Ebikes ..... are they really useful for hunting anymore?

[fulldraw1972]

I really like using them for midwestern whitetail hunting on private ground. It's so nice being able to get near your stand/blind quickly and quietly (without sweating), not to mention the ease of hauling a deer out with it.

I agree 100%.
A couple things to add is the amount of ground scent left on the ground is drastically reduced.
The other is I feel I spook less deer as well. I have a few stands I hunt that are 1.5 miles in. Doing 20 mph on my e bike cuts that travel time down a lot. Less travel time less time to spook deer.

 

[mfllood3800]

What's the difference between using an Ebike, a horse or hiking in with boots on the ground - on a horse/walking trail?
If the argument is "Which one leaves a more permanent footprint"?
The Horse does.

If the argument is which footprint causes more emotional "shock and awe" response of disgust, the Ebike does, but why?

If the argument is based on keeping it hard-core and old school - it falls flat.
Here's why....
When the old school- hard core hiker/hunter punches their elk tag, 15 miles deep, and then hires a horse packer to help retrieve it, the argument leaves hard core perception and turns to convenience or meat preservation opportunity. How is a horse convenience or meat preservation opportunity at this point, any different than using an Ebike?

So now the debate is keeping it old school.
But this comes from a guy using a long-range rifle/scope, or $1500 archery set up, after glassing an elk 5 miles away with a Swarovski spotter and marking waypoints using Onx hunt app on his I-phone.
It's at this point his old school argument loses it's validity -especially when he's standing there in $2000 of specialized hunting clothing, backpack equipment he bought after watching 40 hrs of elk hunting videos on youtube, with folded arms in disgust scolding an Ebike rider cause he isn't keeping it hard core or old school.

The truth of this debate is simple- New appearance violating old appearance mixed with hypocritical cancel culture emotions.
Old convenience hates new convenience, just because it's new.

The system believes somehow only allowing horses keeps the forests pristine and natural. While I agree the horse does this, I do not believe the hunter with new school, modern equipment does.
Yet this same Government system that believes E cars and Emotors help preserve the natural environment over gas powered engines and farting cows somehow changes its opinion in the woods?

There's no valid argument Ebikes cause more environmental damage on or off marked trails. It's the "horror shock" of seeing a bike's tire print from a few days prior on the trail or meadow.
"How dare they".
Yet seeing a horse or cattle print from last year still visible, is just part of the accepted scene.

Ebikes do less damage than wildlife as far as footprints on ground.
The biggest issue with Ebikes isn't the bikes themselves- it's the perception of change they bring because of the idiots who leave trail systems and drive across meadows or unmarked trail systems. These are usually the idiots who used UTV's and dirt bikes. Which are more environmentally damaging.

Ebikes designed for hunting (Not Suron type) don't have the torque to do any more damage than a shoed horse, elk calf, mule deer or moo cow.

 

[Phaseolus]

lucky enough for me I bought my son an ebike 2 years ago that I will be able to use. It does have suspension on both the front and rear. It has been worth it since he has ridden it a lot I think he has 2,000 miles on it. unlucky for me though is that like a lot of the e bikes from china the parts they use to put them together are cheap and junk. Ive replaced damn near everything on that bike except the battery, motor, and frame.

Yup, the majority of E bikes on the market are built with junky no name parts that will fail sooner or later. Most of those bikes are Walmart quality with an electric motor. Unfortunately really great e bikes cost a lot more money.

 

[displacedtexan]

So you hate guys on horses too ? Seems like a lot of guys just hate whatever they don’t use themselves. You’re also assuming people who use them are lazy. After I ride my bike in several miles, I still put between 8-14 miles a day on my boots. Hardly “the easy way out”…

Also, for the record, there are e-bikes that are like electric motorcycles and there are also Class 1 e-bikes that only provide some assistance when you actually pedal. I don’t see why anyone has a problem with that

After initially outlawing e-bikes , many areas are starting to allow Class 1s as they have come to understand the differences and because the idea of keeping them off non-motorized trails doesn’t really make any sense. It’s just a bike after all.

Just a bike... With a motor.

What about one of those dui special bikes with a 45cc gas engine?

 

[HunterGatherer]

Just a bike... With a motor.

