Montana first-timer

[Tbob]

Well i drew myself a MT deer tag and this will be my first time heading over there to hunt. I’ll be hunting solo and still have no idea where I’m going to end up as of yet. If you have any suggestions im all ears!!
I’m just curious though, what’s the best week to be out there? I need to request some time off for work and just have no idea when would be best? I was thinking about the week before thanksgiving, but again, I’ve never done this so not sure. When do y’all usually head over to hunt deer? Thanks!

[grundy53]

Well i drew myself a MT deer tag and this will be my first time heading over there to hunt. I’ll be hunting solo and still have no idea where I’m going to end up as of yet. If you have any suggestions im all ears!!
I’m just curious though, what’s the best week to be out there? I need to request some time off for work and just have no idea when would be best? I was thinking about the week before thanksgiving, but again, I’ve never done this so not sure. When do y’all usually head over to hunt deer? Thanks!

Wish I could help you but I'm in the same boat.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[bearpaw]

Varies a little from western to eastern Montana with eastern being a few days little later, but in eastern I like from Nov 10-25 the best. In my experience you can kill bucks most any day of the season it's not storming too hard.

[ffhoofer]

Mid November worked for my group last year. Also, I would suggest a gps with a landownership chip. OnX maps worked well but if you don’t have service you’re screwed

[SuperX]

 

no cell service functionality is pretty broken when it breaks.

[Wolfdog2314]

Same boat here. Will be heading over after a week of rifle elk here in WA. November  9-23rd ish. Short of throwing darts at the map... looking at from central to eastern. Would love to not have to drive allllll the way east.

[Bigshooter]

no cell service functionality is pretty broken when it breaks.

Garmin GPS and a chip and you never have to worry about it.

[Antlershed]

no cell service functionality is pretty broken when it breaks.

Garmin GPS and a chip and you never have to worry about it.

Just save the maps before you head over there. I see no reason to carry a handheld GPS anymore. 

[Stein]

Last few days of the season is far the busiest as it coincides with the rut.  That said, I won't hunt then again as there are crazy numbers of people around.

Get the OnX chip or on your phone and have at it. 

[vandeman17]

Whitetail or mule deer?

[SuperX]

no cell service functionality is pretty broken when it breaks.

Garmin GPS and a chip and you never have to worry about it.

Just save the maps before you head over there. I see no reason to carry a handheld GPS anymore. 

saving the maps is only a part of it, when you're off the grid you don't have a base map, last season I ended up having to drive to signal just to get google maps to load so I could see where I was.  Not to mention the super slow acquisition time when you make a waypoint.  Not realizing I had to stand still until the signal was accurate enough, I created waypoints I later found were hundreds of yards from where I was when I created it.  Don't get me wrong, good product for private/public... just not a GPS replacement.  Now I use both.

[Stein]

no cell service functionality is pretty broken when it breaks.

Garmin GPS and a chip and you never have to worry about it.

Just save the maps before you head over there. I see no reason to carry a handheld GPS anymore. 

saving the maps is only a part of it, when you're off the grid you don't have a base map, last season I ended up having to drive to signal just to get google maps to load so I could see where I was.  Not to mention the super slow acquisition time when you make a waypoint.  Not realizing I had to stand still until the signal was accurate enough, I created waypoints I later found were hundreds of yards from where I was when I created it.  Don't get me wrong, good product for private/public... just not a GPS replacement.  Now I use both.

OnX is software, it will work as well as the hardware GPS it is run on does.  I have used it on iPhone 7 & 8 and it acquires signals faster and more reliably than the handheld Garmin I used to pack around.

[bornhunter]

Well i drew myself a MT deer tag and this will be my first time heading over there to hunt. I’ll be hunting solo and still have no idea where I’m going to end up as of yet. If you have any suggestions im all ears!!
I’m just curious though, what’s the best week to be out there? I need to request some time off for work and just have no idea when would be best? I was thinking about the week before thanksgiving, but again, I’ve never done this so not sure. When do y’all usually head over to hunt deer? Thanks!

I too am a solo first timer with big game combo. I got to MT yesterday for some scouting and door knocking. Hoping an early start may help. Winter still here right now. Snowing hard tonight with mid teen lows tomorrow. Elk have started to move up. Lots of deer in lowlands in SW MT. This is going to be fun hunting! Good luck everyone.

[Antlershed]

no cell service functionality is pretty broken when it breaks.

Garmin GPS and a chip and you never have to worry about it.

