E-bikes, pretty much a non-issue for me

Huntindave McCann

Huntindave McCann

Well-known member
Supporter
I deer hunt public property and I think I'm pretty much SOL. Due to some health issues, I gave up deer hunting a few years back. Last year I purchased a crossbow and got back into deer hunting. However, I'm still physically unable to access many areas in which I had formally hunted. I had hoped that maybe purchasing an E-bike might remedy that issue. (it is a bitch to get old, vitality is wasted on the young) :ROFLMAO:

In my research for an E-bike capable of hauling a 350 to 500 lb. load, the majority of them are equipped with at least a 750 watt motor. As I talked with several bike shops they were also recommending bikes equipped with a 750 watt motor.
Given the hills and rough terrain where I would be using the bike, I agree that a 750 watt motor would be the minimum to provide satisfactory performance.

The issue is, Iowa only allows UNDER 750 watts for e-bikes used on Iowa DNR public land.
HUNTING REGS:
"MOTOR VEHICLE RESTRICTIONS:
The use of motor vehicles on all game management areas is restricted. Motor vehicle means any self-propelled vehicle, including ATVs, snowmobiles and
E bikes 750 watts or more. Motor vehicles are prohibited on a game management areas except roads and parking lots, unless specifically permitted. "
===============================
Someone needs to send a bulletin to my local bike shops as they all insisted that I would be "OK" and "everyone else" are already using 750 watt e-bikes. One sales person even said the statue was "open to interpretation".
I replied; "What's not clear about the statue? Seems clear to me.

The actual statue defining what is a "motor vehicle" and thus NOT allowed.
321.1, MOTOR VEHICLES AND LAW OF THE ROAD
36A. “Low-speed electric bicycle” means a device having a saddle or seat for the use of a rider, two or three wheels equipped with fully operable pedals, and
an electric motor of less than seven hundred fifty watts
that meets the requirements of one of the following classes:
 
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Huntindave McCann said:
E bikes 750 watts or more. Motor vehicles are prohibited on a game management areas except roads and parking lots,
Click to expand...
Are you planning on taking an e-bike off the roads? I dont know your terrain or WMAs. Mine, I'd never have the bike off a "road". It wouldn't likely be advantageous to have it off a road.

Sadly, my only WMA I would have ever been inclined to use one didn't allow motorized bikes, period. I burnt out so many soles of waders by walking miles in. Now it's a draw area, as I understand it and not even knee- booters are allowed.
 
Steven Alexander said:
Are you planning on taking an e-bike off the roads? I dont know your terrain or WMAs. Mine, I'd never have the bike off a "road". It wouldn't likely be advantageous to have it off a road.
Click to expand...
Absolutely "off road". There are many multi use trails which take you 2 - 3 miles beyond the parking lots. These trails are open to horses, bicycles and pedestrians. Years ago I would use my 100% pedal power bicycle, rather than walk, primarily for the speed/time advantage in getting in and out. Now I need the motor assistance, just to accomplish the distance factor from the parking lot.
Last year I hunted within 200 yards of the parking lot and was successful. Even though some days there were what seemed like a steady steam of folks walking in and out, right within 40 yards of where I was set up to hunt.
I'd just like to get a bit further away from the parking lot.
 
Sounds like you need one rated for 749 watts

E-bikes are the wild west right now, I am actually surprised your WMA has that specific of regulations. I love and hate them (though I have never rode one myself). I love that with the motor assist, it is getting people outdoors and active, as many would just not even try. I hate that they are becoming so fast and people treat them like toys. They don't follow the rules for bicycles or motor vehicles, and the police I suspect are just avoiding dealing with them if no one gets hurt. They are a hazard around her, I was going 40mph the other day and some dude was keeping up with me on the sidewalk.

I respect that you want to respect the rules that are in place, regardless if they will actually enforce them on you.
 
Chuck J said:
Sounds like you need one rated for 749 watts

E-bikes are the wild west right now, I am actually surprised your WMA has that specific of regulations. I love and hate them (though I have never rode one myself). I love that with the motor assist, it is getting people outdoors and active, as many would just not even try. I hate that they are becoming so fast and people treat them like toys. They don't follow the rules for bicycles or motor vehicles, and the police I suspect are just avoiding dealing with them if no one gets hurt. They are a hazard around her, I was going 40mph the other day and some dude was keeping up with me on the sidewalk.

I respect that you want to respect the rules that are in place, regardless if they will actually enforce them on you.
Click to expand...
They are almost as much of a hazard as eScooters were a few years back.
 
Chuck J said:
Sounds like you need one rated for 749 watts

E-bikes are the wild west right now, I am actually surprised your WMA has that specific of regulations. I love and hate them (though I have never rode one myself). I love that with the motor assist, it is getting people outdoors and active, as many would just not even try. I hate that they are becoming so fast and people treat them like toys. They don't follow the rules for bicycles or motor vehicles, and the police I suspect are just avoiding dealing with them if no one gets hurt. They are a hazard around her, I was going 40mph the other day and some dude was keeping up with me on the sidewalk.