The motor isn’t the real issue. As of right now they are limited to non motorized trails but , The laws/code defining and limiting “non motorized” use on federal land were made in response to problems with motorcycles, back in the 70’s. The issues they were addressing were 1) Minimizing erosion and trail impact 2) Minimizing or eliminating the noise of motorized vehicles 3) Reducing conflicts with other trail users.

Class 1 e-bikes have the same erosion impact as a standard mountain bike. (And they both have less impact to the trails and surrounding vegetation than horses. )You can’t just twist a throttle and do burnouts like some of you are imagining.

They also have the same noise level as a standard mountain bike

As far as the “conflict” with other trail users part, they aren’t loud and fast or detrimental to the trails, they don’t impact wildlife like any other motorized user or spook some outfitters pack string. All assist cuts out at 20mph and you can only go that fast on flat ground or downhill. Just like a mountain bike. Uphill speeds are more like 3-5mph

The only real conflict seems to be with the Karens of the world that think “lazy” people are cheating the system by pedaling a bike with battery assist, so they complain online . but they’re fine with outfitters and huge horse camps full of clients that paid to be transported deep into the backcountry.

What about one of those dui special bikes with a 45cc gas engine?

I’ll have to defer to you on that one but sounds like motorized to me. How about exoskeleton legs that use electric motors to reduce hiking effort by 30-40% . That will be the next big debate…motorized hiking…

 

[mtnbiker208]

If it matters, region 1 of the usfs has came out and said class 1 ebikes are motorized and can only go where motorized is allowed. So behind usfs gates is illegal on any ebike.

the only reason anyone uses an ebike is for the motor.

 

[mfllood3800]

If it matters, region 1 of the usfs has came out and said class 1 ebikes are motorized and can only go where motorized is allowed. So behind usfs gates is illegal on any ebike.

the only reason anyone uses an ebike is for the motor.

100%
The only reason anyone uses an ebike is for that motor just like the reason anyone uses a horse is for the HP. The ability to pack more easier.

I can haul an entire elk out between the ebike with the rear rack I built and my pack, as I walk beside it in walking mode, getting out those last few miles. I get meat up to where I ditched the bike and that motor helps me do exactly what the horses leg does- haul meat out. And I leave less of a footprint on the trails than a horse would.

 

[fisherman983]

I don’t like them either. If you can’t walk to your hunting spot then pick a new spot. Really upsetting spending time burning leather then get overtaken by guys on motorized bikes. Pretty lame really. Takes away from hunting in my opinion and fallows most trends nowadays of taking the easy way out, instant gratification, lack of patience, inability to put in hard work, etc.

Do you use a scope to dial? Range finder? Or any other modern piece of equipment? If so, stfu. E bikes are great and a very useful tool. They should be allowed anywhere a regular bike is allowed... show me where it hurts you that a silent bike gets game out easier is a bad thing.

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

 

[Oregon]

I don’t like them either. If you can’t walk to your hunting spot then pick a new spot. Really upsetting spending time burning leather then get overtaken by guys on motorized bikes. Pretty lame really. Takes away from hunting in my opinion and fallows most trends nowadays of taking the easy way out, instant gratification, lack of patience, inability to put in hard work, etc.

Buddy. I’ve been hunting an area for 35 years. The majority can be reached by a miserable truck ride.
Turn 60. Have 5 knee surgeries and then tell me I should walk in 6 miles.
I guess we should just quit hunting cause we are broke and in pain?
I want an e-bike. I’d own a wheeler or sxs but they just take up too much room to haul.

 

[displacedtexan]

100%
The only reason anyone uses an ebike is for that motor just like the reason anyone uses a horse is for the HP. The ability to pack more easier.

I can haul an entire elk out between the ebike with the rear rack I built and my pack, as I walk beside it in walking mode, getting out those last few miles. I get meat up to where I ditched the bike and that motor helps me do exactly what the horses leg does- haul meat out. And I leave less of a footprint on the trails than a horse would.

That's reasonable.

What's not is the ebike guys trying to convince everyone that its not really any different from a regular mountain bike.

That they absolutely wouldn't spend the money on, or use the same way.

 

[mfllood3800]

That's reasonable.

What's not is the ebike guys trying to convince everyone that its not really any different from a regular mountain bike.

That they absolutely wouldn't spend the money on, or use the same way.

