Hunting from dirtbikes

[psyclops]

hey guys,

I just wondered if anyone else have tried to hunt from dirtbikes? We have gotten dozens of grouse this way but no deer yet.

We were up around Lillooet last weekend and they work pretty good in an inch or two of snow but after that its pretty sketchy (you cant look around at all while driving). We did see a couple other guys riding bikes up around mud lakes/poison mountain, they said what are you gonna do if you get a deer? I said well we could go get the truck, quarter it and tie it on our bikes, make a travois (Graham Greene does that with a motorcycle in Thunderheart), or pack it out in a few trips but either way its easier than walking it out. They seemed to agree.

Anyways here are some pictures of the trip, was a lot of fun (we're still ironing out the systems, new bikes etc) but we didn't have any luck other than grouse. Anyone else try this method, what exactly do you do to make it work? Do you ride down roads in neutral with the engine off etc? I'm thinking to ride these up to the alpine before dawn and park them and find a place to glass/watch as the sun comes up.. but now its snowy up there so that'll have to wait for next year I guess. Road hunting off the bikes just isn't that good of a method to find deer it seems, you can get to some extremely far out hard to reach locations though. Any input would be great, thanks.

http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z343/Boulderfield/20131012_141324_zpsbc461251.jpg (http://s1185.photobucket.com/user/Boulderfield/media/20131012_141324_zpsbc461251.jpg.html)

http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z343/Boulderfield/20131012_141409_zps9c0dc009.jpg (http://s1185.photobucket.com/user/Boulderfield/media/20131012_141409_zps9c0dc009.jpg.html)



http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z343/Boulderfield/20131012_141516_zpsa5aaeb99.jpg (http://s1185.photobucket.com/user/Boulderfield/media/20131012_141516_zpsa5aaeb99.jpg.html)


http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z343/Boulderfield/20131014_121451_zpse0eaf98e.jpg (http://s1185.photobucket.com/user/Boulderfield/media/20131014_121451_zpse0eaf98e.jpg.html)

http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z343/Boulderfield/20131014_121533_zps3a544c31.jpg (http://s1185.photobucket.com/user/Boulderfield/media/20131014_121533_zps3a544c31.jpg.html)

The white mountains in the background of these shots is the snowy area we were in in the first shots. This area was up a road no one had driven in years, we had to ride thru a few creeks to get up it. No sign anywhere though... pretty quiet looking.

[hare_assassin]

It's the way to go, IMO.

My buddy and I have knocked down a mulie each and tons of grouse and hare so far this season. Different style of bikes, but the same methods.

Sometimes just cruising the roads, often venturing into trails that cars and even quads don't go on (can easily follow game trails no matter how narrow they get), and often parking the bike somewhere secluded and going for a hike. All methods have resulted in game. I took my buck alone, while cruising a road. My buddy's buck was the result of the two of us hiking through the bush to a clearing. Grouse and hare are everywhere, as you know.

You are right, there are many answers to the question "what do you do if you get a deer". You can gut/skin it, wrap it and drag it. Whip back to the truck and get a game cart and then pull it behind the bike. Quarter it and carry it. Gut it and carry it whole to a truck-accessible road/trail and then throw it in the back. Whatever. There's always a way to get the animal out of the bush. :)

Good luck and stick with it. It works, it is fun, and it saves a ton of money on gas. Also, I find I see tons of mulies on it, whether road, trails, whatever. More than I ever did in my truck. :)

[psyclops]

sounds like we need to get to the Kamloops area! :)

what are u guys riding, trials bikes?

[russm]

I'm planning on doing the the same next week, was also thinking what to go if I shoot something, I was considering finding an old canvas tarp or something I could tie up behind the bike and put the deer on the tarp(also securing the deer) and just ride the bike hopefully having the deer stay on the tarp behind the bike, either that or go get the truck.

[hare_assassin]

sounds like we need to get to the Kamloops area! :)

what are u guys riding, trials bikes?

I ride a Honda CT-70 (people chuckle till they see me load it into my truck with my bare hands and lift it over dead-fall). My buddy rides a CT-90. Each has their pros and cons. They both get us anywhere we want to go for about $1.50 a day. :D

Yes. Kamloops is a great place to be (but don't tell anyone).

