat money by toting people around in your nice rickshaw.

 

[AZ Ron]

Here is a link to some pictures from the MR Rants blog page that shows Steven Drake packing out an elk on a mountain bike...

http://blog.mysteryranch.com/2011/09/immersion/

Ron

 

[huntRme]

There have been lots of favorable comments here about hunting off of a bike, but when I tried a bike in the woods I found myself pushing the bike up hills for a long time only to be rewarded with a short down-hill coast, then repeat. Its hard, sweaty work, and I don't like sweat when I'm hunting. Maybe its ok if you've got legs of iron. Also, you gotta keep your speed down on the down-hills in case you get into ruts, loose gravel, whatever.

 

[zadvorney]

The kid hauler is good. Maybe an after market set of brakes on the hauler. Even while empty the thing would want to pass you on a down hill break. I like the idea though

 

[Rat Fink]

There have been lots of favorable comments here about hunting off of a bike, but when I tried a bike in the woods I found myself pushing the bike up hills for a long time only to be rewarded with a short down-hill coast, then repeat. Its hard, sweaty work, and I don't like sweat when I'm hunting. Maybe its ok if you've got legs of iron. Also, you gotta keep your speed down on the down-hills in case you get into ruts, loose gravel, whatever.

This is exactly what I experienced. Did a lot of walking up hill on the way in. Coming out was great. I only turned the crank on the pedals about 20 times in 3.5 miles. I flew out of there. Unfortunately the elk had vacated my area and I didn't get any action. I was really hoping to get to load it up with meat on the way out.

 

[blb078]

Bumping this cause it's something I'm considering for this fall. Anyone able to recommend a bike that is fairly inexpensive? Other than disc brakes what else should I be looking for?