Just save the maps before you head over there. I see no reason to carry a handheld GPS anymore. 

saving the maps is only a part of it, when you're off the grid you don't have a base map, last season I ended up having to drive to signal just to get google maps to load so I could see where I was.  Not to mention the super slow acquisition time when you make a waypoint.  Not realizing I had to stand still until the signal was accurate enough, I created waypoints I later found were hundreds of yards from where I was when I created it.  Don't get me wrong, good product for private/public... just not a GPS replacement.  Now I use both.

When you save the maps to your phone, you absolutely have a base map. You have to go into your OnX and select “Off Grid”. I used my phone and pre-saved maps in Idaho last year with zero issues, including savings waypoints and making tracks.

Tbob- sorry for the slight derailment. I don’t have any advice to offer, as this is my first year headed to MT as well.

[SuperX]

no cell service functionality is pretty broken when it breaks.

Garmin GPS and a chip and you never have to worry about it.

Just save the maps before you head over there. I see no reason to carry a handheld GPS anymore. 

saving the maps is only a part of it, when you're off the grid you don't have a base map, last season I ended up having to drive to signal just to get google maps to load so I could see where I was.  Not to mention the super slow acquisition time when you make a waypoint.  Not realizing I had to stand still until the signal was accurate enough, I created waypoints I later found were hundreds of yards from where I was when I created it.  Don't get me wrong, good product for private/public... just not a GPS replacement.  Now I use both.

When you save the maps to your phone, you absolutely have a base map. You have to go into your OnX and select “Off Grid”. I used my phone and pre-saved maps in Idaho last year with zero issues, including savings waypoints and making tracks.

Tbob- sorry for the slight derailment. I don’t have any advice to offer, as this is my first year headed to MT as well.

Sorry, did all that, the base map is your saved map, if you want to see anything outside that when you're off grid, you have no base map.

[Antlershed]

no cell service functionality is pretty broken when it breaks.

Garmin GPS and a chip and you never have to worry about it.

Just save the maps before you head over there. I see no reason to carry a handheld GPS anymore. 

saving the maps is only a part of it, when you're off the grid you don't have a base map, last season I ended up having to drive to signal just to get google maps to load so I could see where I was.  Not to mention the super slow acquisition time when you make a waypoint.  Not realizing I had to stand still until the signal was accurate enough, I created waypoints I later found were hundreds of yards from where I was when I created it.  Don't get me wrong, good product for private/public... just not a GPS replacement.  Now I use both.

When you save the maps to your phone, you absolutely have a base map. You have to go into your OnX and select “Off Grid”. I used my phone and pre-saved maps in Idaho last year with zero issues, including savings waypoints and making tracks.

Tbob- sorry for the slight derailment. I don’t have any advice to offer, as this is my first year headed to MT as well.

Sorry, did all that, the base map is your saved map, if you want to see anything outside that when you're off grid, you have no base map.

But you can save as many maps as you want, so yeah, you do need to plan ahead and save anything where you think you might end up going before having service again.

[SuperX]

no cell service functionality is pretty broken when it breaks.

Garmin GPS and a chip and you never have to worry about it.

Just save the maps before you head over there. I see no reason to carry a handheld GPS anymore. 

saving the maps is only a part of it, when you're off the grid you don't have a base map, last season I ended up having to drive to signal just to get google maps to load so I could see where I was.  Not to mention the super slow acquisition time when you make a waypoint.  Not realizing I had to stand still until the signal was accurate enough, I created waypoints I later found were hundreds of yards from where I was when I created it.  Don't get me wrong, good product for private/public... just not a GPS replacement.  Now I use both.

When you save the maps to your phone, you absolutely have a base map. You have to go into your OnX and select “Off Grid”. I used my phone and pre-saved maps in Idaho last year with zero issues, including savings waypoints and making tracks.

Tbob- sorry for the slight derailment. I don’t have any advice to offer, as this is my first year headed to MT as well.

Sorry, did all that, the base map is your saved map, if you want to see anything outside that when you're off grid, you have no base map.

But you can save as many maps as you want, so yeah, you do need to plan ahead and save anything where you think you might end up going before having service again.

Yes you can save everything you might possibly need in advance, or you can bring a GPS and have everything you need in hand.  If you do save in high def, you'll be working on it all summer, and medium res is barely usable as a satilite / hybrid.  OnX is a good product, I was not happy last year and started a list before it got too long to bother with, but I still upgraded to elite (thanks camofire) since I am hunting in other states this year.  Here are some of the things I managed to save from my list.  Keep in mind that I had no cell signal so didn't ever get updated... once I hit cell coverage and opened OnX 'on grid' it started downloading the basemap.

