Best Bikes For Backcountry Hunting: An In-depth Hands-On Review
Ever since the stone ages, humans have been continuously improving the way they hunt. We’ve long moved away from spears made with stone to more efficient practical tools for hunting.
These days when it comes to hunting, you might require a motorized vehicle to get you to the backcountry and possibly traverse it as well.
With the advancement of technology, we now have electric-powered bicycles that take your hunt to the next level.
Table of Contents
Best Backcountry Hunting e-bikes Chart
 | Bakcou Mule Electric Hunting Bike |
| Check Price |
 | Quietkat Apex Electric Hunting Bike |
| Check Price |
 | Juiced Bike RipCurrent S |
| Check Price |
 | Rambo The Rampage |
| Check Price |
 | Biktrix Juggernaut Ultra 1000 |
| Check Price |
 | Rungu MDV HC+ |
| Check Price |
Why Electric Bikes Are The Best Choice For Hunting
Buying an Ebike can be a significant financial investment. The price of a good quality offroad or hunting electric bike can range from $3,000 – $6,000+. These types of e-bikes tend to be more in price because of their specialized build quality.
They are made to be more durable than the traditional road-based electric bike. On some of the higher-end
all-terrain bikes, you will find suspension systems, smart pedal-assist, and torque sensors.
Benefits Of Using An Electric Bike For Hunting
Preserve Your Energy
Using power-assisted pedaling allows you to preserve a significant portion of your energy. With this newfound energy, you can dedicate it to the whole hunting experience.
Walking to your stand from the road could potentially leave you drained and sweaty, especially when you have to carry all your equipment on your back over your shoulder.
Also, an electric-powered bike can really be helpful if you have a leg, knee, or back injury.
Less Time Scouting
Using an e-bike increases the speed of scouting. Scouting a location can sometimes take hours. Depending on your perimeter size, you can potentially reduce your scouting time to a quarter of the time or less using an electric hunting bike. You can ride to and from your hunting stand and check your cameras at incredible speeds without breaking a sweat.
Reduce the chance of Spooking Your Game
Experienced hunters have reported deer are typically less spooked by electric bikes riding by. Usually, when deer see a human walking by, they will snort and runoff. With an electric bike, deer will sometimes watch you go by even at short distances.
Throughout decade’s deer has associated a walking human in the woods with danger! Because electric bikes are a new introduction into the deer’s habitat, they have a more curious nature and frighten less easily.
Preserve The Habitat
Just like the name suggests, electric bikes run off electricity. Using a gas-powered vehicle can potentially tear up any trails and surroundings in the backcountry. This damage has long-term effects on the habitat and will spoil nature for the generations of hunters to come.
Using electric powered bikes as an alternative for traversing the backcountry will dramatically reduce flying dirt and debris becoming dislodged because of a fast spinning tire. A typical hunting e-bike can reach speeds of 38 mph. Significantly less impact on a natural habitat and is comparable to riding a non-electric bike.
Your typical electric bike has a battery pack that is mounted within the frame.
Less smell
when riding your electric hunting bike, the amount of scent left behind is minimal. Not at all like your typical gas-powered motorized vehicles.
Deer are seldom aware that you even went by the area.
Able To Access More Area
most public hunting lands have access roads that are gated off. With a narrow shape of electric bikes, you can squeeze through easier than riding an ATV or other motorized vehicles. Electric hunting bikes also allow you to journey deeper into public hunting areas in less time.
Haul More Weight When Hunting With An Electric Bike
Because electric bikes are power-assisted, you can attach a trailer and haul your equipment in with fewer trips.
The same goes for when you’re leaving the site. You can haul your catch out without breaking a sweat.
Important Specs Of An Electric Hunting Bike
Importance of Torque sensors and Pedal Assist
Both of these are a game-changer when it comes to electric bikes! The torque sensor senses how much force you are exerting, and will provide instant power as needed. Just imagine riding up a hill and using minimal effort to pedal as your bike propels you forward.
