Falldreams
Well-Known Member
Good question! I use one myself the last several years on different public pieces. However I’m also seeing use of Ebikes explode the last couple years on our public hunting grounds. Don’t get me wrong they are ultra convenient for getting into the larger public pieces.
At the same time, I would fully back up a movement to ban them on all public hunting grounds. In just the last few years alone, our public lands have changed dramatically! Myself I hunt a mix of some private farms and many public pieces. Our public lands are not with they used to be just a short time ago. They are now littered with cameras, especially cellular cameras. You can no longer enter a public piece anywhere in the entire state without running into not one but many cameras, staring at you. Tree stands that people leave behind have been accruing more and more to the point where you can absolutely count on a stand or two or more left on all of the obvious funnels, bedding areas and feeding areas. Now with the Ebike craze It’s become almost impossible to out hustle other hunters anymore.
The overall feeling when spending time on our public lands is that there’s no privacy at all. Let’s face it the facts are our public lands are being pressured and hunted more and more each year as guys are being pinched out from permission farms and family farms. IMO our very precious and fragile public lands need to be cleaned up. As in some crucial law changes in effect to better address thewe changes and to slow down this continuous degradation of those lands. All of the above mentioned including e-bikes are large contributors to the poor public land hunting quality experience that’s becoming the new trend.
At the same time, I would fully back up a movement to ban them on all public hunting grounds. In just the last few years alone, our public lands have changed dramatically! Myself I hunt a mix of some private farms and many public pieces. Our public lands are not with they used to be just a short time ago. They are now littered with cameras, especially cellular cameras. You can no longer enter a public piece anywhere in the entire state without running into not one but many cameras, staring at you. Tree stands that people leave behind have been accruing more and more to the point where you can absolutely count on a stand or two or more left on all of the obvious funnels, bedding areas and feeding areas. Now with the Ebike craze It’s become almost impossible to out hustle other hunters anymore.
The overall feeling when spending time on our public lands is that there’s no privacy at all. Let’s face it the facts are our public lands are being pressured and hunted more and more each year as guys are being pinched out from permission farms and family farms. IMO our very precious and fragile public lands need to be cleaned up. As in some crucial law changes in effect to better address thewe changes and to slow down this continuous degradation of those lands. All of the above mentioned including e-bikes are large contributors to the poor public land hunting quality experience that’s becoming the new trend.
Tim Tracy
New Member
I agree with this, e-bikes would turn the public land into silent motocross tracks. In my opinion this would just be another case of us being our own worst enemies by way of continuously making it easier for ourselves.
Oct-Lull
Well-Known Member
It already has. I have seen first hand this year nearly every vehicle parked at the different public lots with a bike rack. Friend of mine was out on 2 spots this weekend and sent me pictures that looked like an Enduro track. Its going downhill fast
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Bowtech bandit
Active Member
Those tree stands are free for the taking after season. They obviously are too lazy to get them. Take them or find what the DNR officer says. They will learn one way.
Oct-Lull
Well-Known Member
Pedal bikes are dont see many. I have known a couple guys who tried them but it was abandoned. They were not allowed but apparently now 750w bikes are? It opens alot of area previously seldom touched
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Falldreams
Well-Known Member
Ebikes being legal on public lands started out as a very gray area and has evolved into bikes up to 750W being legal (although that has remained in question) still to this day. I spend quite abit of time year round scouting public ground and also hunting. I’ve been checked by CO’s twice over the past several years while on public ground with my Ebike clearly with me at same time. Neither time was my Ebike even brought up or mentioned. Even though I own and use an Ebike as mentioned above I would fully and happily support a movement to ban them on all public grounds open to hunting.
Wapsi Tree Rat
Well-Known Member
Every parking area I've seen is chained off with a sign that says "no motorized vehicles beyond this point". It says motorized. It does not say anything about internal combustion engine. Anything with a motor should already be illegal. What am I missing?
