Predator Hunting Bicycle

T

Trophyhunter

New member
I was wondering if anyone else uses a bicycle to hunt for coyotes. I have a 12 speed mountain bike that I camoed years ago. I put puncture proof tubes in the tires. I put a bow/gun rack on the handlebars along with a light to get back after dark. I mounted 2 water bottle holders to the frame. I also mounted a basket on the back to carry my JS caller and other gear. Traveling from stand to stand is faster and quieter than walking. I have actually slipped up on all sorts of wildlife. I started using the bike several years ago to turkey hunt, so I could cover more ground while locating gobblers. It worked so well for me that I now use it for all types of hunting. I have even carried tree stands in to controlled hunt locations, and public hunting areas where motorized vehicles were not allowed. I have even straddled my deer over the seat and handle bars, and pushed it back to the truck with much more ease than dragging. One of my hunting buddies laughed at the idea at first, but it wasn't long before he went out and bought a bike himself. It also has other benefits. It helps to keep me in good physical condition. I get fewer ticks, and chiggers when using it in the spring, summer, and early fall. You would be supprised at how easily you can go through grass, briars, woods, shallow creeks and puddles. The only thing I really have found it hard to go through is loose sand or gravel, but it is easy to push when you find places that are difficult to ride in. I went out and made a few stands this afternoon. Give it a try, and let me know what you think.
 
I've got to admit, Trophyhunter, that at first, I laughed, too. Then, after mulling it over for a minute and reading your post, I can see the merit of what you suggest. I've spoke with guys that use them to get in and out from their bowhunting deerstands and they find them very useful. Personally, I'll stick with my ATV, but a bike would be just as good in some circumstances. And yes...my buddies would probably laugh at me, too. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
......ok, but how can you possibly carry all the goodies and gadgets you MUST have to call coyotes successfully? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

It sounds like you have something that works for you and is fun......keeps the beer gut in shape too. Post a pic when you get you next coyote with it!

Good Hunting,

Bob
 
Here in the Northwest we have lots of logging roads that are gated and no RV's allowed. Just foot, horse and mountain bike. Bikes are great and lots of guys use them. Wait until you see someone pushing one out with a bear tied on top!!
Besdies they are fun too.
Carl
 
I'm just giddy with anticipation of seeing Trophyhunter hauling butt with a coyote strapped to the handlebars that he was just sure was dead.... thirty seconds ago. :eek: One of those classic Patrick F. McManus moments. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Being handicapped in the right leg, I have used this method to cover large amounts of territory in almost complete silence.

One of the Corporate Sponsors of The PCBA (Physically Challenged Bowhunters of America) is Montanna Scabbards. They have scabbards to put on your bike, I think for bow or gun.

I know of a pretty good bit of turkey hunters that use this method, especially on public land like Management areas to cover long distances quickly and silently. They can use their mouth calls as they pedal down the road to help them find a turkey.

Most of the time I dont pedal the bike, I kinda hang to one side and push on the ground with the strong leg (kinda like the way a skateboard is propelled). It works really well.

If you need to get an animal out of a location on the bike, build a quick travois like the indians did, and drag that sucker out on it.

You would be surprised at how effective you can become using a bicycle to hunt with.
 
I've thought about a bike before but 3 things stopped me from getting serious about it. A good mountain bike ain't cheap and I really don't know if they could get the ambulance down in some of the areas I hunt and if they did the siren might spook the critters. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Just kidding (I know they could shut off the siren)
 
Trophyhunter, that's one of the best ideas I've heard of in a long time, (I don't know about a camo bike though lol). Where I live a mountain bike can go places even a ATV can't go, I think it would work real good in cat country. The only real draw back would be if you get to many animals. You could always make one of them A Frames to pull behind the bike or you could always case them I guess. Good luck and Good Hunting.
 
Interesting concept. Might be worth a try. Would make it easier and faster to get further away from the truck. Keep us informed on any further developments.

Paul
 
This archery elk season my partner and i mtn. biked in on an old logging trail 4 miles into the Colo State Forest of Northern CO. with 45 lbs. on my back, and almost 60 on his (he's bigger 'n me). It was sure tough getting in-- but all downhill goin' out. Took almost 2 hrs. to get in, and all of 20 minutes out.
 
Bicycles????

You read my mind. I own a mountain bike that is really shiney. It needs a camo paint job!

I have been thinking about using it for 'ote hunting. In fact, I have even been thinking about night hunting w/ it. Stealth is only part of the advantage w/ a bicycle. The noise pattern from a bicycle is not a familiar one to animals. I think that critters would tend to dismiss what little sound that it would make.

The only trouble w/ night manuvers is that I am now in "cat country" now.

In my mind, cougars would think that a "biker" would be a good dinner!

The light/spooking of game problem could be solved by using a red colored head light.

No laughs here about hunting w/ bicycles.
 
Trophyhunter,
I read about a guy in California who hunted between L.A.and San Diego.He swore by it,covered 5x the amount of ground and quietly.Seems like a great idea to me!

