Missouri breaks east archery elk

[vandeman17]

Anyone ever draw this tag? Old man and I applied for it with 3 points.

[Skyvalhunter]

Very tough draw, always on my application but never drawn. 10 pts

[Reidus]

Rifle is a tough draw. Archery not so much. Lots of elk. Big bulls. Very difficult to call amd lots of dweeb hunters. Really open country. Some dandy bulls come out of there.

[vandeman17]

Very tough draw, always on my application but never drawn. 10 pts

Do you apply for rifle or archery?

[The scout]

It's about 70% chance to draw. I have never done the hunt, but my cousin lives in billings and he has. It sounds like a fun hunt, but September, October can be a bad month to be there, last year there were a number of archery camps stranded for over a week because they got something like 6" of rain in 2 days.

[Dan-o]

The dirt roads become literally undrivable when soaked.   

If you walk, you end up with 15 pounds of m$ud clinging to each boot. 

When dry it is awesome place to roam..... and some m$onsters do roam there....   like most places, they are hard to kill or they would be dead.   

[JDHasty]

"The dirt roads become literally undrivable when soaked."

My cousin's wife drew a Slippery Ann rifle elk tag this last year.

Weather was tough, gumbo mud will stop any vehicle short of a Sherman tank, they got a call from a friend/shirttail relative and could have shot a real monster bull... basically from their front yard. She is from Winnett and they know everybody.

They turned down the offer, they wanted to make it a hunt, they went home and came back later and hunted hard and got a really nice bull, maybe not quite as big as the one they turned down, but really a very nice bull.

[vandeman17]

It's about 70% chance to draw. I have never done the hunt, but my cousin lives in billings and he has. It sounds like a fun hunt, but September, October can be a bad month to be there, last year there were a number of archery camps stranded for over a week because they got something like 6" of rain in 2 days.

I heard the same about the roads but will just have to hope for good weather. My old man is retired and my job has flexibility so we could have a time we want to go but adjust based on the forecast. Plan would be to drag our trailer there but also bring backpacking tent and gear to spike camp if necessary.

[JDHasty]

It's about 70% chance to draw. I have never done the hunt, but my cousin lives in billings and he has. It sounds like a fun hunt, but September, October can be a bad month to be there, last year there were a number of archery camps stranded for over a week because they got something like 6" of rain in 2 days.

I heard the same about the roads but will just have to hope for good weather. My old man is retired and my job has flexibility so we could have a time we want to go but adjust based on the forecast. Plan would be to drag our trailer there but also bring backpacking tent and gear to spike camp if necessary.

You can't walk in it either.  It builds up twenty pound balls of mud on your boots.  Be flexible and pray for decent weather. 

[vandeman17]

It's about 70% chance to draw. I have never done the hunt, but my cousin lives in billings and he has. It sounds like a fun hunt, but September, October can be a bad month to be there, last year there were a number of archery camps stranded for over a week because they got something like 6" of rain in 2 days.

I heard the same about the roads but will just have to hope for good weather. My old man is retired and my job has flexibility so we could have a time we want to go but adjust based on the forecast. Plan would be to drag our trailer there but also bring backpacking tent and gear to spike camp if necessary.

You can't walk in it either.  It builds up twenty pound balls of mud on your boots.  Be flexible and pray for decent weather.

Ya I meant that is our plan based on good weather. I have been in gnarly mud before and it was terrible.

[DaleVR]

Super fun hunt!It's been quit a few years since I've gone. We hunted it from boats, weather was 90 degrees, made for tough conditions. Fishing was awesome also. We chased some monsters though.

[dune]

I use to draw every year when I lived  their  lots of elk and lots if fun.

[mp.hunter]

http://stitcher.com/s?eid=49387980&autoplay=1

Adam-sounds like its more of a spot n stalk than a call-a-thon, good luck.


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[vandeman17]

http://stitcher.com/s?eid=49387980&autoplay=1

Adam-sounds like its more of a spot n stalk than a call-a-thon, good luck.


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Awesome thanks mike. Spot and stalk is good with me. Fun challenge

[JLS]

It's about 70% chance to draw. I have never done the hunt, but my cousin lives in billings and he has. It sounds like a fun hunt, but September, October can be a bad month to be there, last year there were a number of archery camps stranded for over a week because they got something like 6" of rain in 2 days.

I heard the same about the roads but will just have to hope for good weather. My old man is retired and my job has flexibility so we could have a time we want to go but adjust based on the forecast. Plan would be to drag our trailer there but also bring backpacking tent and gear to spike camp if necessary.

Depending on which unit you are referring to, there is little use in spike camping.

[jae]

The dirt roads become literally undrivable when soaked.   

If you walk, you end up with 15 pounds of m$ud clinging to each boot. 

When dry it is awesome place to roam..... and some m$onsters do roam there....   like most places, they are hard to kill or they would be dead.

I could not have said it better!
Drew in 2008? (+/-1or 2) Wettest September in years they said.
We had to relocate.
Some monsters do hit the ground though.

[Thenewguy]

ya'll doing it wrong- get a boat...

