Montana Deer

[HillHound]

We were in Montana for 9 days, 7 full days of hunting. We passed lots of small 3 and 4 points and most days saw over 100 deer. We filled our doe tags and came home with the two biggest bucks we saw. BUT we were putting on 10-14 boot miles a day getting to spots away from the roads where everyone was. Blew this guys mind in the parking lot that we packed my buck out 3 miles. They wouldn’t shoot anything they couldn’t get the winch line to. We saw quite a few bucks but Didn’t really see many mature deer and no real jaw droppers at all this year. More spikes and two points than ever.

[D-Rock425]

Only had a couple days to hunt before my daughter's late archery elk hunt started here in Washington.

[Skyvalhunter]

congrats on a fine buck

[bear]

Some very nice bucks!  I got this guy in his bed at 100 yds. That was fun

[Mulie87]

Filled my tag on a 4x4 whitetail.  It's been rough down here south of Broadus. Deer #s seem down and little sign of the rut, to go along with multiple rigs at every pc of blm or state land there is. Not like it used to be here. Will have to find a different hunt area if I'm going to continue to hunt montana. Good luck to y'all who are still out after it.

My wife and I were saying the exact same thing yesterday on our way home from the SE. I’ve hunted Ekalaka area last 6yrs and this year was eerie. I’ve never seen the lack of deer in the area; a lot 1-3pts, but not what it used to be, even the locals agreed.  I would like to see the the post season population count to see if i’m right. Wife and I talked about finding a new area in MT to hunt if we go back. I suspect that the enormous number of out of state hunters put a hurting on the heard coupled with MT resident hunters. Just my observation.

Blue tongue in fact hurt the whitetail population as well. They ised to be everywhere, and now they are void from their normal areas.

[dvolmer]

I've been hunting Northeastern Montana for 9 years now started out really good but the last two years we're full of non-resident plates everywhere, I've talked to a few locals and they said the same thing. most being from Washington cannot believe anyone would drive that far for a deer.  I have a friend that lives there and I stay with him Is the only reason why I drive that far. seen the deer numbers in the last 3 years just totally fall through the floor I've heard complaints from people that also hunt Malta about the same thing. even the locals where I hunted they said the numbers of nonresidents have doubled since last year no reason why we are not seeing any deer the ones that are left are on private property. Seeing lots of people shoot small bucks. I wish I had a counter when I went home I swear no lie one third of the vehicles had Washington plates from  northeast Montana to Missoula and yes I am also from Washington

. I find this interesting since the non-resident total tag quotas have not changed in many years. Maybe it’s that the area you are hunting has sparked a lot of interest in the last few years I guess. But total out of state hunters should not have changed.

[idaho guy]

I've been hunting Northeastern Montana for 9 years now started out really good but the last two years we're full of non-resident plates everywhere, I've talked to a few locals and they said the same thing. most being from Washington cannot believe anyone would drive that far for a deer.  I have a friend that lives there and I stay with him Is the only reason why I drive that far. seen the deer numbers in the last 3 years just totally fall through the floor I've heard complaints from people that also hunt Malta about the same thing. even the locals where I hunted they said the numbers of nonresidents have doubled since last year no reason why we are not seeing any deer the ones that are left are on private property. Seeing lots of people shoot small bucks. I wish I had a counter when I went home I swear no lie one third of the vehicles had Washington plates from  northeast Montana to Missoula and yes I am also from Washington

. I find this interesting since the non-resident total tag quotas have not changed in many years. Maybe it’s that the area you are hunting has sparked a lot of interest in the last few years I guess. But total out of state hunters should not have changed.

   

  resident hunters should have increased quite a bit with the massive influx of out of staters moving to montana but the non resident numbers cant increase with a fixed qouta that hasnt changed

[BigCutty3]

What’s changed is the speed and availability of information on the bma’s and other public land, the internet and go hunt et al explaining every detail, Montana resident population booming, onx revealing all the public blocks big and small, everyone yacking about it to their buddies when they get home, podcasts and videos hyping it up detailing areas and habitats, most the good private (most of which is leased or family/friends only) being refugia for the herd, and a severe drought that further pushed animals into said prime habitat.  The resource can’t sustain a 5 week rifle rut hunt with long range rifles, spotters, and cell phones.  Still decent opportunity, especially for those used to hunting in Washington, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and every other state you see represented over there.  But to those that have been going for more than a few years, the writing is on the wall as the decline is very apparent.  Be sure to watch all this years u tube videos  on people whacking animals, high fivin, making their buck and getting free swag off the back of the resource.  We are our own worst enemy.  In a few years when you can’t draw a tag, please don’t complain.  Rant over

[Jonathan_S]

I've been hunting Northeastern Montana for 9 years now started out really good but the last two years we're full of non-resident plates everywhere, I've talked to a few locals and they said the same thing. most being from Washington cannot believe anyone would drive that far for a deer.  I have a friend that lives there and I stay with him Is the only reason why I drive that far. seen the deer numbers in the last 3 years just totally fall through the floor I've heard complaints from people that also hunt Malta about the same thing. even the locals where I hunted they said the numbers of nonresidents have doubled since last year no reason why we are not seeing any deer the ones that are left are on private property. Seeing lots of people shoot small bucks. I wish I had a counter when I went home I swear no lie one third of the vehicles had Washington plates from  northeast Montana to Missoula and yes I am also from Washington

. I find this interesting since the non-resident total tag quotas have not changed in many years. Maybe it’s that the area you are hunting has sparked a lot of interest in the last few years I guess. But total out of state hunters should not have changed.

   

  resident hunters should have increased quite a bit with the massive influx of out of staters moving to montana but the non resident numbers cant increase with a fixed qouta that hasnt changed

Keep in mind, that's just one guy

[idaho guy]

Me and my son tagged out on 2 5 point elk and 2 pretty nice bucks on what was a short weekend hunt. My observation was less whitetail but way less mule deer. Elk I don’t know we only saw 3 bulls total that were together and got 2 of them. We were able to take the only shooter bucks we saw but it was a quick trip.

[Mtnwalker]

According to MT FWP data NR hunters in our region stayed within +/- 100 from 2005 to 2019, with the exception of a sizeable dip in 2010 and 2013. Harvest peaked in 2006, with other big years in 2008 and 2017. Interesting to look at the numbers, not what I would have guessed.

[257 Wby Mag]

What’s changed is the speed and availability of information on the bma’s and other public land, the internet and go hunt et al explaining every detail, Montana resident population booming, onx revealing all the public blocks big and small, everyone yacking about it to their buddies when they get home, podcasts and videos hyping it up detailing areas and habitats, most the good private (most of which is leased or family/friends only) being refugia for the herd, and a severe drought that further pushed animals into said prime habitat.  The resource can’t sustain a 5 week rifle rut hunt with long range rifles, spotters, and cell phones.  Still decent opportunity, especially for those used to hunting in Washington, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and every other state you see represented over there.  But to those that have been going for more than a few years, the writing is on the wall as the decline is very apparent.  Be sure to watch all this years u tube videos  on people whacking animals, high fivin, making their buck and getting free swag off the back of the resource.  We are our own worst enemy.  In a few years when you can’t draw a tag, please don’t complain.  Rant over

You are EXACTLY right. I just shake my head at the info folks mention on these sites, ie; towns etc. worst year in 20 years.

[Mulie87]

Those out of state stats are interesting. Well it’s more resident hunters, disease and drought, but probably all of the above.

[JakeLand]

First year hunting Montana and hooked

[MADMAX]

Nice job guys