E-Bikes for Hunting

[ABLT7]

Any interest in using an e-bike for hunting? SCI Calgary has one for auction at their fundraising event on Saturday.

https://www.icollector.com/item.aspx?i=44079323

It looks like the results were successful for the person who won the raffle in 2021.

https://www.facebook.com/calgarychapterofsci/photos/1728683337341571

[Spidey]

Those bikes can be great in the right environment. Lots of torque and better stealth than motorized vehicles.

I have a similar bike to the one being raffled, but mine has higher wattage (750W) and dual batteries (140km range). I've climbed hills I would never attempt on a regular bike. And if this bike has a throttle like mine does, peddling is optional :)

Lots of people rigging trailers and game carts to their e-bikes. It's a slippery slope with how much $$ you can put into it

https://www.rambobikes.com/

https://www.rambobikes.com/electric-bike-accessories/rambo-bike-trailers/

[walleye guy]

Does anyone happen to know for sure if these ebike are allowed into the grazing reserve? Hunted in there a numbers of years ago and rules were basically muscle power only. Just wondering with the advent of these things if anything has changed.

[Tannerdog]

Not sure on the reserves, I think some are foot or horse only. as far as "normal" restrictions:
equal to or under 500W = non-motorized
Over 500W = Motorized vehicle

[calgarychef]

Those bikes can be great in the right environment. Lots of torque and better stealth than motorized vehicles.

I have a similar bike to the one being raffled, but mine has higher wattage (750W) and dual batteries (140km range). I've climbed hills I would never attempt on a regular bike. And if this bike has a throttle like mine does, peddling is optional :)

Lots of people rigging trailers and game carts to their e-bikes. It's a slippery slope with how much $$ you can put into it

https://www.rambobikes.com/

https://www.rambobikes.com/electric-bike-accessories/rambo-bike-trailers/


$8000.00 for a bike…. Sheeeiiit !!!

[waldedw]

$8000.00 for a bike…. Sheeeiiit !!!

That's USD so by the time you get it here close to $11,000 :thinking-006:it better be good

[ABLT7]

This one is 500W. No one has bid yet. The opening bid is set for $2000 so someone might get a great deal compared to some of the numbers quoted above.

https://www.icollector.com/item.aspx?i=44079323

[Unregistered user]

Looks like an ok bike. I have a Rambo with trailer and gun/bow rack. It is useful and fun to ride. It is a mid drive style, the one being raffled has a hub motor which is ok for most applications but if you load it up and climb steep slopes you run the risk of that hub overheating and letting the smoke out, then it is just a heavy bike. Mid drives are better for the steep.

[sir_charlie]

Does anyone happen to know for sure if these ebike are allowed into the grazing reserve? Hunted in there a numbers of years ago and rules were basically muscle power only. Just wondering with the advent of these things if anything has changed.


I think there’s a larger debate happening in the background on how these will be treated on public land as well.

Unfortunately for many hunters it won’t matter if it’s allowed on GRLs or not. I was blown away by the number of hunters accessing a grazing lease with their trucks that was foot access only. It’s no wonder access gets harder and harder.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CNP]

I think there’s a larger debate happening in the background on how these will be treated on public land as well.

Unfortunately for many hunters it won’t matter if it’s allowed on GRLs or not. I was blown away by the number of hunters accessing a grazing lease with their trucks that was foot access only. It’s no wonder access gets harder and harder.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Who is debating? If they meet the requirements specified above they are non motorized and can be used on public land anywhere where a normal bicycle can be used. Parks may have restrictions or prohibitions.

[sheep]

I was told by SRD the same, less than 500W not motorized, more than 500W is motorized.

Seems like the bikes with 499W or less are hardly even available, if they start to enforce it there should be a lot of bikes for sale!

[sir_charlie]

Who is debating? If they meet the requirements specified above they are non motorized and can be used on public land anywhere where a normal bicycle can be used. Parks may have restrictions or prohibitions.


Yes fair regs are clear right now - by debate I mean regs can change and people have opinions on how this should evolve. And I’ve seen this referenced in articles etc. in the US where they’ve been denied approval for use during the hunting season.

Per as last poster mentioned lots of bikes marketed for hunting above the 500W. And undoubtedly they will find their way all over the public landscape, legal or not since enforcement will be a challenge.

I’d like to get one myself - waiting a bit to see how it plays out over the next few seasons though. It’s similar to cell cameras - states are banning them now and B&C just excluded them for consideration for a Fair Chase. Ebikes offer a certain advantage and level of disturbance that will need to be assessed.

But yes - as of now, get a hike under 500W and go crazy. Knowing how many trucks I see where they are allowed, I have no doubt the. Umber of 1000W ebikes I see will also increase.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[russ]

$8000.00 for a bike…. Sheeeiiit !!!

