TacomaNWTF.org

I pondered on putting this in the general hunting or Washington hunting specifics, and decided since my mind was stuck on the vast Weyerhauser lands - I'd place this information here.

Biking affords any hunter an opportunity to hunt public lands that are accessible to only non-motored travel - which means more often than not, hunters on foot.  John Miller, an avid turkey hunter from Ridgefield WA is one of the few hunters who utilize the fabulous benefits of a mountain bike while hunting for turkey.

"We have a lot of timber-company land out here that's open to the public," says Miller.  "Many of the companies have begun gating their roads to keep out poachers and to curtail littering problems.  Vehicles and four-wheelers aren't allowed, but hunters on foot, horseback, and bicycles are."

Most hunters will not walk more than a couple miles past the gate.  This means that two mile area is going to be packed with hunters chasing easterns.  However, if you utilize the benefits a mountain bike can offer, you can get back into the woods 10 miles in an hour pretty easily, giving you access to thousands of acres and very little competition.

Take precautions and scout the roads during pre-season daylight hours.  Even though timber company roads are well maintained, windstorms and washouts can drop tree's and other obstacles across the road causing some potential hazards.  "I'll sometimes take a flashlight along to see in the dark, and I always wear a helmet," says Miller.  "My friends give me a hard time about the helmet, but on some of those steep hills I have to get off and push the bike up; going down the other side, I really get moving."

A lot of roads that are close to traffic are used by turkeys as strut zones and dusting areas.  Not only does a bike allow quickness, but it is also quiet - allowing you to hear gobbles before chasing them off with a noisy motor.

"I'll ride 200 or 300 yards and call, listen for a minute, and ride down the road," he says.  "One of the real beauties of the bike as opposed to four-wheeler is that I can hear birds while I'm riding.  Several times I've heard gobbles in the distance while I've been pedaling down the trail."

At the end of the hunt, you simply pack the bird on your back and ride out.