I respect that you want to respect the rules that are in place, regardless if they will actually enforce them on you.
Click to expand...
100% agree, damn things are a scourge around here and I, personally, think they need to be treated as motor vehicles. I'm also in full support of tight regulations on them in public wildlife/park areas, but for those with legit accessibility issues I'm all for allowing any such technology.
 
Eric Patterson said:
Dave

What is the fine for running a 750 Watt bike on DNR public land?
Click to expand...
I have not asked. 😁 The worse case might be confiscation of the equipment. If I decide to got that route, I may go "whole hog", dual motors, 38mph, racing stripes, 500 lb. load capacity and let 'er rip.
==============
On a related note;
Many years ago Iowa outlawed "screw in" climbing steps on public land. There was a fellow who ignored that and he got turned in. The game warden sat in the timber for 4 afternoons waiting to catch who ever showed up at that tree stand. No one showed, so on the 5th day two wardens came in prepared to remove the offending stand. This is when they discovered a guy up in the stand. The guy was all camo'ed up and had a bow and arrow on him. He admitted to using screw in steps, but claimed he was in the tree "scouting" for his wife to hunt later. (he had already filled his tag)
Yep, your in a tree, with a weapon, all dressed in camo, but you are not hunting. righhhhhht !
The DNR confiscated everything, including the truck he drove into the parking lot.
I know all this because the DNR warden was a high school classmate of mine. In fact, three of my classmates were local DNR enforcement, now since retired.
 
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Dave

Like Henry mentioned, I would email one or more of my county's conservation officers and ask if there are exceptions for hunters over a certain age or with physical impairments. It might be a simple as filling out a form with a statement from your doctor that would allow you transportation means the typical hunter cannot use. Either that or outrun them on your racing bike :)
 
Huntindave McCann said:
I deer hunt public property and I think I'm pretty much SOL. Due to some health issues, I gave up deer hunting a few years back. Last year I purchased a crossbow and got back into deer hunting. However, I'm still physically unable to access many areas in which I had formally hunted. I had hoped that maybe purchasing an E-bike might remedy that issue. (it is a bitch to get old, vitality is wasted on the young) :ROFLMAO:

In my research for an E-bike capable of hauling a 350 to 500 lb. load, the majority of them are equipped with at least a 750 watt motor. As I talked with several bike shops they were also recommending bikes equipped with a 750 watt motor.
Given the hills and rough terrain where I would be using the bike, I agree that a 750 watt motor would be the minimum to provide satisfactory performance.

The issue is, Iowa only allows UNDER 750 watts for e-bikes used on Iowa DNR public land.
HUNTING REGS:
"MOTOR VEHICLE RESTRICTIONS:
The use of motor vehicles on all game management areas is restricted. Motor vehicle means any self-propelled vehicle, including ATVs, snowmobiles and
E bikes 750 watts or more. Motor vehicles are prohibited on a game management areas except roads and parking lots, unless specifically permitted. "
===============================
Someone needs to send a bulletin to my local bike shops as they all insisted that I would be "OK" and "everyone else" are already using 750 watt e-bikes. One sales person even said the statue was "open to interpretation".
I replied; "What's not clear about the statue? Seems clear to me.

The actual statue defining what is a "motor vehicle" and thus NOT allowed.
321.1, MOTOR VEHICLES AND LAW OF THE ROAD
36A. “Low-speed electric bicycle” means a device having a saddle or seat for the use of a rider, two or three wheels equipped with fully operable pedals, and
an electric motor of less than seven hundred fifty watts
that meets the requirements of one of the following classes:
Click to expand...
It seems the market needs to apply the "9.9 hp" model used by the outboard industry - for lakes that banned motors of 10 hp and up. Howzabout a 749 watt e-bike?

All the best,

SJS
 
Eric Patterson said:
Dave

Like Henry mentioned, I would email one or more of my county's conservation officers and ask if there are exceptions for hunters over a certain age or with physical impairments. It might be a simple as filling out a form with a statement from your doctor that would allow you transportation means the typical hunter cannot use. Either that or outrun them on your racing bike :)
Click to expand...
Yes, that can be done. Only good for the specific area at which you request, go someplace else need to contact the local CO and get approved for that location.
There is one fella with disabled access, that hunts the place closest to my home. (where I also hunt, 3 minutes down the road). There have been times when I have walked about 200 yards in, set up to hunt 35-40 minutes early, only to have him drive in at legal shooting time (beyond the locked gate, he has a key) and park his truck 40 yards away from where I'm set up. I'm hunting with a crossbow, he sets a chair beside his truck with a rifle on a tripod, to hunt the same ground I am hunting. Kind of tough to use a 50 yard weapon and compete with a guy over your shoulder using a 200 yard weapon.
I guess he just expects everyone else to be deeper into the management area and not where he wants to hunt. He could follow the service road and drive another 3/4 mile in with no issue.
 
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