E-Bike, ATV, or Polaris?

[Andre Bell]

Okay, so the ebikes have made their debut and it seems like that's the latest craze and I have the kitchen pass for only one. Lol. Question for everyone though, if you had to choose one, what would it be? I know it's dependent on terrain and distance but in general, the price point is the same. What are your pros and cons to each vehicle based off your personal experience? Thank you!

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[NMSbowhunter]

I have none of the above but unless I am mistaken, it is usually a question of legality. Most guys who are buying the ebikes are doing so because the areas they hunt are public land that is off limits to any "motorized" vehicle. The motorized part is semantics, though since I am assuming the ebikes have motors.

I have a friend who as a side by side. He paid something like $12,000 for it and another $2,000 for a trailer to haul it. He ended up getting a gasoline powered one after buying an electric. I was there for the maiden voyage of the electric side by side. It was August in Mississippi. We left his house and drove about 6 miles north and then onto the lease. We then rode about 4 miles through timber company logging roads checking spots. The batteries gave up the ghost at about the ten mile mark. We had a nice ten mile walk back to his house in 110 degree heat and got his truck and trailer to haul it back. He called them and they said new batteries would be a grand. He promptly sold it and got a gas one.

He also has a 4 wheeler which he used before the side by side. It was a lot like my chainsaw in that it never stared the first day he tried to use it every season and it had to go to the shop for repairs.

Based on his experiences, if it were me and I had a place to legally use it and wanted one and could justify the cost, I would get a gasoline powered side by side.

 

[Gator]

Modded golf cart. Depending on your needs.

Pro for the bike would be ease of transport but much more difficult to haul equipment or deer out. I got a lifted golf cart over 10 years ago when I first bought my farm and have never once regretted it. Even recently when it came time to replace the batteries (ouch that was expensive). Mine is just two wheel drive but I have never been stuck but they do make 4 wheel drive ones. My new lithium batteries are rated at 40 mile range.

The counter argument to the gas version is the noise and smell. I could ride right by deer without spooking them on my electric and don't have to deal with gas to get on your hands or clothes etc.

 

[kyler1945]

I've owned 3 atv's, 2 boats, golf cart, multiple mountain bikes, an ebike, a rokon trailblazer, and a dirt bike.

I've hunted off of all but the dirt bike, but have made a couple backcountry camps off of it.

It is most definitely a question of private/public, flat/steep, rocky/muddy/sandy, trails/no trails, highway use/not.

The above questions will dictate the majority of the use.

I don't see the value in a side by side and golf cart, unless you have private land, or vast public where they're legal and usable.

Boat is the same way - though I'd argue that moving to a place you can hunt by boat is worth it and you should do that. Hunting by boat is awesome.

I've used the Ebike the most the last 3 seasons. It has been surprisingly versatile. But one place it does not do well is mud. Both from performance, and getting you covered in it. I'm not talking about a puddle. I'm talking about Mississippi river mud, the whole trail wide, the whole trail long. Atv only way to stay clean enough to want to hunt.

If I'm picking one from sheer practicality, I'm selling the boat and atv, and keeping the ebike.

 

[KYHunter]

I have an Ebike and a 4-wheeler. If you primarily hunt public I’d go E-bike, if you own or hunt private I’d say side-by-side or wheeler. Better play it safe and get one of each

 

[VASteve]

Another possible consideration, depending on the answers to Kyler's questions above, is something like this Tuore V. The guys at Midwest Whitetail and Bill Winkie used them. They are made in the USA (Rocky Mount, VA I believe).

Tuore V | About Us | Personal Off Road Electric Vehicles

TUORE-V is an acronym for The Ultimate Off Road Electric-Vehicle, and that is exactly what our electric vehicles are.

tuore-v.com

 

[CooterBrown]

great day you can guy a good side by side for the price of that thing

 

[NMSbowhunter]

For me it is a cost benefit question. If I had $14,000 (side by side and trailer) burning a hole in my pocket, I would rather spend that money leasing some quality land or planning some DIY hunting trips to some really good whitetail states. Even $2000 on an ebike could fund an out of state hunt to some good ground.

 

[BTaylor]

Another possible consideration, depending on the answers to Kyler's questions above, is something like this Tuore V. The guys at Midwest Whitetail and Bill Winkie used them. They are made in the USA (Rocky Mount, VA I believe).

Tuore V | About Us | Personal Off Road Electric Vehicles

TUORE-V is an acronym for The Ultimate Off Road Electric-Vehicle, and that is exactly what our electric vehicles are.

tuore-v.com

View attachment 76949View attachment 76949

$15k for that thing?

 

[Rutman]

Ebike- very quiet going to and from the stand. Doesn’t spook game. Can haul a deer out on flat ground if needed. Will go nearly anywhere but down really muddy horse trails or fresh mud logging roads. I’ve had one the last 3 seasons. I don’t hunt without it.

