The Best E-Bikes for Hunting in 2024

Most e-bikes made specifically for hunting are pretty expensive, but there are some budget-friendly options that aren’t hunt-specific that get the job done, too. The Aventon Aventure.2 ($1,999) can get you out in the field without completely emptying your bank account. While it definitely makes some concessions to the higher-end competition, it’s still a worthy electric bike, especially when you consider the price tag.

Like most other fat tire e-bikes, the Aventure.2 rolls on 26-inch wheels with cushy and grippy 4-inch wide knobby tires. It is also equipped with an 80 mm suspension fork to help take the edge off those bumpy forest roads and trails.

It comes in two frame sizes, and the rider position is fairly upright and casual. One thing we like about the Aventure.2 is that it comes in step-over and step-thru frames. Not that we can’t swing a leg over a bike, but the step-thru option is great when you’re loaded down and wearing bulky hunting gear.

Speaking of loaded down, the Aventure.2 has a total weight capacity of 400 pounds, which is higher than most. It comes with a rear rack, plus Aventon sells a range of other racks and accessories to dial in the setup for your needs — but you’ll need to source gun/bow racks elsewhere. Like other beefy e-bikes, however, this thing is pretty heavy at 77 pounds but that includes the battery.

The 750W rear hub motor is pretty powerful, and it can push speeds up to 28 mph using pedal assist or 20 mph with the throttle. It isn’t quite as powerful, smooth, or torquey as some of the higher-end models we have listed here, but if you’re willing to pedal a bit, it’ll get up just about anything.

The 720Wh battery is a good size, but don’t expect to get close to its claimed range potential of “up to 60 miles.” It depends on how much throttle and what assist mode you use, but 20 to 30 miles is a more reasonable expectation, especially if you’re wearing gear or hauling weight.

Regardless, if you’re just dipping your toes into using an e-bike for hunting or you simply can’t justify spending upward of $5K on a bike, the Aventure.2 is a great, affordable option to consider. It’s also a versatile bike that can transition from a hunting weekend to cruising around town better than most.

There is a very good reason why the Bakcou Storm ($5,599) is the bestselling full-suspension e-bike for hunting. Actually, there are several.

The nine-speed Bakcou Storm has a load-hauling capacity of 300 pounds and a range of up to 65 miles. With 120 mm of front and rear suspension, this bike has a smooth ride that makes those rugged logging roads and singletracks more comfortable and controlled than all of the hardtail options. The 4-inch wide Maxxis Minion tires cushion the ride while providing great traction. It also comes in two frame sizes, 19″ and 17″, so you can get a proportional fit.

The Storm is equipped with Bafang’s ULTRA mid-drive motor, which is referred to as the “diesel engine” of fat tire bikes. It’s a smart motor that senses speed, cadence, shift, and brake, which results in a natural-feeling ride. Adjustments can be made to the settings to make it a class 1, 2, or 3 e-bike, and the powerful motor can push you along at up to 28 mph using pedal assist or 20 mph using the throttle.

The Storm isn’t cheap, though. It’ll set you back at least $5,599, depending on the battery size you choose, which is no easy pill to swallow for a bike. Thankfully, there is financing available to help ease the load. That said, it’s nice to have options, and you can choose to get the 48V battery in 17.5, 19.2, 21, or 25 Ah, resulting in 840, 921, 1,008, or 1,200 Wh of battery capacity. The bigger the battery, the greater your distance range, but the heavier the bike gets, and the price rises incrementally, too.

Speaking of weight, this bike tips the scales at 70 pounds without the battery. Factor in another 9 to 12 pounds — depending on the battery size — and the Storm is a heavyweight. But the same is true of all of the e-bikes we’ve tried for hunting.

From the steep and rugged to the open plains, the full-suspension Bakcou Storm will get you there and back again in comfort and control.

Rambo Electric Bikes’ claim to fame is creating the first all-wheel-drive e-bike back in 2019. That continues with the unique Rambo Megatron 3.0 (starting at $4,499), which features 1,000W hub motors front and rear, along with the option to run dual batteries for a massive range. It costs extra to upgrade to the dual battery system, but if range anxiety is a variable you’re looking to eliminate, the Megatron has an answer.

