Anyone ever float-hunt the Missouri Breaks?

[400out]

The banks on both sides of the river will still be mostly private land wont they?

I think that the breaks of the missouri is montanas form of blm land I THINK!

[Pathfinder101]

The banks on both sides of the river will still be mostly private land wont they?

I think that the breaks of the missouri is montanas form of blm land I THINK!

Seems like about half the people I talk to think the same thing, and the other half think that the Breaks are private.  I guess maybe I should call Montana Fish and Game and ask someone.  I am not sure what would be worse; getting run off someone's land I didn't know I was trespassing on, or seeing a big buck on land I was not sure I could hunt...

[andrew_12gauge]

well pathfinder i think it would be best to at least have a good deep hulled boat preferably 18' or bigger and if the weather report says its gonna be windy id stay off the lake, we had gone and talked to the game warden the day before we went out there and he had told us to make sure the wind wasnt blowin it wasnt bad when we left the launch but the wind picked up during the day and it was pretty nasty goin back. the wind blows almost every day out there so i guess you just gotta pick the right day when it doesnt blow as much

[Pathfinder101]

Thanks again Andrew.  Do they let you camp on the CMR?  What I am wondering is if you can blast out there on a nice day, set up a camp in a remote area of the refuge, and hunt from your camp instead of having to play "most dangerous catch" with the lake every day?

[andrew_12gauge]

i honestly dont know youd have to call somebody to find the answer to that one

[Hooter]

I guided up there a while back for elk mostly, but we were at the west end from the 191 bridge down (east) on the "river" portion. There are many braids, islands and channels where red willow grew which would pull the cows down then the bulls would eventually follow. Both sides were huntable, the north and south, back then you could only camp for two weeks only then had to move to the other side for two weeks. A pain to do. We used 16 foot flat bottom Lunds with 20 or 25 HP motors to ferry us around. You can float it as well just have someone to pick you up when you are done! Yes its cold in the mornings, we were there Sept, Oct, but nice days, warm sunny and generally pleasant. The wind can come up quick, it can rain and the roads get nasty with "gumbo" mud, like you have never seen! Floating from canyon to canyon hunting up the draws, spot and stalk, cross up high into the next drainage then hunt down to the river. Some really nice deer, never really saw Monster deer, some good ones though. Early in the season watch for rattlers, but they will leave you alone for the most part. Good areas to get up high and glass, bring a spotting scope too, and get some cheap "pirate eye patches" from the drug store to cover one eye when scoping the area, less chance of headaches from squinting. Not sure about camping along the way, fires etc... but nice country, always changing and those breaks, if you ironed  out all the wrinkles...you could put Texas in one little corner of em'!! Lots of us and downs but the upper part of the draws has lots of cover, feed and watering holes on the upper benches for cattle I'm guessing. You will have fun up there. Good luck. 

[groundhog]

I have a good friend that guides on the reservoir and surrounding areas. Last year I was thinking of doing a similar hunt and I was taking my kids and had similar expectations as you do. I wasn't looking for monster bucks, just decent bucks and a good experience.
I have a 22' Asaltor with 37 inch sides so I have enough boat. He suggested that I hunt the Block management instead.  It was good advise. As stated before the reservoir can really kick up and get nasty. One of the problems is leaving your boat and going hunting. It is best to get dropped off. Even then sometimes it is hard to get picked up because it is so rough. If you decide to do this another problem to watch out for is that if you get rain everything turns to gumbo type mud. Many boats have gone down because the gumbo from your boots gets in the bilge and plugs up your bilge pump. As you are beating your way home you take on water and eventually capsize. He recommends two high volume bilge pumps and a second pair of boots to keep the gumbo out of your bilge. If you go good luck, have fun and be careful.

[luvtohnt]

Check out this website http://www.geocommunicator.gov/blmMap/Map.jsp?MAP=SM it should help to determine what is BLM ground.

Brandon

[William B.]

Good info I drew a bull tag in there ten years ago when i lived in great falls.it was a Nov.hunt coldest damm trip I ever been on.Killed my bull on the second day thankfully.We were runin and gunin found a heard and hiked in 2 miles in a foot of snow.The gumbo was frozen by then so was everything eles food and water.The Missori is a class A river navigable for comercial use,you can hunt the islands.We camped on top of a ridge it got about 10 degrees colder on the river bottom we got lucky it was no fun,from hunting to survival in a hurry.Big country is an understatment.The couleys are huge.Because the river is frozen for months other water sourses are important year round.The wind can be a poblem as well,it is the bad lands,definatly a wild place I really enjoyed that aspect of that hunt.good luck

[Pathfinder101]

THanks guys.  Sorry, been out of state for the last week and no computer access.  I appreciate the info.  Ground hog, you said that your guide friend told you to hunt the Block Management instead of the reservoir.  Wondering what quality/numbers you saw?
Hooter, thanks for the tip about the eyepatches.  Also, I am probably doing this trip alone, so if I float, I would have to arrange a pick-up.  Are there shuttle services in the area?  Any suggestions?
THanks again, I appreciate everyone's