Slow acquisition off grid
No hyb or topo without cell/wifi signal, only get satellite map
Won't work when phone is locked
No basemap for state, only for the 5 mile squares you download.
Alternative maps like USFS topo are not available off grid
Poor quality imaging for sat view, no angle views or ways to rotate
No hunting related data, sunrise/sunset, solunar, etc.
Can't use layers without cell or wifi


This is just my  but it isn't a GPS replacement, it is a 'hunt app' that sits on top of your phone OS and hardware.  your mileage may vary depending on your cell hardware/software/available storage/data plan. 

[HillHound]

We have had service most places with Verizon and T-Mobile, But if you have AT&T you’re out of luck by the time you hit CentralMontana the whole east side is it dead spot.  So if you know exactly where you want to go and there’s no chance of changing plans on the fly then the Phone app would work, but once you’re out there and not seeing game you’re stuck with what you’ve downloaded.   Just save yourself the headache and get a GPS. We use the Garmin rhino 650. It shows all property boundaries and who owns it.  We have the Montana on X chip  . you would really be surprised how many areas you can hunt that look 100% private driving by them.  Or slivers of land that allow access to large blocks that appear landlocked. You can also download Birdseye  views from Google earth at home for the areas you were going to be hunting, although the basic contour maps work pretty well too if you know what you’re looking at. I love this particular model because we are able to send our locations and even text messages back and forth between our party not having to worry about cell service. No more guessing where the heck your buddy has that big buck down,  or where you left yours to go get your pack for that matter. If I hadn’t of marked mine in Montana last year there’s no way we would’ve found it or found the only way down the cliff when we got back to it with pack boards in the dark.

[HillHound]

 Sorry I got going and forgot to answer your question. We usually like to go over as late as possible. You do have more of a chance of bad road conditions between Seattle and there. But once you’re there snow is better than the rain they may getting in early October. The mud they have over there is no joke. We have been out a couple days  that we have seen no other trucks because we were the only ones dumb enough to be out there. You almost need to have plans on where you want to hunt. Then plans on where you may have to hunt if the roads go to crap. Although I do have friends that go opening week  because they think a lot of the deer are going to be shot before mid November and they do get decent bucks. But I can hunt mule deer in Washington in October. Nothing compares the hunting mule deer in the snow when they are in full rut.

[Mtnwalker]

Sorry I got going and forgot to answer your question. We usually like to go over as late as possible. You do have more of a chance of bad road conditions between Seattle and there. But once you’re there snow is better than the rain they may getting in early October. The mud they have over there is no joke. We have been out a couple days  that we have seen no other trucks because we were the only ones dumb enough to be out there. You almost need to have plans on where you want to hunt. Then plans on where you may have to hunt if the roads go to crap. Although I do have friends that go opening week  because they think a lot of the deer are going to be shot before mid November and they do get decent bucks. But I can hunt mule deer in Washington in October. Nothing compares the hunting mule deer in the snow when they are in full rut.

One of the best ways to piss off the locals over there is to be out tearing up their ranch roads after the weather hits. The family who's block management we used to hunt closed down a bunch of their land because they got tired of their roads getting destroyed

[bear]

If they’re getting paid for block management it’s kinda hard for them to complain.    That being said a little common sense goes a long ways. For sure gotta stay on the roads. Last years warm weather made the roads a mess!

[SuperX]

We have had service most places with Verizon and T-Mobile, But if you have AT&T you’re out of luck by the time you hit CentralMontana the whole east side is it dead spot.  So if you know exactly where you want to go and there’s no chance of changing plans on the fly then the Phone app would work, but once you’re out there and not seeing game you’re stuck with what you’ve downloaded.   Just save yourself the headache and get a GPS. We use the Garmin rhino 650. It shows all property boundaries and who owns it.  We have the Montana on X chip  . you would really be surprised how many areas you can hunt that look 100% private driving by them.  Or slivers of land that allow access to large blocks that appear landlocked. You can also download Birdseye  views from Google earth at home for the areas you were going to be hunting, although the basic contour maps work pretty well too if you know what you’re looking at. I love this particular model because we are able to send our locations and even text messages back and forth between our party not having to worry about cell service. No more guessing where the heck your buddy has that big buck down,  or where you left yours to go get your pack for that matter. If I hadn’t of marked mine in Montana last year there’s no way we would’ve found it or found the only way down the cliff when we got back to it with pack boards in the dark.

I have the same Rhino and Verizon so I should be OK but I only have a 2GB data plan   How does the property stuff show up on the small screen?  I worry i won't be able to read it.  I remember another feature I miss - if you project a waypoint, there is no elevation data so you have to guess how high you'll climb to get there and whether it is worth it to try.  My garmin gives me that and I missed it last year.

