Montana 2019 Check-In

[hunterofelk]

I've heard the Little Belt Mountains have a good population of elk recently.  I've hunted around Bozeman and White Sulfur Springs but it was thirty or so years ago and back then knowing some private landowners was key to success.  The public land was hit pretty hard and everyone was waiting for a blizzard.

[mburrows]

any public or private within an hour of I-90 particularly Bozeman is going to be hunted hard. However, lots of elk around in just about every mountain range in the state.

[TwoBear]

Its supposed to be but MT FWP has a mind of their own and does what all government agencies do: "find something simple and complicate it". -Bert Gomer. 

[spudder1982]

In same boat.  Did not get drawn in 18 for deer.  Was shocked at the number that they told me applied.  I did not buy a preference point but sure will in the future.  I expect prices will go up before long.  Dont know about you but current prices have me about maxed out for an every other year deal.

[Stein]

White Sulphur is very tough for elk, more of a mule deer place in the nearby areas late season.  The vast majority of the elk will be on private ranches that are either closed to hunting or leased by an outfitter.  The orange vests are crowded onto the very few public areas.  There are certainly better areas with more public that can get you spread out a bit.  I spent my last elk hunt there last year and am moving on to greener pastures.

I was just looking through the options this morning, have a good tip on a new area for elk and about a 1/3 chance to draw my antelope tag.  I should be able to get one or two deer either with the antelope trip if that ends up happening.

I will definitely be hunting deer and elk there in 2019 and hopefully antelope.  Depending on if I draw in Wyoming, I may make two trips to MT, bow and rifle.

[Ace]

I’ve been hunting MT sense 1996. Only 2 times I didn’t get drawn. I wouldn’t put in for points unless I was saving up for a special draw hunt. I would hunt elk when the seaso starts. That seams to be the best for elk. The last 2 weeks of the season is best for deer. The Little Belts and the Bid Belt mountains are a good place to hunt elk. No grizz and low # of wolfs. There are some good deer in there to. You can put in for a B tag for elk there and chances are good you’ll get that. B tag is a cow tag. The belts units are mostly any elk. So you can get 2 elk. The cow season goes into February of the next year

[Ace]

The deadline for MT is midnight on March 15

[Craig]

Been going to Montana for 19 years. Hope to draw again next year for me and my son. Hopefully he draws a special elk permit soon.

My permit bull from this year. Central Montana.

[WAElkhunter89]

Nice Craig. I'm hoping my dad and I draw out as well, love the Montana country.

[Ace]

I had a bunch of points for elk a while back. I paid my $20 point fee for years. One year I forgot to put in. No problem. You have 1 year to skip the point system. If you skip 2 years in a row they take your points that you PAID for. Thieves!!! The 2nd year I paid my $20 for my point. The next year I put in for a unit I’ve been saving for. I waited for the draw results and I had none. I called FWP and they said I wasn’t in the draw. I paid the $20. They said I didn’t put in for a unit the year before so they took my points. I paid for it. Nowhere on the form did it state I had to put in for a unit. It said if I wanted to buy a point it was $20. It didn’t state that. It said buy a point. They took my points. So if I didn get included in the draw or get a point I should get my $20 back. They said no. I see that to be a problem. So should I get my $ back and/or points or should I just go get me a elk? Did I go and get a elk?.

[Tbob]

Does anyone know when we can start the application for non-res deer? I’ll be out of the country for the deadline and would like to get my app in before I head out. Thanks! (I did try to call today, but they were closed for MLK day).. thanks again.

[WAElkhunter89]

Does anyone know when we can start the application for non-res deer? I’ll be out of the country for the deadline and would like to get my app in before I head out. Thanks! (I did try to call today, but they were closed for MLK day).. thanks again.

It should be around the middle of February would be my guess.

[Tbob]

Damn! Okay thanks.. I’ll be out of the country from 2/6-3/22. As I read on line it looks like the deadline is 3/15..  Hate doing things like this with spotty WiFi, but ya do what ya gotta do I suppose. Thanks for the info!

[WAElkhunter89]

Damn! Okay thanks.. I’ll be out of the country from 2/6-3/22. As I read on line it looks like the deadline is 3/15..  Hate doing things like this with spotty WiFi, but ya do what ya gotta do I suppose. Thanks for the info!

I hear ya man, I'm overseas right now and the internet is hit and miss sometimes. Luckily the Montana website is accessible on the internet here.

[bugs n bones]

Feb 19th big game combo will be available to apply for