I love how all bikers are classified as city slicker d-bags.....far from the case. While I don't mountain bike in areas when the hunting seasons crank up, I surely don't get scared by a hunter with a gun. Nor does anyone I ride with. We all hunt, fish, camp, and yes, bike, hike and run. And drink beer and have a good time. Not trying to be Cameron Haines, but sure do like being in shape to enjoy the things I love.
Trail damage comes from all types of use. As a trail gets more defined it gets more use, via hiking, biking, horseback, wildlife, cows, etc. and that leads to more weathering. The worst weathering I see on trails is due to livestock use by far. But, no question, more users equals more weathering. Poorly designed trails on crappy soils are the worst, lots of erosion there all the time. But a well designed trail can have literally thousands of users on it and survive well, bikes or not. I ride them all the time. MDH trail doesn't fit in that category, it's awesome in scenery but was not designed and travels over poor soils at best. Trails see more damage from use at the wrong time (wet) than anything else. E bikes don't do any more in terms of trail damage than any other bike....damage comes from idiot users, not the type of use.
I think the argument being held is based on the definition of what "motorized" is and what impact that has on hunting. I think it is much more substantial than what you think it to be, at least in areas with limited vehicular travel. In areas I have been in MT, we have had to ride 10 miles to get into good terrain. Very, very few if any folks are willing to hike or bike that far. Horse and mule guys go way further. But, add in E bikes and that opens up terrain to many more, via motorized assistance. Maybe Bad Boy Buggies can put a pedal set on one of their carts and call them an E bike buggy and those would be legal too. I think you are opening up a big can of worms there. How much technological assistance are we going to allow in hunting? At what point are we eliminating the skill and hard work needed to harvest an animal fairly? Those are the big questions and E bikes are simply the item that brings forth the question....