The Megatron 3.0 looks a lot like other hunting e-bikes, but the trick up its sleeve is the dual motor system. With 1,000W hub motors front and rear, riders have the option to switch between front-wheel, rear-wheel, or all-wheel drive while moving by pressing a control on the handlebar. So, you can motor along the flats in rear-wheel drive, then switch to all-wheel when you need more traction to winch up something super steep with a heavy load. The choice is yours.

The dual motors also mean that this bike is incredibly powerful. It puts out a combined 2,000 watts of power and can hit speeds up to 36 mph! Want to make quick work of that long road approach, no problem. That much power can burn through battery quickly, however.

Fortunately, the Megatron comes with a 960 Wh (48V, 20Ah) battery as standard, with the option to add a 672 Wh (48V, 14Ah) battery pack. Rambo claims up to 65 miles of range with that increasing to 110 miles with the dual battery. Can you actually go that far between charges? No. But you’ll still be able to travel farther than most other bikes.

Unlike those other bikes, the Megatron 3.0 comes with a simplified single-speed drivetrain. While you don’t have a number of gears to shift through, you also don’t really need them with the assistance from the motor(s). The main benefit of the single-speed setup is that you won’t snag or damage your derailleur on anything — a non-functioning drivetrain can render a bike unrideable.

This bike comes with a beefy, integrated rear rack and can handle a total weight of up to 350 pounds. Rambo also sells a full suite of accessories to suit your needs. One thing you don’t need to buy is a light — it comes with a slick LED light bar for those early approaches and late returns.

While the Megatron 3.0 has mega-range and mega-traction, it’s also mega-heavy. It weighs 75 pounds without the battery, plus another 11 pounds with the battery — add several more pounds if you go with the dual battery option. This is expected, of course, with a beast of a bike like the Megatron. On top of the weight, Rambo only offers one frame size of 19.7″, so it might not fit everyone.

Still, if you want a rock-crawler of an e-bike that can handle the most demanding of conditions and then some, the Megatron 3.0 from Rambo deserves a gander.

Coming in at a more moderate price point than the high-end Apex XD, the QuietKat Apex HD ($4,350-4,600) is strikingly similar, with the main difference being the switch to a rear hub motor. It’s still got plenty of power, a rugged build, two battery size options, and two frame style options, but the $2K savings makes it more approachable for most people. GearJunkie’s Hunting and Fishing Editor, Rachelle Schrute, has been using one since May 2024.

At first glance, you’d be hard-pressed to tell the Apex HD apart from its more expensive sibling since they look nearly identical. The HD has the same lines and overbuilt alloy frame that can handle a max weight of 325 pounds. It’s got the same beefy rear rack and chunky down tube that houses the battery, too. On closer inspection, the keen-eyed observer will notice that, instead of the mid-drive motor on the XD, the 1,000W motor is in the rear hub.

For context, a 1,000W hub motor is pretty powerful. This one puts out 85 Nm of torque, which will be plenty for most people, even if it’s much lower than the 200 Nm of the Apex XD. This motor seriously amplifies your pedaling effort, has a twist throttle for purely electric propulsion, and the settings are adjustable through the display to dial them in to your needs — it can be configured in class 1, 2, 3, or unlimited.

You can also choose between the 15Ah or 30Ah batteries. The latter will provide double the range, but it will cost $250 more and add several pounds of weight to the bike. For those venturing into the backcountry, we feel it’s probably money well spent to ensure you can make it there and back again. QueitKat claims up to 90 miles of range with the 30 Ah (1,440 Wh) battery, which is huge, but you’ll almost certainly get significantly less than that in real-world riding scenarios.

Much like the XD version, the Apex HD has a 120mm suspension fork to smooth out the rough stuff and high-volume 26 x 4.8-inch knobby tires that provide additional cushion and plenty of grip. Similarly, QuietKat switched the drivetrain over to an internally geared 2-speed automatic transmission. This removes the vulnerable derailleur from the equation, which reduces the chances of drivetrain issues in the field and lessens the amount of debris that is likely to get stuck in your gears.