[Tbob]

Whitetail or mule deer?

Hoping for a mule deer..

[Tbob]

Also, I do have the premium 50 state onx on my phone as well as a hand held for when my phone battery dies. I’ve noticed when the weather is super cold my phone battery goes dead pretty dang quick out there! Even in airplane mode so I always carry my hand held just in case.. thanks for all the reply’s and best of luck to all of you other guys heading out. I’ll make sure I have chains for all 4 tires in my 4 wheel drive truck just in case things get real messy..
    Any other advice for a first-timer, please feel free! I also ordered a Block Management book as well, but it sounds like they don’t come out or awhile still. Man am I stoked!

[huntandjeep]

Take extra batteries for your handheld GPS also.  Mine will go dead in about 2 days when it's cold over there. Take a spotter it really cuts down the amount of deer you would make a stalk on.
Throw a shovel in your truck , so you can clean off all the mud. Pay attention to the overnight lows and the next day highs. You can drive in to places when the mud is frozen , but if it thaws throughout the day you might be sitting there until it freezes back up. Any idea what region your thinking ?

[Tbob]

Some great advice there! As far as areas..... not a clue yet, of course I hear the most talk about the Broadus area, but I’m going to use that as my last option as I hear it gets pretty crowded out there.. no idea about camping or getting a motel either. I know it gets pretty cold out there, I do have a tipi shelter with a stove so I may use that, unless I hear otherwise, (like that’s not a good idea). I definitely don’t want to go out and freeze to death ya know?! Lol. There’s a place in the North Central area I heard about and seems to have a ton of public BLM land up there so I may check that out first and if it’s not panning out I may pack up and head down to the SE and Broadus area..

[Stein]

If you are hunting last week, hotels may book up.  Weather could be very nice or -30.  Be ready to change plans depending on what you see and what the weather is doing.

[bear]

Gotta be careful in Montana in November. If you’re gonna have a wall tent better have a wood stove to back up a propane heater as they often freeze up. I love the wall tent hunt but after a few really cold hunts and realizing how quick things could go bad, we hotel it

[gasman]

In the same boat as well as the guys I am going hunting with, it will be our first MT hunting trip too 

[300rum]

Montana in November can be a very interesting place. 

Carry chains and a hi-lift to put them on.  Make sure you have a "real" shovel.  I carry a small generator with a battery charger.  I also carry 5 gallons of gas in the back of the truck at all times.

If the roads are muddy forget about it.  As was said earlier, wait for the sun to go down and the road to freeze up.  Last year it went from -4 to 50 degrees and it didn't freeze that night, luckily we got out in time, I imagine others didn't.  I have also been on terrible roads when it was 3 degrees but the sun was shining hard, they went to pot and even though it never got above 15 degrees we had to wait for the sun to go down to get out.     

[vandeman17]

Sounds to me like maybe some of these small first timer groups should pool together and form some larger parties. Split the research, scouting, drive time etc and maybe make some life long hunting buds in the process.

[wooltie]

We're going back to MT this year.  2017 was our first trip and we both tagged out on mulies.

The mud is no joke.  I didn't get stuck, but I would lose control of my truck going over 10 mph.

Looking to hunt a different area this year than we hunted last year.  We hunted BMA and also public land.

If you plan to hunt public land, just know about how far the road is to get onto the land -- and what's between the public land boundary and the main road.  I would be cautious about driving miles through an isolated road to get to the public land boundary.

Also--there's the idea that you'll see 10-20 4pt or better bucks a day.  I think hunters who see this many deer per day are covering a lot of ground, mostly by vehicle, and glassing.  Which is fine if that's how you want to hunt.  Just know that if you get out and hike an area you may see fewer deer than driving and glassing--that was our experience.

I'll share info if someone wants to PM.

[Dwrecknfish]

I went to MT for the first time last year and I can share a couple things with you. Mid November is definitely the time to be there. Get out and WALK. I can’t believe how many people I saw road hunting. We would get 300 yards off the road and instantly start running into animals! Couldn’t see em from the road. If hunting more open country deer like to be be on the lee ward side of the wind. Hike the opposite side hills and glass into the ravines and each one would hold usually hold deer. Temperature can VARY big time. First day last year was 1 degree without wind chill and -20 with.  The next day it warmed up to about 36 degrees but I’ve heard it can reach into the 50s too some days.

[bornhunter]

 

Sounds to me like maybe some of these small first timer groups should pool together and form some larger parties. Split the research, scouting, drive time etc and maybe make some life long hunting buds in the process.