4 wheeler- go anywhere, anytime. Spooking deer to the next county. Haul anything to or out of the woods.

If I had 10k to spend, I’d buy a new ebike and a good used Honda 4 wheeler.


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[Empostarr]

Like some have said, what else do you plan on using it for? I have a gas side by side, and I only have 3 acres I own, but my neighbors have a combined 30 and there's a ton of public near me (can't drive on it unless designated trails). But I have to go to the end of the road for my mail and my garbage, I've got a big driveway, and I use a wood burning boiler in the winter to heat my house and save on propane. So for me, the side by side does a lot. I use it to haul logs, take the trash out, go get the mail, plow my driveway, tow my log splitter, and go for drives on the trails around me. We even use it instead of a wheelbarrow now too, since it has a dump bed. If I ever end up buying more land, then I could use it for navigating that too. If its purely for accessing hunting spots, get something smaller and cheaper. But if you can use it for other things, the side by side or an ATV is a nice option.

 

[Gator]

Like some have said, what else do you plan on using it for? I have a gas side by side, and I only have 3 acres I own, but my neighbors have a combined 30 and there's a ton of public near me (can't drive on it unless designated trails). But I have to go to the end of the road for my mail and my garbage, I've got a big driveway, and I use a wood burning boiler in the winter to heat my house and save on propane. So for me, the side by side does a lot. I use it to haul logs, take the trash out, go get the mail, plow my driveway, tow my log splitter, and go for drives on the trails around me. We even use it instead of a wheelbarrow now too, since it has a dump bed. If I ever end up buying more land, then I could use it for navigating that too. If its purely for accessing hunting spots, get something smaller and cheaper. But if you can use it for other things, the side by side or an ATV is a nice option.

I do all of those things with my lifted electric golf cart as well (except for plowing my driveway). My 4 year old burns up the yard with it as well. I live on 14 acres and have trails throughout. Super convenient! BTW, I paid $3500 for my already lifted used golf cart.

 

[thedutchtouch]

E-Bike for run and gun/saddle hunting, gas atv for distance/multiday/hauling.

But neither are legal where I hunt so it's boots for me.

 

[kyler1945]

Like some have said, what else do you plan on using it for? I have a gas side by side, and I only have 3 acres I own, but my neighbors have a combined 30 and there's a ton of public near me (can't drive on it unless designated trails). But I have to go to the end of the road for my mail and my garbage, I've got a big driveway, and I use a wood burning boiler in the winter to heat my house and save on propane. So for me, the side by side does a lot. I use it to haul logs, take the trash out, go get the mail, plow my driveway, tow my log splitter, and go for drives on the trails around me. We even use it instead of a wheelbarrow now too, since it has a dump bed. If I ever end up buying more land, then I could use it for navigating that too. If its purely for accessing hunting spots, get something smaller and cheaper. But if you can use it for other things, the side by side or an ATV is a nice option.

I think that this gets at the real problem - a label issue.

Guy says what’s best ride for hunting.

People answer side by side. Why? Because I can gather firewood also. Wellllll, I’m pretty sure it’s a good tool for firewood gathering, and a fringe benefit you can occasionally use it to hunt. Not the other way around.

Then guy takes that story, and convinces himself it’s the right choice, because it’s versatile!

If he did some accounting, he’d realize he might haul firewood twice because he lives in south Florida. And the main benefit of the side by side to him becomes worthless.


This relates to all hunting gear, really. Most people are telling themselves a story about their hunting habits and needs. Taking a more quantitative approach to gathering the data, before making the qualitative assessment - this is what I WANT or NEED - would yield better results.

Example: drilling a tree for bolts is very time consuming.

Sure, compared to having two sticks laying on the ground ready to strap to tree, and the other two hanging from your saddle.

But when you factor in the entire bundle of inputs, you realize that there’s no material difference.


Other random thoughts:


If you’re getting the ride to make people think you’re a good hunter for status signaling, I think atv is probably best bang for the buck.

If you actually want to be a good hunter- as in, get results - , with minimal investment and distraction, forgo any need for machine transportation, and only hunt close to access.

If you’re willing to stroke 10-15k for a side by side, wait 6-12 months and there willl be a glut of far more capable machines available on used car market. as people are laid off, home equity evaporates, diesel and gas remain expensive, you’ll have lots of options for same price. And they can be driven on road. And do everything a side by side does better.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

One of the key uses for any ATV, side by side around here is the need to truck large quantities of corn to the bait site. That is the #1 use around here. Also, almost everyone I know and talk to won't even think of hunting a spot unless they can drive a 4 wheeler or side by side to the spot. They worry about how they are going to get a deer out instead of focusing on killing a buck. I see all these guys in $50 to $60 K trucks pulling huge trailers and huge side by sides and I just don't get it. I think watching hunting shows has them convinced they have to have that to kill a deer.