$8 grand, there are guys that spend that on bikes that they have to peddle! Crazy isn't it!

[thumper]

There's 'peddle assist' e-bikes - where you have to pedal, and the battery drive assists your pedalling, and there's the full electric - where you can pedal if you wish, but a turn of the throttle will propel the bike without any pedalling - like an electric motorcycle.

Pedal assist bikes are usually 500W or less, with a selectable level of electric assistance - usually 5 levels. Full electric are often over 500W and usually have a throttle, - like a motorcycle.

Both types are heavy, and pigs to pedal without any electric 'assistance'.

Pedal assist e-bikes are becoming more and more accepted on any bike trail - just last week Banff National Park opened a number of previously closed-to-e-bike trails to pedal-assist bicycles, (not full electric). Some are even alpine and 'back-country' trails. Of course there's controversy about allowing them. The popular paved Legacy Trail, from Banff to Canmore, is open to pedal-assist e-bikes, as are most front-country Kananaskis Country trails.

Because they require pedalling for the battery assist, they might fall under 'human propulsion' but the full electric versions that don't require pedalling, are obviously fully 'motorized'.

I note that in B.C. boating in some lakes is restricted to 'electric motors only', and some are 'no motors allowed'. If you have an electric trolling motor attached to your kayak, I wonder if it could be called an 'e-assisted paddle' boat? (kidding)

[Spidey]

Mine is a 750W mid drive with a throttle. It does have a digital setting to set it at a 'street legal' setting of 500W, but I'm not sure that would satisfy the local bylaws.

I bought mine from this company based in Saskatoon. Very pleased with their prices, shipping and service.

https://www.biktrix.ca/

This is the one I bought

https://www.biktrix.ca/products/duo-step-over-750w-mid-drive

[CNP]

Correcting some misinformation here ^^^^...

You can ride a power bicycle anywhere where you can ride a bicycle. Except that parks and municipalities can make their own regulations. A power bicycle is not a motor vehicle and a "throttle" is permitted on a power bicycle. This link is the provincial government regulation that includes power bicycles.

http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/Content/docType41/Production/small_vehicle_booklet_final.pdf

3. Motor vehicle – “motor vehicle” means (i) a vehicle propelled by any power other
than muscular power, or (ii) a moped, but does not include a bicycle, power bicycle,
an aircraft, an implement of husbandry or a motor vehicle that runs only on rails.
(Traffic Safety Act, Section 1)

Power Bicycles
Definition according to: USE OF HIGHWAY AND RULES OF THE ROAD REGULATION
1(1)(o) “power bicycle” means a vehicle that is a power-assisted bicycle under the Motor
Vehicle Safety Regulations (Canada) (C.R.C., c. 1038);
Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (Canada) (C.R.C., c. 1038):
Interpretation 2.(1)
"power-assisted bicycle" means a vehicle that:
(a) has steering handlebars and is equipped with pedals,
(b) is designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground,
(c) is capable of being propelled by muscular power,
(d) has one or more electric motors that have, singly or in combination, the following
characteristics:
(i) it has a total continuous power output rating, measured at the shaft of each motor,
of 500 W or less,
(ii) if it is engaged by the use of muscular power, power assistance immediately ceases
when the muscular power ceases,
(iii) if it is engaged by the use of an accelerator controller, power assistance
immediately ceases when the brakes are applied, and
(iv) it is incapable of providing further assistance when the bicycle attains a speed of
32 km/h on level ground,
(e) bears a label that is permanently affixed by the manufacturer and appears in a
conspicuous location stating, in both official languages, that the vehicle is a powerassisted bicycle as defined in this subsection, and
(f) has one of the following safety features,
(i) an enabling mechanism to turn the electric motor on and off that is separate from
the accelerator controller and fitted in such a manner that it is operable by the
driver, or
(ii) a mechanism that prevents the motor from being engaged before the bicycle attains
a speed of 3 km/h;

[sir_charlie]

Correcting some misinformation here ^^^^...

