My Montana deer hunt issue......

[Dan-o]

So, I have a problem.

I started hunting Montana later in life.

We started going way NE 6 years ago.   Hunting was really good on public land for Muleys for 2 years.    Then there was a huge die off where we hunt.    The 3rd year we went, we never saw a mature buck on public land.   That soured us making that LONG drive for bad hunting.

Then, we tried south of Butte.   Saw a few decent deer, but nothing too exciting.   Not excited to go back there.

I didn't go back last year, but I missed it.

I can't take weeks off to go scouting......

How the heck can I find a decent deer hunting spot in Montana?
I am even willing to pay a reasonable trespass fee to a landowner, but I don't know how to go about finding them.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

Dan

[deerhuntr4885]

Hunting  mule deer in MT has declined across the state the last several years.  There was the tough winter of 2011(?) and then blue tongue.  If you had good success in the NE I would stick it out until the heard rebounds.  Learn the area and be selective with your harvest.  Don't shoot the little bucks and in a few years you will be better off. We are all experiencing a down turn right now. I skipped last year all together to give the herd a break but I will be back.

Be patient and enjoy the hunt, not the harvest. Things will turn around for you.  Knowing the area and deer habits is what will pay off in the long run for a trophy, not jumping from greener pasture to greener pasture.  Good luck. 

[Dan-o]

Thanks.

I think I just needed someone to tell me that (or else just tell me to buck up and buy my tag again).

[dune]

Check out Lewiston area a lot of farmers will chare a fee but great bucks and hunting

[Dan-o]

Thanks for the pointer.


Any info on how I might contact a farmer that charges for access would be appreciated.....    probably best to PM me if you're willing to share that kind of info.

[Bigshooter]

I would head back to the NE I saw some big bucks that were killed up there last year.

[Karl Blanchard]

The winter kill off pulled a whole age class of deer out of the herd but it has rebounded and now we are seeing good bucks again.  We took a 176, a 162, and a few 150 type deer this last season.  We are seeing that 4.5+ age class again.  Head back to your familiar haunts and you should do well.