Whats with E bikes in whitetail hunting?

[Nick87]

Bow hunting for deer I wear rubber boots, only for hunting. Not to the gas station in the morning or after the hunt. They go on my feet where I walk to my stand from and off, into a rubber tote when I get back. If I see a pile of whether it’s cow, horse, turkey, coyote, etc I step in it.

I do it the exact same.

 

[gouch]

A couple of nights ago my wife found out that a Dodge Caravan works much better than an E-bike when it comes to killing deer.

 

[Steiny77]

Im going to respectfully say that this is hocus pocus. And you guys have been fooled by marketing.

They still have to get off their e bike when they get to the field edge or off the main trail, close to the stand, when scent counts the most.

Also, what do they do with the bike when they get to their stand? If a deer was walking down a trail and came to an e-bike leaning up on a kickstand I think it would be suspicious. And take a path around the e-bike.

I could never ride an e-bike directly to my stands in the daylight let alone in the dark without getting beheaded.

You are going to believe and do what you want but it's not all hocus pocus.
When you walk to your stand, often a half mile or more you leave a continuous scent trail of boot tracks, doesn't matter rubber or not, you are leaving scent. On the bike you are leaving a tire track, just like a tractor or vehicle which doesn't seem to bother deer much. You are also getting thru the area much quicker leaving less airborne scent.

If a bow hunter has any sense, you approach your stand location from the downwind side where you don't expect to see deer, walking or on an ebike. In many cases I'll get the bike to within 10-20 yards of my stand and stash it or lay it down in the brush, so very few foot prints left on the ground and they are downwind where you don't expect the deer to be.

I watched deer this morning walking right by a parked tractor in a field showing little concern. The ebike is another machine and it's odor doesn't seem to bother them much. I have had curious deer walk right close to it stare and stomp a bit.

You can't use them everywhere but they are pretty handy in open AG country where long walks are required to access a hunting spot. I've been using one for three years now and haven't seen any downside other than I get a bit less exercise. I'm still killing big deer.

 

[Pucky Freak]

I had a small 8 point cross the fence and walk down the same path I took to get in my stand this morning at about sunrise. He let out 2 big grunts 20 yards in front of me. I took a leak on the other side of the fence that he crossed. I didn’t blend a custom scent or ride my e-bike this morning.

Bow hunting for deer I wear rubber boots, only for hunting. Not to the gas station in the morning or after the hunt. They go on my feet where I walk to my stand from and off, into a rubber tote when I get back. If I see a pile of whether it’s cow, horse, turkey, coyote, etc I step in it.

In all seriousness this answers a question I have been wondering about since last year. Many mornings on my way to work I would see a truck parked just inside a gate to a pasture and about 150 yards down the trail, pretty much parallel to the road there would be an e-bike laying on the ground in a cluster of trees.

E-bike legal on IA public? I am out d/t the e-bike cost, but wow, are there some great applications for it - any tract that has combine trails can save a bunch of time.

Scent - scent control is a marketing concept. I take zero attempt to do anything on my own, even if it is free. Forces me to be mindful of my approach to the stand, and winds and thermals once I get there.

 

[Nick87]

You are going to believe and do what you want but it's not all hocus pocus.
When you walk to your stand, often a half mile or more you leave a continuous scent trail of boot tracks, doesn't matter rubber or not, you are leaving scent. On the bike you are leaving a tire track, just like a tractor or vehicle which doesn't seem to bother deer much. You are also getting thru the area much quicker leaving less airborne scent.

If a bow hunter has any sense, you approach your stand location from the downwind side where you don't expect to see deer, walking or on an ebike. In many cases I'll get the bike to within 10-20 yards of my stand and stash it or lay it down in the brush, so very few foot prints left on the ground and they are downwind where you don't expect the deer to be.

I watched deer this morning walking right by a parked tractor in a field showing little concern. The ebike is another machine and it's odor doesn't seem to bother them much. I have had curious deer walk right close to it stare and stomp a bit.