[hare_assassin]

I'm planning on doing the the same next week, was also thinking what to go if I shoot something, I was considering finding an old canvas tarp or something I could tie up behind the bike and put the deer on the tarp(also securing the deer) and just ride the bike hopefully having the deer stay on the tarp behind the bike, either that or go get the truck.

The dragging thing didn't work quite as well as we had thought it would last Sunday. Eventually we actually put the deer on my bike and he held the back end on as I controlled the throttle and steered through the crap, while holding the antlers against the handle-bars. Once we got it to a decent road, we said f*ck it and went and got the truck.

If the deer is smaller, you could do what this crazy Kiwi does in this video: Skip to 6:30 for the good part (the whole video is fun to watch, actually).


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX21Js2y5Ic

[psyclops]

yeah ive seen an old thread - on here actually I think it was - when I was google searching about dirtbike hunting in the past, and there were a bunch of pics of trail90s or Ct-70 and 90s I guess they are, with bucks folded in half and strapped onto the back of the bike with ratchet straps.. pretty cool! thanks for the input. We thought about that dragging method but once you aren't in the snow anymore its pretty rough. I had an idea to use a small Christmas tree type tree, lay that down and strap a buck on it and drag that.. might work. It would be thick enough to keep the deer from getting ruined by the road most likely, if you can keep it level and not roll over around corners.

[Kudu]

My son Josh and I hunted for ever off a couple of Honda Xr's.....

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i460/poofter_paddi/4b16c1b45a13fb6116d5ee09c24e9bee_zps48173810.jpg


http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i460/poofter_paddi/18964e624adee4fa4654c489390e38d3_zps9467b3b6.jpg


now a days we do it a little differently....


http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b535/privateaffair/30d4a1ed12f4bb9a40ab856ba037b826_zpsc780db54.jpg


http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b535/privateaffair/584ca6ffd3aa984cb477dc75459dfe98_zpsaf006e36.jpg

[Sofa King]

I've seen some dirt bike tracks in a couple areas where I've been this year.
hard to tell if they were hunting or just out riding though.
seems like a little too awkward to haul a deer for me, but if that's what ya got, use it.
hard to argue with how cheap they are on gas.

[russm]

It'll be my first time trying to use the 140cc Kawasaki lol but I figure I'll be a me to get more places and do it a lot quieter than driving the big loud f150 around

[hare_assassin]

I've seen some dirt bike tracks in a couple areas where I've been this year.
hard to tell if they were hunting or just out riding though.
seems like a little too awkward to haul a deer for me, but if that's what ya got, use it.
hard to argue with how cheap they are on gas.

Yep. And the initial cost was only $600. I've saved that in gas already.

[hare_assassin]

It'll be my first time trying to use the 140cc Kawasaki lol but I figure I'll be a me to get more places and do it a lot quieter than driving the big loud f150 around

Good luck. You'll have a blast, I guarantee it!

[psyclops]

yea we both ride all day usually, like 12 hours and its like $20 a day or less for both of us (hard on the ass tho!). I got 137km off one tank of gas last trip, which is only 2 gallons on my bike. That was up and down multiple mountains too.. much better than hundreds of dollars for a few days of bush cruising the truck, plus driving the truck all weekend like that is way more stressful depending on terrain, u might fk the truck up way off in the middle of nowhere and be stranded. One time we basically burnt out the clutch turning around on a narrow mountain road.. barely got home that time!

nice Kudu, one day!

[hare_assassin]

When I see this my first reaction is "Cool!".

Quickly followed by my second reaction, which is "that is some damned expensive meat".

For those who can afford it, I am sure it makes for a great hunt, but that'll never be me (and I'm sure not poor).


My sons and I hunted for ever off a couple of Honda Xr's, now a days we do it a little differently....

http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b535/privateaffair/30d4a1ed12f4bb9a40ab856ba037b826_zpsc780db54.jpg


http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b535/privateaffair/584ca6ffd3aa984cb477dc75459dfe98_zpsaf006e36.jpg

[dingdongdenny]

used to hunt with ct70, throw it in a boat and go to the islands for the weekend.Tie the deer on the bike, head over handle bars and ass end over back.,ride the deer down the road to the boat.Island blacktail though, so a little smaller.