You can ride a power bicycle anywhere where you can ride a bicycle. Except that parks and municipalities can make their own regulations. A power bicycle is not a motor vehicle and a "throttle" is permitted on a power bicycle. This link is the provincial government regulation that includes power bicycles.

http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/Content/docType41/Production/small_vehicle_booklet_final.pdf

3. Motor vehicle – “motor vehicle” means (i) a vehicle propelled by any power other
than muscular power, or (ii) a moped, but does not include a bicycle, power bicycle,
an aircraft, an implement of husbandry or a motor vehicle that runs only on rails.
(Traffic Safety Act, Section 1)

Power Bicycles
Definition according to: USE OF HIGHWAY AND RULES OF THE ROAD REGULATION
1(1)(o) “power bicycle” means a vehicle that is a power-assisted bicycle under the Motor
Vehicle Safety Regulations (Canada) (C.R.C., c. 1038);
Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (Canada) (C.R.C., c. 1038):
Interpretation 2.(1)
"power-assisted bicycle" means a vehicle that:
(a) has steering handlebars and is equipped with pedals,
(b) is designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground,
(c) is capable of being propelled by muscular power,
(d) has one or more electric motors that have, singly or in combination, the following
characteristics:
(i) it has a total continuous power output rating, measured at the shaft of each motor,
of 500 W or less,
(ii) if it is engaged by the use of muscular power, power assistance immediately ceases
when the muscular power ceases,
(iii) if it is engaged by the use of an accelerator controller, power assistance
immediately ceases when the brakes are applied, and
(iv) it is incapable of providing further assistance when the bicycle attains a speed of
32 km/h on level ground,
(e) bears a label that is permanently affixed by the manufacturer and appears in a
conspicuous location stating, in both official languages, that the vehicle is a powerassisted bicycle as defined in this subsection, and
(f) has one of the following safety features,
(i) an enabling mechanism to turn the electric motor on and off that is separate from
the accelerator controller and fitted in such a manner that it is operable by the
driver, or
(ii) a mechanism that prevents the motor from being engaged before the bicycle attains
a speed of 3 km/h;


But the 500w or less applies does it not? So technically not all power bikes are allowed wherever bikes are allowed? Or at least by definition, those over 500W are not considered power bikes?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CNP]

But the 500w or less applies does it not? So technically not all power bikes are allowed wherever bikes are allowed? Or at least by definition, those over 500W are not considered power bikes?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You asked three questions, the answers are: yes; right; and right. An ebike over 500W would probably be considered a motorized vehicle.

TRANS Minister <Transportation.Minister@gov.ab.ca>
Nov 18, 2020, 3:32 PM
to me, AEP, Jason, Christine

Dear Mr. CNP:

Thank you for your email regarding the use of power bicycles in Alberta.

Alberta Environment and Parks staff have confirmed that under the rules of the Livingstone Public Land Use Zone (PLUZ), vehicles that meet the provincial definition of power bicycles are treated as non-motorized vehicles, and as such they are allowed off the designated trails.

By way of clarification, the URL you provided as Reference A in your email is a simplified summary relating to power bicycle regulations; a more detailed document outlining small vehicle definitions and classifications is available at www.transportation.alberta.ca/Content/docType41/Production/small_vehicle_booklet_final.pdf. Page 7 of this document provides the current definition of a powered bicycle. If your vehicle does not meet this definition, it would likely be considered as a motorized vehicle and would have to stay on the designated trails in the Livingstone PLUZ.

To confirm your vehicle’s classification, please contact Mr. Jason Kuo, Vehicle Standards Engineer. Mr. Kuo can be reached toll-free at 310-0000, then 780-427-7571, or at jason.kuo@gov.ab.ca. Mr. Kuo can also answer any additional vehicle questions you may have.

If you have further questions about the rules for off-highway vehicles and cyclists in the Livingstone PLUZ, please contact Ms. Christine Sweet, Integrated Resource Management Specialist with Alberta Environment and Parks. Ms. Sweet can be reached toll-free at 310-0000, then 403-562-3131, or at Christine.Sweet@gov.ab.ca.

Thank you for writing. I hope this information is helpful.



Sincerely,





Ric McIver

Minister of Transportation



cc: Honourable Jason Nixon

Minister of Alberta Environment and Parks

[dbg498]

I used a Bixtrix Juggernaut Ultra for hunting this fall. It has a 1000watt mid drive motor with four inch fat tires. It can be programmed for 500w. I have never seen the manufacturers sticker required by the government on any ebike. You can buy after market stickers in English. Ebikes branded as hunting bikes are twice as much money. The bike worked well in about four inches of snow and I was able to pull out a small whitetail buck with it. I was going to ride back to the truck to get a sled to put the deer on but decided to try to pull the deer out with a rope instead of on the sled. I was surprised how easy it was. I have ordered a Hawk crawler game cart to use for next season and will try that. I am seventy now and am looking at easier ways to get back past the road hunters. Not able to make as many trips in a day packing out meat as I could when younger but still like to get back past other hunters.

[elkslayer132]

Quietkat bike with jet sled attached to two wheel trailer with 90lb blind on top of sled. I can pull this thing way back in the bush and set it up anywhere for the season with no effort at all. Then pull nice clean elk quarters out.