You can't use them everywhere but they are pretty handy in open AG country where long walks are required to access a hunting spot. I've been using one for three years now and haven't seen any downside other than I get a bit less exercise. I'm still killing big deer.

So rubber tires leave no scent. But rubber boots do?

 

[rogerthat]

I had a small 8 point cross the fence and walk down the same path I took to get in my stand this morning at about sunrise. He let out 2 big grunts 20 yards in front of me. I took a leak on the other side of the fence that he crossed. I didn’t blend a custom scent or ride my e-bike this morning.

Bow hunting for deer I wear rubber boots, only for hunting. Not to the gas station in the morning or after the hunt. They go on my feet where I walk to my stand from and off, into a rubber tote when I get back. If I see a pile of whether it’s cow, horse, turkey, coyote, etc I step in it.

In all seriousness this answers a question I have been wondering about since last year. Many mornings on my way to work I would see a truck parked just inside a gate to a pasture and about 150 yards down the trail, pretty much parallel to the road there would be an e-bike laying on the ground in a cluster of trees.

Do you guys think the Arctic sport/muck boots vs actual rubber boots would be similar?

 

[Nick87]

Do you guys think the Arctic sport/muck boots vs actual rubber boots would be similar?

Yes. Tbh i used to be very particular about my setup with boots etc, I dont think you're gonna notice a difference. I really wear the rubber boots now more for the terrain I'm hunting. Wet muddy fields and deep creek crossing or marshes.

 

[Hammsolo]

Im going to respectfully say that this is hocus pocus. And you guys have been fooled by marketing.

They still have to get off their e bike when they get to the field edge or off the main trail, close to the stand, when scent counts the most.

Also, what do they do with the bike when they get to their stand? If a deer was walking down a trail and came to an e-bike leaning up on a kickstand I think it would be suspicious. And take a path around the e-bike.

I could never ride an e-bike directly to my stands in the daylight let alone in the dark without getting beheaded.

Not true for me. Have you rode one? I mountain bike multiple times a week. I slog my big ass up steep trails to tip down.

I routinely get passed by
+$10,000 e-bikes with fatties on them with poor ergonomics. They barely pedal and their knees throw them upper cuts.

I’m not concerned with scent actually. Wind, and those powerful noses rule the day no matter what. The problem with electric mo-peds is that they provide nearly silent easy access.

 

[R.K.]

So rubber tires leave no scent. But rubber boots do?

Every time you step, there’s a puff of air coming out of the boots. That contains scent particles that settle on the ground. There’s much less of that happening on a bike.

The advantage of an e-bike is that you aren’t sweating up a storm from the 100 yard walk in Arctic expedition gear to a tree stand.

But the amount of work that people try to avoid in hunting eastern whitetail is just astounding. And the amount of money spent to do it, too.

 

[KMO385]

Im going to respectfully say that this is hocus pocus. And you guys have been fooled by marketing.

They still have to get off their e bike when they get to the field edge or off the main trail, close to the stand, when scent counts the most.

Also, what do they do with the bike when they get to their stand? If a deer was walking down a trail and came to an e-bike leaning up on a kickstand I think it would be suspicious. And take a path around the e-bike.

I could never ride an e-bike directly to my stands in the daylight let alone in the dark without getting beheaded.

Thats about 80 % of the hunting products out there in reality.

I think this accurate. I feel like e-bikes are just a convenience thing marketed under scent control. I think most of us can remember some scent control gimmicks that are laughable now. I remember scent control breath mints because if I remember the ad right it said "80% of your scent is your breath." Who can forget scent locker camo, even those who worked for the company emitted in probably didn't work. I even remember being so convinced on scent locker when I couldnt afford it and acquiring woodland camo MOPP gear when I was in the army to use instead, and I could smell the rubbery chemical smell. I did kill deer wearing it though.
I really think its probably a better marketing ploy to use scent control to sell e-bikes to the hunter market, then saying "are you tired of walking to your treestand?"

