The Mobile Deer Hunter – Run and Gun Scouting and Hunting

I used to ride dirt bikes a lot when I was younger. I did all kinds of stupid things, too. That’s why I don’t ride them very much anymore. The TW200 is different. It was introduced in 1987 and besides a few updates that added electric start and a front disc brake, it is basically the same. It is powered by a quiet, 196cc air-cooled SOHC 4-stroke motor that is about as simple as it gets. The key to the TW is the fat tires, that grip terrain and help make the bike stable. The stability is very important to me, along with the low, 31.1-inch seat height. The suspension isn’t crazy, but the 6.3 inches of travel from the fork and 5.9 inches from the rear shock are enough for the type of use I give the bike. I can gear up, throw on my pack and scoot over to my hunting location quickly. The bike gets 78 miles per gallon, so I can use it right up until the snow starts piling up and maybe get through a tank of gas. It even has buddy pegs so you can take your wife or kids back with you to scout or hunt. Just don’t go popping wheelies with the wife on the back. Well, maybe you can, but I learned not to do that.

Here’s the deal with this bike and why I feel it is such an amazing tool for scouting and hunting deer. It’s insanely reliable, as you would expect from a Yamaha. Yamaha has been making these bikes since the 80’s and they haven’t had to do much to the bikes to keep people wanting them. They obviously sell enough to make it worthy of staying in the lineup, and you don’t often find them on the used market either. Why that is, is something you should take to heart – people like me love them and hold onto them. If your dealership has one in stock, the MSRP is only $4,799. Is it as quiet as an e-bike? No, but as I’ve mentioned in other articles, The sound of a motor doesn’t seem to have as much of an effect on deer movement as you might think. Plus, riding an e-bike from where I live to where I hunt isn’t really saving me any time. With the TW200, I can be back into my hunting area in no time. About the only thing I can’t do with it is haul my deer back out, but that’s what teenage sons are for.

For mobile scouting and hunting, you’re going to need the right backpack. The Vision pack is about perfect. It carries all the essentials for bow hunting, including your bow. One thing I’m going to tell you to look into right now is the legality of things. Where I live, you must have your bow in a case you are transporting it in a motor vehicle. This backpack carries your bow and arrows encased enough for some areas. Normally I’d say go to your state’s regulations website to check for legality, but I went a step above that to make sure I was following the rules. I found my local conservation officer and showed him the pack and asked directly if I could legally use it while riding the TW to my hunting area. He looked it over and gave me the green light because it encloses the majority of the bow and it is held securely within the pack.

Once you’re to your stand, the pack makes getting settled in easy. The bow compartment zips open for access to your bow. There are ample pockets for things like your rangefinder, binos, and scent spray. The front pocket opens up into a shelf to quietly and efficiently place things you’ll need access too. This pack is perfect for the mobile deer hunter.

I know, you’re probably saying, “yeah man, we know you like SpyPoint!” Well, I do and with good reason – these cameras work. The Link Micro cellular trail camera works great and is small enough that you can throw several in a daypack, ride through on your TW200 and set up enough to cover your whole hunting area in a few minutes time. Seriously, I know because I did it. With these cameras you get 10-megapixel images and a .5 second trigger speed. The price is perfect for setting up several so get to it and watch the pictures roll in.

You’re going to need good boots to be a mobile deer hunter and these boots from Irish Setter fit the bill nicely. They are extremely comfortable and have the grip you need in the sole area. I’ll hit just the highlights for you. They are completely waterproof and have a Scentban treatment to cut down on odor. They have comfort padding in the key areas to make it easier to wear them for a long sit. The tow area wraps around the front of extra grip when climbing, and the sole grips things like footpegs really well for mobility. Finding the right boots is always a trade off, it seems. You need something comfortable, but not bulky and still light enough to not cause excessive foot stress. And if you’re cruising in on a Yamaha TW200, you want them to help grip the bike and shift. That’s why I like these boots so much. They check a lot of boxes off the list of what I want in a boot.

You wouldn’t go up into a treestand without a safety harness right? We’ve covered that subject quite a bit lately. It’s just not worth it to not take that safety precaution. Well, the same goes for not wearing a helmet on a motorcycle or ATV. It’s not safe and it’s not worth it, especially when you can get a good helmet for a reasonable cost, like the Fly Racing Trekker. This helmet has vents you control, and a flip-down face shield to protect your eyes. It is DOT-approved, comfortable and comes in several cool colors, including my favorite – matte black. Don’t be that person. Come home at the end of the day. Wear a helmet!