[Foxton Gundogs]

I bought mine because I thought it would be the cat's a$$ for getting under gates but after I bagged my first deer way back and the hassle I had getting it out went back to my quad.......Anyone want a 200cc dirt bike cheap lol

[Kudu]

When I see this my first reaction is "Cool!".

Quickly followed by my second reaction, which is "that is some damned expensive meat".

For those who can afford it, I am sure it makes for a great hunt, but that'll never be me (and I'm sure not poor).




We woke up around Christmas this year, and realized that if we (the wife and I) came off our dirt bikes (we loved our Ktm's and yamaha's) it would be a long time before we healed up and got back to work, so we traded in the bikes and got a RZR.

Sons are on Ktm and husky respectively, we have fun chasing each other around on trails and dunes - Doing a little scouting and hunting to boot!

[hare_assassin]

used to hunt with ct70, throw it in a boat and go to the islands for the weekend.Tie the deer on the bike, head over handle bars and ass end over back.,ride the deer down the road to the boat.Island blacktail though, so a little smaller.

That's awesome!

[hare_assassin]

We woke up around Christmas this year, and realized that if we (the wife and I) came off our dirt bikes (we loved our Ktm's and yamaha's) it would be a long time before we healed up and got back to work, so we traded in the bikes and got a RZR.



Totally understand. Fast dirt bikes can be dangerous! I avoid this potential danger by having the 70 geared so low that the top speed in 3rd gear is barely fast enough to outrun a blackie. :) I rarely get beyond second gear, and if I ever lose balance or get into trouble all I have to do is stand up. Geared that low, it'll climb hills better than me.

[Peter Pepper]

used to hunt with ct70, throw it in a boat and go to the islands for the weekend.Tie the deer on the bike, head over handle bars and ass end over back.,ride the deer down the road to the boat.Island blacktail though, so a little smaller.

I think we need a picture to really visualize this!

[whitlers]

Fun..yess! Practical..not at all.

[psyclops]

we can get up into the sub alpine in less than an hour when you would take half a day with a quad or all day with horses.. seems to have its advantages, we're still working out the kinks tho! :)

[E.V.B.H.]

Don't want to be a downer but riding in the sub alpine off trail is illegal I'm pretty sure. Anywhere off trail is considered environmental vandalism and subject to a fine. Not even sure if riding game trails is legal? Anyone know?

[psyclops]

if its not illegal its pretty unclassy to destroy the alpine. We backpack in the alpine too and have a very healthy respect for the mountains. mostly tho there are roads that run up there, they're just super old and rough and not for trucks.


also if motor vehicle access is not allowed it will show in the backroads map book I'm pretty sure, everywhere else is good to go, just act responsibly and with integrity.

[Buck]

If i rode a two wheeler motorbike for hunting it would be a Rokon.http://www.rokon.com/

[Stone Sheep Steve]

It's my daily commuter but I find I'm using it less for hunting now that my daughter is also hunting.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/Battle_Scarred_Bruin_009.jpg
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/Archery_Moose_2006_001.jpg
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/Grizz_Hunt_3_2010_074.jpg
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/Jamie_s_first_001.jpg

Not just good on gas but you can get to your destination over bumpy roads waaaay faster.

SSS

[whitlers]

That raft setup is badassss

[deadlyshot19]

I used to hunt off a dirt bike, it wasn't bad but a few years ago I bought a Yamaha Grizzly quad and I wont have it any other way now. Wayy more comfortable.

[Kudu]

http://youtu.be/hAoaq8dFB-4

[Kudu]

http://youtu.be/7bemCqh0ozc

[Kudu]

http://youtu.be/OIlzL-9xrf4

[Kudu]

http://youtu.be/nTpTIVlC7Ho

[Chody]

Quick Question,
When hunting from a dirtbike, you do not need a trigger lock on when riding correct? just needs to be unloaded?

[theoutdoorsman]

Yes, so long as it's unloaded you're good to go. Same as on an ATV. Best to run a mag fed gun when hunting off a bike