One of our buddies bought a brand new Ford F150 4x4 truck because he said he needed a new hunting vehicle. I didn't see him at camp and asked about him, worried maybe he was sick. No, he just had to pick up Saturday hours to pay for the truck so he can't hunt on Saturdays now. My buddy also said that the few times he did come out he asked if it was OK to go hunt in my friend's older truck since he didn't want to take the new truck off gravel since it might get scratched.

 

[Buckhole75]

I own a Canam Defender and aint gonna be without one I own a little piece of property and the list of things that I do with mine far exceeds its use as a hunting vehicle One of the best tools I own Have owned more four wheelers than I care to admit and would never substitute one for my SXS
I have a bike I hunt off of but not as much as I used too and I only use it on public ground But as I general rule I walk in on those places Trails are too rough to pedal on or are nonexistent Ebikes aren’t legal on foot traffic only trails here so that option is out for me I believe the answer to this question is absolutely gonna be up to the individual and his situation

 

[4090Sharps]

While I mostly hunt National Forest land, designated Wilderness areas, and other areas where motorized vehicles aren't allowed, I recently bought a relatively inexpensive ebike to get myself down roads that are rough on a 4WD truck or even a SxS. An ebike can slip through or be lifted over areas that other vehicles will struggle in. It was far cheaper than modifying my truck or acquiring another gas-powered vehicle, I don't need a trailer for it, and the maintenance will be easier.

Admittedly, I was a bit tempted by the new Honda Trail 125...

One thing I need to look into is if I can remove the battery and ride in areas where mountain bikes are allowed but ebikes are banned.

 

[kyler1945]

While I mostly hunt National Forest land, designated Wilderness areas, and other areas where motorized vehicles aren't allowed, I recently bought a relatively inexpensive ebike to get myself down roads that are rough on a 4WD truck or even a SxS. An ebike can slip through or be lifted over areas that other vehicles will struggle in. It was far cheaper than modifying my truck or acquiring another gas-powered vehicle, I don't need a trailer for it, and the maintenance will be easier.

Admittedly, I was a bit tempted by the new Honda Trail 125...

One thing I need to look into is if I can remove the battery and ride in areas where mountain bikes are allowed but ebikes are banned.

I was surprised at the capability of the ebike in certain situations in colorado. I ain't saying it's the full on answer. But it saved me a fair amount of time on a couple occasions. A mid drive would be even more useful.

Having said that, I ran into 3 dudes who's dad took them on their ebikes deep in a drainage that burned several years ago. Full sitka head to toe, brand new kifaru kits, brand new ebikes, 2k bows, literally they were the mannequins from a high end outfitter type store. Looked to be in good shape. The 65 year old dad met us at our tent and shot the chit for an hour. We packed up and left and passed the guys (on our atv) about a 3rd of the way into their journey. They had no way to filter water, were out, and it was all uphill for a few miles to straight line it back to their access (and several on the trail).

We left them with our water filter and 3L, and sent their dad a text with their location for them. They insisted on us leaving them be, I suspect pride. Dad confirmed the next morning they made it out alive, and in much need of therapy regarding the paternal relationship. Vision quests are funny these days.

On the legality issue - I subscribe to the following rule: If I'm bending, skirting, or potentially breaking the law, I make sure to only commit one infraction at a time. They're not going to write you a ticket for riding a powerless ebike on a pedal only trail. Unless you don't have tags, or you shoot an illegal animal, or something like that.

 

[4090Sharps]

I was surprised at the capability of the ebike in certain situations in colorado. I ain't saying it's the full on answer. But it saved me a fair amount of time on a couple occasions. A mid drive would be even more useful.

Having said that, I ran into 3 dudes who's dad took them on their ebikes deep in a drainage that burned several years ago. Full sitka head to toe, brand new kifaru kits, brand new ebikes, 2k bows, literally they were the mannequins from a high end outfitter type store. Looked to be in good shape. The 65 year old dad met us at our tent and shot the chit for an hour. We packed up and left and passed the guys (on our atv) about a 3rd of the way into their journey. They had no way to filter water, were out, and it was all uphill for a few miles to straight line it back to their access (and several on the trail).

We left them with our water filter and 3L, and sent their dad a text with their location for them. They insisted on us leaving them be, I suspect pride. Dad confirmed the next morning they made it out alive, and in much need of therapy regarding the paternal relationship. Vision quests are funny these days.

On the legality issue - I subscribe to the following rule: If I'm bending, skirting, or potentially breaking the law, I make sure to only commit one infraction at a time. They're not going to write you a ticket for riding a powerless ebike on a pedal only trail. Unless you don't have tags, or you shoot an illegal animal, or something like that.

I was bracing myself for a story about ebike riders out in non-motorized areas.... Too many of those out there.

Don't want to derail the thread, but to me your story is indicative of the world we live in. And I don't mean that in the way many might expect (kids these days are soft, no one wants to earn it, etc.). Time is too heavily commoditized, so top gear can be purchased by many, but time to get out and gain experience matching that gear is often times prohibitively expensive.