While it doesn’t boast as much power or as smooth of power delivery as the more expensive Apex XD, the Apex HD is still a fast, comfortable, and well-equipped e-bike for hunting. With two frame styles, two battery sizes, and a host of add-on accessories to choose from, this bike can be configured in a variety of ways to suit your needs and comes at a price that’s easier on the bank account.

Let’s be real. Many people who get on hunting e-bikes aren’t exactly in it for the exercise. When you’re loaded down with gear and wearing your full hunting kit, heavy boots, etc., pedaling a bike isn’t the most comfortable thing to do. That’s why most e-bikes for hunting have throttles. Which begs the question, why not consider an e-moto?

New Zealand-based UBCO must’ve read our minds because they came out with the 2×2 Hunt Edition ($6,500) back in October 2023. Designed in collaboration with legendary surfer and hunter Shane Dorian, the Hunt Edition comes fully decked out for hunting and costs about the same as the high-end e-bikes on our list.

If your interest in e-bikes for hunting is to reduce noise and/or emissions, the UBCO bike will do the same thing while riding more like a traditional moto. It puts out a claimed 75 decibels of noise when running at full speed — that’s pretty quiet. It has dual hub motors that each have a peak power of 1.7 kW, and it hums along at 30 mph with the ability to top out at 40 mph when using boost mode. That also means it has all-wheel-drive, improving traction and its ability to claw its way up challenging terrain.

It comes with a massive 3.1 kWh battery that gives it a claimed range of up to 75 miles. Like any electric bike, the range is subject to many factors, and the claimed range needs to be taken with a grain of salt. That said, GearJunkie Editor Will Brendza tested a 2×2 Special Edition and found its range to be impressive, aided in part by the regenerative braking system. It’s worth mentioning, however, that the big battery weighs a whopping 40 pounds, adding to the hefty total bike weight of 156 pounds.

It rolls on 17-inch wheels with meaty 2.75-inch-wide moto tires. That’s a bit smaller than traditional moto wheels and tires but helps to keep this heavy bike feeling slightly more nimble than it otherwise could. A 130 mm fork and 120 mm of rear suspension also do wonders to take the edge off bumpy roads and trails.

Unlike most e-bikes for hunting, which need a bunch of accessories and add-ons to equip them for carrying all of your gear, the 2×2 Hunt Edition comes decked out, literally. It comes with front and rear cargo decks, Pronghorn straps, Molle panels, a waterproof center compartment, a Peak Design phone mount, and a bow/gun mount. It even comes with a 2,400-lumen headlight, a Barebones Nata Tool (a multi-purpose cleaver), and a 3-month membership to OnX Hunt for your mapping needs.

As an e-moto, the UBCO propels you by throttle power only. You don’t have the option to pedal this bike at all, which may be a non-starter for some people and a benefit to others. It’s also heavier than any of the e-bikes we have listed here, which will make it even more of a challenge to transport without a moto rack or loading ramp to get it into the bed of a truck. Using it in Boost mode also drains the battery much more quickly.

Beyond those concerns, the 2×2 Hunt Edition is a compelling e-moto for hunters who want to cut down on noise but aren’t that interested in pedaling an e-bike. It’s fast and powerful and comes fully equipped to head out into the field without needing to spend a bunch more on accessories.

We couldn’t write a piece on e-bikes without mentioning the Bakcou Mule ($4,799-5,199). It talks the talk and walks the walk. We should say “rides the ride.”

This is a 1,000W mid-drive e-bike made with the hunter in mind. Between the smart torque-sensing Bafang M620 Ultra motor, the 300-pound carrying capacity, and the integrated rear rack, the name Mule describes it perfectly.

You can also toggle between 750W and 1,000W motor settings and a max power of 1,500W to meet all e-bike law demands. And with the Maxxis Minion, 26” x 4.0 tires teamed up alongside the 100 mm suspension fork, shock-absorbing seat, and Shimano nine-speed gearing, you’ll get where you need to go smoothly and efficiently.