As you peddle, this sensor gives constant feedback to the motor, providing a natural-feeling ride. This indeed reduces the amount of effort needed by providing a tremendous amount of torque and power output.
Many good quality mid-range motors come with a torque sensor and pedal assist.
Importance of Mid-drive motor
These types of motors for your electric hunting bikes sit in the center between the Wheels, hence the “mid” in mid-drive motors.
Importance of Encased Sensors
When considering an e-bike for off-roading or hunting in the backcountry, it is good to make sure your sensors are encased with the motor.
The rough terrain can cause your sensors to function incorrectly. External torque sensors are known to need adjusting. If your torque sensor is set too low, it’s harder to engage your bike’s power function. And if it’s set too high, the slightest touch can trigger it to propel you forward, which can be dangerous!
Using encased sensors will dramatically minimize the need to calibrate your sensors all the time.
Importance of Heavy-duty metal gearing
Riding through the rugged terrain of rocks and bumpy Hills puts your electric bike under a lot of stress. As friction occurs, gears heat up and can potentially chip away or melt if not made out of a strong, durable metal!
A heavy-duty good quality metal gear mid-drive motor will increase the longevity of your bike. Reduce the likelihood of your motor breaking down somewhere in the backcountry.
Importance of Load Capacity
Being able to haul your game back to your vehicle is essential.
Carrying a heavy load can put a strain on your battery and cause you to use up more battery power. A sturdy good quality electric hunting bike can haul up to 300lbs.
Importance of High-Grade Aluminum Frame
Aluminum frames are pretty much standard when it comes to bikes. A high-grade aluminum will prevent rust and stay intact under the strain of riding through rough terrain.
Importance of Pedals
This might sound insignificant, but having the right pedals is essential. Riding through rough terrain your foot can slip off your pedal. You want to make sure you good aggressive skid-proof wide stance pedals.
Review Of Best Backcountry Bikes For Hunting
1. Bakcou: Mule Electric Hunting Bike
Previously known as Backcountry bikes, Bakcou offers some of the most elite hunting bikes in the game. Bakcou takes pride in the build quality of their electric hunting bikes. There mule hunting bike comes packed with a superior suspension and gearing system.
This bike comes outfitted with a Bafangs ULTRA mid-drive motor. This Ultra motor is widely recognized as the diesel engine of mid-drive motors! These motors are great for helping you get uphill with minimal effort.
They are also equipped with a triple gear reduction with steel gears, not nylon! I love the fact they use steel gears over nylon gears because steel gears will last much longer.
The reason some mid-drive motor brands use nylon gears is to reduce noise when gears are turning. But with Bakcou’s all-metal upgrade, there is little difference in sound. Typically not loud enough to scare deer away.
The noise of your e-bike breaking twigs and scraping branches as you ride can be more noticeable.
Bakcou Mule Specs
| Weight | 68 lbs |
| Top Speed | 35 mph |
| Load Carry Capacity | 300 lbs |
| Frame Type | High-Grade Aluminum Alloy 6061 |
| Range | 40+ Miles |
| Motor | Bafang Ultra M620 750w/1000w mid-drive |
| Battery | Extended Distance 48v 14.5ah, 17.4ah, or 21ah lithium-ion |
| Torque Sensor | Yes |
2. Quietkat: Apex Electric Hunting Bike
Quietkat is a well-known company that builds electric hunting bikes. They strive for the best quality without sacrificing performance.
The Quietkat Apex 2020 addition is a true demonstration of that. This model comes with an integrated down pull battery that sits elegantly inside the frame.
This is a significant feature because it defense against moisture intrusion into the electronics of the bike!
The braking system has also been upgraded to Tektro 4 piston brake, which uses a 203 ml router. This new router works well for displacing heat due to its additional thickness.