 

[Nick87]

Every time you step, there’s a puff of air coming out of the boots. That contains scent particles that settle on the ground. There’s much less of that happening on a bike.

The advantage of an e-bike is that you aren’t sweating up a storm from the 100 yard walk in Arctic expedition gear to a tree stand.

But the amount of work that people try to avoid in hunting eastern whitetail is just astounding. And the amount of money spent to do it, too.

If they want to spend there money on it, go nuts. I dont know if you guys know, but being dropped in by drone is less scent producing then your e-bike. Good luck sleeping tonight.

 

[grizzly63]

As long as there is an easier way, people will utilize it. Hope we get no lithium powered firestorms.

 

[Gellar]

E-bike legal on IA public? I am out d/t the e-bike cost, but wow, are there some great applications for it - any tract that has combine trails can save a bunch of time.

Scent - scent control is a marketing concept. I take zero attempt to do anything on my own, even if it is free. Forces me to be mindful of my approach to the stand, and winds and thermals once I get there.

There is a speed limit and engine cc limit. I can’t remember what it is but I think most e-bikes fall under it.

 

[Gellar]

Do you guys think the Arctic sport/muck boots vs actual rubber boots would be similar?

I’ve always worn lacrosse. But whatever fit your feet the best is what I’d go with. Lacrosse alphaburly seem to fit my feet the best. 25 years ago they were $79 for the uninsulated ones. Now there are pairs over $200. At least I can get them in camouflage to match the rest of my kit though.

 

[Gellar]

As long as there is an easier way, people will utilize it. Hope we get no lithium powered firestorms.

The older I get the less gadgets I want to bring with me.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

If they want to spend there money on it, go nuts. I dont know if you guys know, but being dropped in by drone is less scent producing then your e-bike. Good luck sleeping tonight.

I know this was said in jest.. but ever seen deer react to a drone? They aren’t quiet and deer don’t like them.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Im going to respectfully say that this is hocus pocus. And you guys have been fooled by marketing.

They still have to get off their e bike when they get to the field edge or off the main trail, close to the stand, when scent counts the most.

Also, what do they do with the bike when they get to their stand? If a deer was walking down a trail and came to an e-bike leaning up on a kickstand I think it would be suspicious. And take a path around the e-bike.

I could never ride an e-bike directly to my stands in the daylight let alone in the dark without getting beheaded.

If they wouldn’t be of benefit to how you hunt that’s cool. I know how I hunt and am capable of using logic but thanks for the heads up so I can make sure I’m not “fooled”.

On the small private parcels I hunt I mostly stay on the outside edges and try to avoid entering the heart of the property or let my wind blow into it. That means I often park a ways away so I don’t alert deer by parking close by. It also means I only hunt the stands with wind directions blowing my scent to relatively dead zones. These “dead zones” would be a good place to leave an ebike laying.

Anyone who’s spent time hunting knows deer don’t aways immediately freak out when they see people in a pickup, atv, tractor, etc. Get off the vehicle and start walking it’s a different story. I suspect they’d be less comfortable with seeing a human on a ebike because of how quiet they are but if you cut your travel time down by 80% that’s 80% less time that you are visible to deer. I also think deer are much more accepting of scent from a tractor, atv, etc than from someone walking.

Deer that don’t know they’re being hunted in a given spot are a lot easier to kill. And the more scent you lay out in an area the more cagey they’ll be.

Also, if I can cut 20 mins off a walk to a stand that adds up to hours more in the stand over the course of a season. If scent and lower odds of being detected weren’t benefits the time savings alone could justify an ebike for some folks.

 

[mtmuley]

Man. Glad I hunt mountain whitetails. mtmuley

 

[Nick87]

I know this was said in jest.. but ever seen deer react to a drone? They aren’t quiet and deer don’t like them.

No, proud to say that I have not.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Man. Glad I hunt mountain whitetails. mtmuley

More fun for sure!