Bakcou also gives you the option of three different battery sizes, 17.5 Ah, 21 Ah, and 25 Ah, which equate to 840, 1,008, and 1,200 Wh, respectively. The price and weight go up incrementally with each battery size, but we like that you can choose the size that works best for your needs.

The Bakcou Mule doesn’t come without its downsides. First, as expected, it comes in at 67 pounds without the battery. Add the battery, and you’ll either up that number between 9 and 12 pounds, depending on what battery size you reach for. Along with that, not everyone will be a good fit for the Mule, as it only comes in one frame size of 18″.

Bakcou Mule e-bikes are no stranger to the hunting woods and rough terrain. There is a reason they are so popular and have been one of the top-selling e-bikes for years

All around from front to back, the Rambo Venom 2.0 ($5,250) is a sturdy choice of e-bike no matter where you’re planning to go.

The Venom 2.0 was made as a top-tier do-it-all bike that does it in style. Rambo put on a Bafang 1,000W Ultra Drive motor along with a 960Wh battery that’s nicely integrated into the frame for a clean look. Rambo claims up to 32 miles of range with the standard battery and up to 65 miles with the optional second battery.

The Bafang Ultra mid-drive motor is very powerful and capable of hitting speeds up to 32 mph. There’s also a twist throttle to scoot along under full electric power if you don’t feel like pedaling. When you hit the hill, the 11-speed SRAM NX drivetrain provides a huge gear range, but you’ve also got all that power to assist your pedaling.

The Venom 2.0 has a beefy frame with a fully integrated rear rack and a total carrying capacity of up to 300 lbs. It also comes with fenders and a nifty LED front light strip to help you see when you’re out before or after the sun is out.

One thing we like about Rambo Bikes is the numerous options they give you. You can upgrade to Tannus armor to help prevent flats or a Rohloff internal geared hub to reduce maintenance and the likelihood of mechanical issues. The latter will set you back $2,600, however, which is not exactly an affordable upgrade.

Still, with a powerful mid-drive motor, front suspension, useful features, and all of the upgrade and customization options you could ask for, the Venom 2.0 is a compelling option. At $5,250, it isn’t cheap, but it is competitive with others in its class.

While it is being phased out of QuietKat’s lineup, the Apex Pro ($5,100, but currently on sale for $3,840) is what converted GearJunkie’s Hunt & Fish Editor, Rachelle Schrute, from an e-bike hater to a lover. While the new QuietKat Apex XD might be at the top of the brand’s range of hunting e-bikes, the Apex Pro is still excellent and a screaming deal at its sale price.

Coming out heavy is one of our ultimate goals when we go hunting. The Apex Pro will gladly take the weight off your shoulders and do it in stride. It can support a total load of 325 pounds, and the burly, integrated rear rack is designed to handle up to 100 of it. For hauling all of your gear, you can customize this bike with a ton of different accessories, like trailers, weapon holders, etc.

The wide, knobby 26 x 4-inch tires provide a nice cushion and great traction on surfaces ranging from logging roads to rutted singletracks. The inverted front suspension fork with 140 mm of travel will ensure that those trips are even more comfortable, too. It comes in small, medium, and large frame sizes.

Equipped with a nearly silent and very powerful 1,000W mid-drive motor, the Apex Pro was designed to tackle the “steep and deep” of backcountry adventures. Along with the motor, the large 828 Wh (48 V/17.25 Ah) battery provides lots of juice to get you there and back again.

Like most e-bikes, it’s no surprise that this thing is heavy. The 70 pounds that the Apex Pro weighs will surely not go unnoticed. With that, even though this is a beast of a load hauler, being able to carry 325 pounds, the range isn’t amazing per battery. You’ll get 24-48 miles on a full charge, which is at the lower end of what we’ve covered here.

For a dedicated pack mule in your corner, the QuietKat Apex Pro is about as legit of an e-bike as they come.