[dscubame]

I am in for that area, archery with 70 percent odds and will be taking the boat.

[HighCountryHunter88]

just spray your boots and tires with PAM and go for it! 

[vandeman17]

I am in for that area, archery with 70 percent odds and will be taking the boat.

How many points do you have?

[dscubame]

I am in for that area, archery with 70 percent odds and will be taking the boat.

How many points do you have?

I believe a few. 

[Magnum_Willys]

Last time I hunted there it rained and we hadn't taken mud chains - big mistake.  Could only hunt while roads were frozen - till about 10:30 or 11:00 am.  If you weren't back to gravel by the time mud thawed you were there until 11pm when it froze again.

[SideHillBill]

Drew the rifle bull tag in 1996. I put in for a November hunt so we were able to drive into the unit. Toughest hunt I have ever been on. So cold it froze all our food and water the first night. We camped up on the ridge because it was even colder down on the river. Killed my first bull on that hunt. A modest 6x6. I can remember being worried the pickup wouldnt start in the am, had to thaw out cookies on the dash lol The river was frozen sold. The first day we drove all day without seeing a single fresh track. Let alone a bird or anything alive at all. The second morning we found the herd feeding on a grassy flat about two miles back in a cooley. So we went in after them in a foot of snow knowing this would be our only chance crossing half a dozen draws we crested the last ridge we were in them. Muleys to our left elk below us. Took a 300 yard shot. Down he went. We hiked out for the pickup after field dressing and tagging. On the way out we had 13 bulls in a group at 200 yards. A couple dandys lol. The main herd moved closer to the road and a nice lady filled her cow tag and thanked us for our effort and happily gave us some unfrozen bottled water. Goodness we were thirsty. Some how we managed to drive that old pickup up the main cooley all the way to my elk and got him out. COLD FROZEN HUNT   

[JDHasty]

Drew the rifle bull tag in 1996. I put in for a November hunt so we were able to drive into the unit. Toughest hunt I have ever been on. So cold it froze all our food and water the first night. We camped up on the ridge because it was even colder down on the river. Killed my first bull on that hunt. A modest 6x6. I can remember being worried the pickup wouldnt start in the am, had to thaw out cookies on the dash lol The river was frozen sold. The first day we drove all day without seeing a single fresh track. Let alone a bird or anything alive at all. The second morning we found the herd feeding on a grassy flat about two miles back in a cooley. So we went in after them in a foot of snow knowing this would be our only chance crossing half a dozen draws we crested the last ridge we were in them. Muleys to our left elk below us. Took a 300 yard shot. Down he went. We hiked out for the pickup after field dressing and tagging. On the way out we had 13 bulls in a group at 200 yards. A couple dandys lol. The main herd moved closer to the road and a nice lady filled her cow tag and thanked us for our effort and happily gave us some unfrozen bottled water. Goodness we were thirsty. Some how we managed to drive that old pickup up the main cooley all the way to my elk and got him out. COLD FROZEN HUNT   

Like I said above:  My cousin's wife is born and raised on a ranch in Winnett.  Their ranch HQ is in Augusta, right up against the Sun River Game Range, and they spend winters keeping water open for the cattle on winter range. 

Augusta is just a bit south of Cut Bank, which is frequently the coldest spot in the lower 48, and they live this life.  They were being extra careful about not getting themselves in a bind. 

She had a Slippery Ann Rifle Tag this last year and they were fighting the weather every time I talked to them.  It can "get ya," so be prepared and don't get caught having to spend the night out.  It is entirely possible to get your vehicle stuck and walking out isn't an option until the gumbo mud freezes late at night. 

That is BIG and unforgiving country and it can bite ya'.  Have a good hunt, but be careful out there.   

[vandeman17]

Some good news on my front. Turns out the guy I work with during the summer, who is originally from Montana, actually hunts and knows this unit well. On top of that, his father in law's brother owns a good chunk of land that he is confident we could get access too. Fingers crossed.

[Muleyslyr]

vande... I hunted this area last year but for deer. Saw some good Bulls. Get the tag and worry about the weather and roads and everything else later. It'll be a great hunt no matter what.

[vandeman17]

vande... I hunted this area last year but for deer. Saw some good Bulls. Get the tag and worry about the weather and roads and everything else later. It'll be a great hunt no matter what.

Hoping we get our results in a few weeks so we can make the rest of our other plans accordingly.

[JDHasty]

vande... I hunted this area last year but for deer. Saw some good Bulls. Get the tag and worry about the weather and roads and everything else later. It'll be a great hunt no matter what.

Absolutely.  My point is enjoy it and good luck, just please be very careful.  That is unforgiving country and weather comes up fast and especially when it comes off the Canadian prairies it is a mean Mother Nature you are dealing with. 

[vandeman17]

vande... I hunted this area last year but for deer. Saw some good Bulls. Get the tag and worry about the weather and roads and everything else later. It'll be a great hunt no matter what.

Absolutely.  My point is enjoy it and good luck, just please be very careful.  That is unforgiving country and weather comes up fast and especially when it comes off the Canadian prairies it is a mean Mother Nature you are dealing with.

Roger that!