I remember seeing some small country that has a military force that uses bicycles.They have gone over them thoroughly and did many little mods to keep them from rattling.They could travel almost undetected with their training
 
Camo'ing your bike isn't necessary... yet.

Critters haven't yet learn to associate mtn bikers with hunters, or danger. Around here unless you take your hands off the handlebars, the deer aren't even afraid of motorcycles.

Just like the truck, you leave your bike away from the stand a little ways.
A bike has a lot of "rattley parts" and I think even when pushed makes to much approach noise.

The rear frame tube on the chain side, needs some kind of coating to keep it from going "clank clank" when the chain bounces against it. I use a piece of old inner tube rubber wrapped around it in a spiral and secured with a zip-tie.

I carry my rifle over my back, with the strap on my back and my rifle hanging under my belly, with the muzzle pointing up towards my right shoulder.
This way if I need to shoot I can grab it with my left hand by the forend, and remove and mount it in one smooth motion, ending up with my left arm wrapped in the sling for stability.

Make sure you keep a piece of mild sandpaper (120 grit) in your bike kit, with it you can "rough up" glazed brake pads and rims, preventing that dreaded squeal of brakes as you come down to your stand.

Now you'll have a stealthy speedy hunter!

Good luck!

Jeff
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P.S. My everyday driver is a 24 speed mtn bike /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Krustyklimber,
Zip ties will eliminate most rattles. I also use clear, oderless, food grade grease to lubricate other sqeeking parts. It can be purchased at resturant supply stores for a couple of bucks for a tube.
Carrying a piece of sandpaper for the brake pads is a very good idea. Thanks for the tip.
 
I hate squeaky brakes on a bike!! I used to race mountain bikes and road bikes and when your going downhill at 50 mph, squealing brakes suck!!And its loud.

I know a guy that had an archery shop in town and he elk hunted for a couple years off a mountain bike. He kind of liked it.

I quit riding cause I met two guys that raced and they both got testicular cancer and had one testical removed. I love mountain biking and have rode and raced bikes since I was a kid but that scared me.

I rode my 10 year old's BMX bike the other day ,thought Id show off and do some tricks for him. But my ass started hurting so bad I had to quit :rolleyes:
BUT, I am having visions of me in a 3 wheel chain driven coyotemobile with a nice comfy seat, with coyotes stacked on back, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
complete with shooting platform, rifle rack, spotlights etc.
 
Hey Lone Howl! You may be on to something there. How about one of those old 3 wheeled granny bikes with the low gears? Big basket? Big saddle? Actually I used to do quite a bit of hunting from my mountain bikes. I have tried it here in Arizona but the goat heads are hell on tires. When I was still in Wyoming I used to have an old kiddie cart that I drug behind when I was hunting prairie dogs. I could load ammo, shooting bags, mat and lunch without trying to figure out how to hang it on the bike frame. I had a gun rack that was made for a 4 wheeler rack that I attached to the handle bars. The cart was nice because you could haul all of your junk and drop it in a central location. You can also throw your dogs in the back, too.
 
I have actually used an old mtn bike as a wheel barrow many times to wheel out elk. Simply cut the elk in half at the 3rd rib and toss half over the seat tie up the legs and push. Make sure the breaks work well if going down hill. Make sure you brighten things up so you don't get shot. I usually skin and dehead it prior and use an old blaze orange vest.
 
I've used a mountain bike for waterfowling for years. As bad as biking in waders is, I gotta tell you I can get my fat butt, a bag full of dekes, and a shotgun slung over my shoulder in and out of some prime duck stands, and away from most of the crowds, PDQ.

Since getting into predator hunting the past few years, I've often thought a bike might be equally as useful as it is with waterfowling. I figure there were just two problems: coyotes don't carry out as easily as a few ducks in a decoy bag. Not to mention I'd sure hate to have to haul my decoys along on a predator hunt. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Secondly, if I could nice smooth dikes to ride on where I hunt coyotes, it'd make things a lot easier for me. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

As far as camo goes, I would just throw a smal camoed tarp over my bike, in well marked, easily remembered area along the path in /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif , and walk a bit beyond there to do my hunting.

I wonder how my wife would feel about our "kid trailer" doubling as a carcass hauler...???
 
Mtn bikes don't necessarily have to be expensive. Look for the police auctions in your area. The one item they have the most of is BIKES. This is esp. true in college towns. A few individual bikes may go steep, but often ordinary bikes go cheap, or even get clumped together to go cheap.

Once, when I was interested in building a dog scooter (which I never did), I went to a police auction, located a few 26" Mtn bikes that would work and waited. The few bikes before the first one I wanted didn't sell, so they clumped them in with the bike I wanted and I bought the lot for $5.00. The other bikes were 2 kids bikes (hot dog/mtn bike type of the same model), and a womans 10 speed. I used parts from one kids bike to fix up the other, saved the tires for a someday garden cart, and threw away the frame. Fixed up the ladies bike (just needed a little elbow grease), and sold both bikes for $10 each. I spent no money on parts, just a little of my time, and I still have the original mtn bike I wanted. Made a profit of $15 bucks, and now this topic has made me think "hunting bike". /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

John
 


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