Bike Hunting Q & A
Without the cover of heavy wind, you can’t just sneak up on a wild animal – or can you? Photo credit: John Hafner
Hunting with a mountain bike is gaining popularity. It is an extremely quiet way to get back in the woods. But people have Questions. Here are the Answers.
Q. I’ve got a pretty sweet mountain bike I use outside of hunting. Is it really necessary to paint it up and make it camouflage or can I leave the finish alone?
A. Leave the finish alone. Some hunters paint their bikes camouflage. Others sand them down to dull the sheen. You can always camouflaging the bike the old-fashioned way: tuck it under brush, cut limbs to drape over the frame, or carry camo fabric for covering.
Q. Should I buy a fat bike?
A. You can hunt with any bike and still achieve a silent approach. The bike increases the ground you cover and gets you into backcountry where ATVs are forbidden. A fat bike makes all that easier.
Here’s how Outside puts it: “There are hunters who’ve used bikes for decades, but the rise of the fat bike—effectively a human-powered ATV—is making the practice easier. The broad tire contact patch and low gearing enable these rigs to crawl over loose, rugged, unconsolidated land.”
Q. Can you buy bow and gun racks for bikes?
A. Most hunters who documented their bike-rigging trips make their own racks or buy bow/gun holders designed to mount on an ATV rack or handlebars. Manufactured holders work just as well on bikes as on ATVs.
Q. Are bike lights necessary or overkill?
A. Lights are helpful. And when you’re navigating a forest in the predawn, well before you approach areas that require optimum stealth, you’d hate to wipe out on a tree root. But bike lights aren’t a must. Wear a headlamp or strap a light to the center of your handlebars.
Q. Can I hunt near bike trails on state and federal lands?
A. Always check with officials who manage the land you plan to hunt. Some areas allow hunting the woodlands surrounding bike trails, while others do not.