Quietkat Apex Specs
| Weight | 80 lbs |
| Top Speed | |
| Load Carry Capacity | 325 lbs |
| Frame Type | |
| Range | 20 – 50 Miles |
| Motor | Bafang BBSHD Mid-Drive motor 1500W, 1000W, 750W |
| Battery | |
| Torque Sensor | Yes |
3. Juiced Bike: RipCurrent S Electric Fat-Tire Bike
For those looking for an excellent entry-level option, the RipCurrent S by Juiced bikes is just that. Don’t make the lower price fool you. This bike packs the power and rugged design that can compete with the higher-end off-road and hunting bikes.
The load capacity and the range proves just that. The RipCurrent S is truly an ultimate fat-tire sport utility e-bike.
Instead of a mid-drive motor, this e-bike has 750 Watt Bafang Geared Hub Motor.
Juiced Bike: RipCurrent Specs
| Weight | 75 lbs |
| Top Speed | 28 mph |
| Load Carry Capacity | 275 lbs |
| Frame Type | |
| Range | 40 – 100 Miles |
| Motor | 750 Watt Bafang Geared Hub Motor (1,040 Watt Peak) |
| Battery | 52 Volt Battery / 19.2 Ah Extended Range |
| Torque Sensor |
4. Rambo: The Rampage
The Rampage is the fat tire Cadillac of off-roading and hunting electric bikes. This Electric powered bike is one of the top-performing full-suspension e-bikes.
This bike has indeed answered the call to extreme riders nationwide. It handles steep grade conditions, trail riding in rough terrain, or cruising down the beach.
This bike comes outfitted with a Bafangs ULTRA mid-drive motor.
Rambo The Rampage Specs
| Weight | 67 lbs |
| Top Speed | 28 mph |
| Load Carry Capacity | 300 lbs |
| Frame Type | Aluminum Alloy 6061 |
| Range | 70 Miles |
| Motor | Bafang 1,000W Ultra Drive |
| Battery | Panasonic 48V 21AH |
| Torque Sensor |
5. Biktrix: Juggernaut Ultra 1000
The Biktrix Juggernaut Ultra is a rugged fat tire electric bike made for the harsh off-road environment in mind. With an integrated torque sensor, it knows how hard your peddling and how much assisted power you might need.
Being a Canadian based company, they understand the importance of building a bike that can face extreme climates and terrain.
Biktrix Juggernaut Ultra Specs
| Weight | 67 lbs |
| Top Speed | mph |
| Load Carry Capacity | lbs |
| Frame Type | Aluminum Alloy 6061 |
| Range | 70 Miles |
| Motor | Bafang M620 Ultra Mid-Drive System |
| Battery | 48V Lithium-Ion Battery |
| Torque Sensor | Yes |
6. Rungu: MDV HC+
You might classify the Rungu MDV HC+ as an e-bike, but it also is an ATV hybrid. It’s a little bit more bike than your typical e-bike, but it’s definitely worth the extra bulk.
The two-wheels-in-front design keeps you in control when riding on soft terrains like snow and sand and still lets you bank into a corner on a paved road.
Have you ever tried riding in the sand at the beach? It’s very challenging because your bike will slip and slide as you try to peddle. And you will exert a tremendous amount of energy riding. The Rungu MDV HC+ tears through the sand at the same time, giving enough stability to maneuver up hills and through sand dunes.
Rungu MDV HC+ has up to 64% more rear-wheel torque and up to 40% more battery capacity than backcountry e-bikes in the same price range.
Rungu MDV is the perfect mix of e-bike and ATV!
Rungu: MDV HC+ Specs
| Weight | 100 lbs |
| Top Speed | 35 mph |
| Load Carry Capacity | 300 lbs |
| Frame Type | Aluminum Alloy |
| Range | 70 Miles |
| Motor | Bafang Mid-Drive Motor |
| Battery | 15 Ah 52V (780Wh) Rungu Li-Ion battery |
| Torque Sensor |