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Oct-Lull
Well-Known Member
I believe the federal stance is anything with 750w or less is for some reason not considered motorized? I could be mistaken but i looked it up a few years back and that what I remember. I dont believe Iowa has officially addressed it and idle going off Federal. You cannot use them in wilderness area out west
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Falldreams
Well-Known Member
That often gray area in defining some gaming/hunting laws…..although this one should not be difficult at all to define. An electric bike is %100 a “motor”. Will be interesting to see if the public lands cell cam ban that came very close to being implemented June of last year but was tabled for another year comes back around this year. When that movement was introduced the rumor mills and gray areas darn near exploded the internet! haha
I can say this for sure. E-bikes of all types and sizes are completely ignored by any regulations or enforcement on public lands even if there is supposed to be any regulations or laws. Hoping for change very soon. It’s for the better of our resource both the animals and the public lands in general.
Zim
Active Member
Illinois just outright completely banned them on all state land last year. I am 65, broken down w/2 torn Achilles & a destroyed right meniscus. Have had a Rambo for 3 years. Last year every NR from Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Michigan & Pennsylvania at the newly opened piece we were hunting all had ebike racks on their trucks. ILDNR was robustly handing out $290 fines. I warned every one I spoke with. Despite my handicaps, I am against ebike use on public. They ruin everything.
On top of this there’s currently a bill #107 that would make it legal to use an ATV on public for game removal only. Hahaha these legislators don’t hunt. If this bill passes it will be grossly abused and we will have them everywhere. I already have had multiple problems with dudes towing ATV’s behind their RV’s, living in the public parking lots and using the ATV’s routinely. Reported to CPO’s and they did nothing about it. Been going on for 20+ years. IBA chose to be neutral so far on this, just monitoring. Why I have no clue.
On top of this there’s currently a bill #107 that would make it legal to use an ATV on public for game removal only. Hahaha these legislators don’t hunt. If this bill passes it will be grossly abused and we will have them everywhere. I already have had multiple problems with dudes towing ATV’s behind their RV’s, living in the public parking lots and using the ATV’s routinely. Reported to CPO’s and they did nothing about it. Been going on for 20+ years. IBA chose to be neutral so far on this, just monitoring. Why I have no clue.
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Trapshooter1
Well-Known Member
E Bikes, Cell Cams both should be banned on public property.
I can think of several 2000+ acre pieces that used be really good. Because you could get away from pressure. With E bikes that doesn't exist anymore. To improve public lands I think Iowa should go to some sort of draw system for Public tracts. To help limit the pressure on some of these pieces.
I can think of several 2000+ acre pieces that used be really good. Because you could get away from pressure. With E bikes that doesn't exist anymore. To improve public lands I think Iowa should go to some sort of draw system for Public tracts. To help limit the pressure on some of these pieces.
Rjack
Well-Known Member
Turkey hunting had something like this back many years ago. Stevens, Shimek, and Yellow River were their own zones with a limited number of tags. If you drew, you could only hunt there.
seven twenty
PMA Member
They are motorized vehicles, the laws just need enforced. My guess is that most of the officers have no idea what they’re looking at. The bikes aren’t really common enough that an officer thinks to really look at them.
If it was really addressed, I’m guessing the DNR would require a sticker/permit be purchased just like what’s needed for any other orv or golf cart. Maybe that needs pointed out but then people would whine that it’s “just a bicycle”. Regardless, if you want to operate a motorized vehicle on public ground, a permit should be required.
If it was really addressed, I’m guessing the DNR would require a sticker/permit be purchased just like what’s needed for any other orv or golf cart. Maybe that needs pointed out but then people would whine that it’s “just a bicycle”. Regardless, if you want to operate a motorized vehicle on public ground, a permit should be required.
Falldreams
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately, we don’t have enough CO’s for proper statewide coverage and enforcement of laws. Myself, I hunt some private farms, but I also spend a lot of time all over various areas of the state scouting and hunting public each and every year. E-bikes are VERY common! As many others have stated here it’s actually pretty gross now the last I’ll say 3 years. The first week and a half of November public parking areas are loaded with guys from other states and E-bikes. Wishing, hoping and would fully support a movement to completely ban E bikes on all public grounds.
seven twenty
PMA Member
I’m going to ask the local CO’s, both county & state, and get their opinions on the subject. My guess is that they also consider them ”motorized” but I could be wrong. I’ve never seen them being used at any of our county or state parks other than on the roadways.
Are they ok to use on the bike trails at say Red Rock or any of the other Corp areas?
Are they ok to use on the bike trails at say Red Rock or any of the other Corp areas?