It's totally different than a reg bike. Trying to pedal this heavy thing w/o motor assist on mtn trails is all that's needed to settle that argument. lol

 

[dtrkyman]

E bikes don’t belong on non motorized trails, they literally have a motor.

This is completely ignored where I’ve seen them, so the issue as usual is ignorant humans not Electric scooters!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Poser]

I had my first encounter with E dirt bikes recently. Looks like a gas powered dirt bike, but makes almost no sound. I suppose its a tradeoff as the sound is the annoying aspect of dirtbikes in the backcountry, though it does give you a heads up when they are coming up on you.

 

[mfllood3800]

E bikes don’t belong on non motorized trails, they literally have a motor.

This is completely ignored where I’ve seen them, so the issue as usual is ignorant humans not Electric scooters!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Agreed, for the same reason quads, utv's and motorcycles were frowned on. Idiots, many under age or young adults driving them off trails and across meadows in restricted areas.

BUT the biggest issue is increase in popularity. More people would buy Ebikes if allowed than get horses. Once the amount of Ebike visibility on landscape increased it quickly was viewed as an environmental threat. Yet the same Gov community pushing E vehicles on roads for environmental concerns stepped in.

 

[mfllood3800]

I can't speak for western states other than Utah, but the loudest voice pushing for nothing but horses are ranchers, who pay to lease grazing rights for cattle. These 3,4 and 5th generation families hate any motorized vehicle option. When it comes to hunting input from the public to the UDWR at a RAC meeting, the ranchers have greater pull than the ave hunter. It's hard to find anyone who hates Ebikes more than ranchers. Throw in outfitters who use horses and Ebike use on trail systems don't stand a chance.
I understand this mindset, though I struggle to agree with it as I own an Ebike.

I and probably most Ebike users/supporters are opposed to the lifting of "Roadless" rules in Nat Forest. We fear this will introduce growth in areas we want kept wild. Isn't this the same mindset the ranchers have?

 

[realunlucky]

I can't speak for western states other than Utah, but the loudest voice pushing for nothing but horses are ranchers, who pay to lease grazing rights for cattle. These 3,4 and 5th generation families hate any motorized vehicle option. When it comes to hunting input from the public to the UDWR at a RAC meeting, the ranchers have greater pull than the ave hunter. It's hard to find anyone who hates Ebikes more than ranchers. Throw in outfitters who use horses and Ebike use on trail systems don't stand a chance.
I understand this mindset, though I struggle to agree with it as I own an Ebike.

I and probably most Ebike users/supporters are opposed to the lifting of "Roadless" rules in Nat Forest. We fear this will introduce growth in areas we want kept wild. Isn't this the same mindset the ranchers have?

Lease holders get "special" access privileges so anything that challenges status que is opposed vigorously

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

 

[KHNC]

I have over 1000 miles on my R750 from hunting. Probably 400-500 more just from recreational riding.

 

[nphunter]

They've never been a useful tool for me since pretty much from day one they have been illegal to use anywhere a motor vehicle can't go. I have a motorcycle that can be pretty useful and IMO 1000% better than an electric bike where motor use is legal.

I could see the benifit if there were areas that they could be used legally that other vehicles can't but I don't know of any of those areas around me or at all. It seems like everything is either classified as non-motorized or motorized.

 

[307]

What's not is the ebike guys trying to convince everyone that its not really any different from a regular mountain bike.

In terms of impact to the land and impact on surrounding users, Ebikes aren't really different than a regular mountain bike.

In terms of ease of use to access more terrain, Ebikes are quite different than a regular mountain bike and closer to that of a ICE motorcycle.

I think the rules will evolve to allow them more places in the future due to the much lower impact on landscape and other users. There's already precedent in the boat world where electric motors are allowed on some lakes but ICE motors are not. There are some electric outboard motors which blur the lines a bit similar to electric motorcycles.

Rules will continue to evolve and adapt around new technology.

 

[Radford]

Buddy. I’ve been hunting an area for 35 years. The majority can be reached by a miserable truck ride.
Turn 60. Have 5 knee surgeries and then tell me I should walk in 6 miles.
I guess we should just quit hunting cause we are broke and in pain?
I want an e-bike. I’d own a wheeler or sxs but they just take up too much room to haul.

Most states have disabled hunter access privileges. You should look into that. Or hunt close to the road. Why would you have to quit hunting?