For gear-junky hunters, the “E” in e-bike often stands for “Equipment.” Not only does a stealthy QuietKat help them get in and out of turkey territory, but it can also haul a lot of gear, too.

Text Courtesy Of Federal Ammunition & J.J. Reich

Photos courtesy of QuietKat

I’ve never killed a wild turkey in the same way twice. There is always something different about every hunt: weather, location, setup, time of day, actions of the gobbler, decisions of the hunter, differences in terrain, amount of foliage, and of course — all of the various aspects of gear.

Last year was the first time I hunted turkeys with an electric bike. The experience was eye-opening, especially with the ease of hauling things in and out of the woods, not to mention how quick and silent it was to get where the turkeys were located.

The e-bike was the QuietKat Apex Sport. It’s a powerful electric bike designed for hunting. It delivers the ultimate utility and all-terrain capability of any e-bike brand. It is designed with a robust frame that features advanced geometry to ensure easy maneuverability and control. Its 16Ah lithium-ion battery ensures long-lasting performance.

There is a lot more that can be said about QuietKat e-bikes. But bottom line: I was thoroughly impressed with how easy it was to transverse fields and woodland trails with it. And now, I don’t think I’ll ever want to hunt without one.

Here’s a look at the e-bike accessories and a pile of gear — in no particular order — used to help fill my Illinois turkey tag. My hope is that this photo gallery might inspire you to consider gear that could add to your turkey hunting comfort and success.

Stoeger’s Inertia Driven M3500 12-gauge shotgun cycles all sizes of shells equally well, providing versatility at an affordable price. It has built-in features to help reduce felt recoil and patterns great with an extra-full turkey choke.

Red-dot reflex sights have changed the game in turkey hunting. To be precisely accurate, especially at longer ranges (I shot this gobbler at 54 yards), you need a good sight. Bushnell’s RXS-250 Reflex, with its 50,000 hours of battery life, is an excellent choice.

Federal’s Heavyweight TSS, 12-gauge, No. 9s are certainly my go-to loads. TSS shot delivers the most energy and highest velocities at extreme range. Federal’s rear-braking FLIGHTCONTROL FLEX wad performs through all types of turkey chokes for tight, consistent, deadly patterns.

The Will Primos Turkey Vest is a personal favorite. It’s lightweight and comfortable. But it’s the variety and positioning of so many pockets that I love most. And it rode great when peddling the QuietKat.

The Bushnell Vault Binoculars Pack is simple, compact and modular. With it, I use my binos more often because they are conveniently strapped to my chest, better enabling me to see turkey activity up close and personal.

On any given hunt, I will always have the main three types of turkey calls in my vest, which are: a mouth call, a pot-and-peg, and a short box. On this hunt, I relied on:

The Karen — a Primos Hen House Series Turkey Mouth Call — which can play loud and rowdy, or soft and sweet, it’s an excellent choice. It’s pictured with the Primos See Thru Call Case, a handy, helpful accessory.

The Primos Hensanity Pot Call is not made of the typical slate or glass. Primos describes the material only as a mysterious “frictionite.” Whatever it is, the call’s tone and volume are easy to control and sound perfect.

The Primos Hook Up box call features an ultra-strong magnet that holds the lid at the perfect angle for crisp cutts, smooth purrs, and soft or loud yelps. The detachable lid can also be removed for silent carry.

Heavy-duty Kolpin Rhino Grips provide a secure and custom fit for any gun, conveniently securing it up front on the handlebars and ready to go. No tools are needed for installation or removal, adding versatility to this accessory.

The rechargeable Explorer LED light features two super-bright white lamps for maximum visibility and two stealthy red ones for not disturbing wildlife when sneaking close. The USB output port can charge a phone or other electronic devices during the hunt, too.

Often overlooked, the robust Kinekt Suspension Seat post is the ultimate e-bike accessory. It muffles bumps and impacts, delivering comfort and control. Couple it with the beefy QuietKat Comfort Saddle, and you have a seat system that tames any rough ride.

Butler Creek’s Featherlight Sling features a foam insert with breathable cut-out slots that is much lighter than a typical padded sling. It’s secure, adjustable and comfortable to wear all day.

The Primos Stretch Fingerless Gloves feature sure-grip palms and extended cuffs for dependable concealment and insect protection. Three fingers are pre-cut and stitched for greater dexterity when working turkey calls and other gear.

The Primos Neck Gaiter conceals my face and neck while keeping me comfortable during warm, early-season hunts. There’s more than 12 ways to wear it. Plus, it’s moisture-wicking, breathable and stretch-fitting so it never gets in the way.

All of the gun blasts over the years have hurt my hearing. WildEar FieldEarz custom-fit electronic earplugs amplify sound during the hunt yet block out the boom. Their audio technologies deliver best-in-class performance, comfort and sound quality. I don’t hunt without them.

Whether sitting, kneeling or standing, the Primos Gen 3 Tall Trigger Stick allows for a perfect aim via a simple squeeze of the trigger. Its quick-detach yoke with integrated lock features a no-slip grip for any shotgun. The Trigger Stick Scabbard will easily store, protect and transport it.

The heavy-duty Pannier Cargo Basket increases utility and cargo capability up to 100 pounds. This bolt-on e-bike accessory can be oriented in either portrait or landscape modes for versatility.

QuietKat’s Weatherproof Pannier Bags are made of marine-grade waterproof materials. They can pack a lot of gear, yet are designed for quick on-and-off attachment and removal.

The best soft-side gun case needs as many pockets and attachment D-rings as possible, and the Primos Mossy Oak Bottomland Shotgun Case has a ton. Its XL size is great, and the webbing on its back side affixes a Trigger Stick Scabbard together as a cohesive unit.

Primos See-Through Full Frontal Blind features a wide, one-way see-through mesh view, huge interior and adjustable silent-slide window system. I also liked the Veil camo, spring-assist door system and affordable price tag.

Primos’ Lil Gobstopper Jake and Hen are 20% smaller than standard decoys, which takes away any intimidation factor that turkeys might have when they see them. And their compact size certainly makes them easier to haul around.

All of the different gear to use and try out just might be one of my favorite aspects of turkey hunting. It certainly can make or break success rates. And because of that, the QuietKat e-bike — with all of its accessories — was the hero of this hunt.

Prior to the hunt, a QuietKat All-Terrain Cargo Trailer was used to haul out a hub blind, chair, gun rest and decoys into the field via e-bike. The blind was placed in a field corner where we had scouted frequent and heavy turkey activity.

On the first day, I rode up to the blind — under the cover of early morning darkness — and hid my e-bike behind the blind. Hours later, the plan paid off. I happily punched the tag of a great Illinois gobbler.

Early the next day, I went out with my friend Dale, both on e-bikes, ready to run-and-gun. We quickly rode up to a point and listened for gobbles. Soon, we heard one quite a ways off, but the distance was no problem with the e-bikes.

We sped to an area near the tom’s roost just before he flew down — a distance we would have never made in time if traveling on foot. Minutes later, the plan paid off. Dale happily punched his tag on a great gobbler, as well.

While taking photos of Dale’s trophy, both of us gave silent appreciation for the well-designed electric bikes. They certainly helped get the job done in Illinois.

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