I know this strays from the OP’s question but it may be useful to him or someone. Hopefully I don’t cover a bunch of stuff that’s already been said. I really tried to read the other posts but… didn’t make it through most of them.
I’ll let you know that I’m not an avid bicycle rider.
I do use my mountain bike for elk hunting in a couple of different ways. Not really the hunting part though.
I drop it off and hide it/lock it to a tree in a strategic location for use later.
1- If there is a road I can get my truck up (up in elevation) that is at a logical place to end a hike I’ll drive up there and stash the bike. Then I’ll drive back down to where I plan to start hiking and park (often at a trailhead). I do my hike or even multi-day backpack trip on backcountry trails etc, ending at the bike. Then it’s an easy ride back to the truck through what isn’t likely productive hunting anyway (due to UTV’s and other traffic).
2- Some forest service roads close to all motorized vehicles during all or part of the season. I use the (non-motorized) bike on these roads to get deeper in. Again, I’m not so much hunting with the bike as I am getting away from motorized vehicles and other people. I also have a trailer for the bike but I think it may not be worth the trouble. Hauling any weight at all is pretty scary when going down a steep hill. Trailer brakes would probably fix that issue but I think it’s probably going to be just as easy to ride with a single quarter on my back at a time.
Right now I have an older (1990 something) Cannondale with no suspension and V brakes. Next year I intend to upgrade to a newer/lighter bike with modern features like hydraulic disc brakes, front suspension and a simple gear set with only one gear in the front. This year I upgraded my pack, tent and bought a new binocular so it wasn’t in the cards. Next year it’s the first and maybe only upgrade as I plan to spend $2-3k.
I’ve only used a mountain bike elk hunting for two years but have found it to be extremely useful and no trouble at all to bring along. I can legally bring it where 4 wheelers, UTV’s and e-bikes can’t go. It takes no fuel and is very unlikely to get stuck or break down. I don’t need to haul it on a trailer, I don’t need to register it in any way. It just makes sense to bring it nearly every time.
I was so hesitant to share that (as if I’m on to some big secret). Then I realized 75% of the folks that go out during elk season where I hunt are ass in seats UTV dudes and aren’t going to quit the $30-40k SxS they bought just because it doesn’t work. So this is for us other guys…