Montana upcoming season 2022

[MADMAX]

Getting ready to put in applications
If we get drawn
Will be taking 4 older gents for first time Montana elk
Any info on best areas to try ?
Got it narrowed down to
deer lodge area north
Bitterroots
Gallatin national forest
I’d appreciate a pm or 2 on areas to try for cows or a legal bull
Thanks never hurts to ask

[MADMAX]

Dang not one

[Wolfdog2314]

Haven’t hunted elk in MT yet, so I can’t help there. I Will be applying for deer this year tho. I’ll be going in with one preference point and will buy the 2nd. Hope this does the trick to draw.

How many preference points do you have?

[vandeman17]

what weapon and how long do you have to go?

[MADMAX]

2 pts and will buy another
Wolfdog go way east
You’ll think you’ve died and gone to deer heaven

Vande
Rifle hunt
I wish I could talk them in to bow also
We are all retired so we’re open on time
Usually couple weeks
Thanks
I’m trying to find the guys a place for spot and stalk without killing them 🤪
I’m the young guy @ 63

[Wolfdog2314]

2 pts and will buy another
Wolfdog go way east
You’ll think you’ve died and gone to deer heaven

Vande
Rifle hunt
I wish I could talk them in to bow also
We are all retired so we’re open on time
Usually couple weeks
Thanks
I’m trying to find the guys a place for spot and stalk without killing them 🤪
I’m the young guy @ 63

You’re not wrong. I’ve been twice out that way and have done well. Really hoping to get the chance to go this year. Just need 2 points to do the trick. I’d imagine with 3 you’ll be a shoe in.

[MADMAX]

Had a good deer run going until last year
Never done elk there

[Wolfdog2314]

Great bucks! I’m same boat as you! Definitely getting popular. Made it back to back years and then didn’t draw last year. 





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[Stein]

Plenty of places that should fit the bill, I would focus on one of the ranges known for lots of roads and join the people doing the same.  Elk get all pushed around in those areas, many times it's not a bad idea just to stay put if you're in a decent area as others could likely push them to you.

MT FWP has good statistics on numbers of hunters, success, etc, fairly easy to pic through units and couple that with one of the mapping apps.

Don't get married to a place, I would have at least a half dozen spots as you could end up in a circus or inaccessible due to snow.  Tags good all over pretty much, stay mobile and pick a camp or hotel you can hunt all 4 directions from.

[MADMAX]

Great bucks! I’m same boat as you! Definitely getting popular. Made it back to back years and then didn’t draw last year. 





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Very nice deer

[callturner]

Did you use that Sharps on the wall to take them?

[MADMAX]

Nope
I’ve toyed with the idea of shooting it
Linen cartridge I’ve been told
270 Short mag on both and one last year

[MADMAX]

Gas prices are going to limit running all over the state scouting to just one trip
Trying to narrow the field
🤞

Thanks Stein for some good info
Very much appreciated

[Stein]

The strange thing about MT is the gas is all the same price in a given town, you don't have to hunt and shop to avoid getting taken.  Where I live there is a $0.70 swing sometimes just a mile or two apart.  Plus, small MT towns don't stick it to you on gas, just a hair higher from my experience.  Throw in a free coffee with fillup and welcome hunters sign and it's almost pleasant to stop.

[MADMAX]

Understand
I’ve deer hunted it
Haven’t done elk there yet

[Magnum_Willys]

Elk can only hunt one unit now, not statewide like last year.   

[Karl Blanchard]

Elk can only hunt one unit now, not statewide like last year.

this is not correct. IF you draw an LE permit you can only hunt that hunt but a general elk or general combo tag is still valid in any open gmu. Straight from the regs:





Permits for either-sex elk or brow-tined bull-antlerless elk will limit the holder to hunting for antlered elk within only the
designated HD for the period identified on the permit. Antlerless elk hunting will not be limited by the permit. A general
license may be used to hunt in any open district during dates outside of that identified on the permit.

[Karl Blanchard]

More info on an elk general license vs an elk PERMIT:

[idaho guy]

Plenty of places that should fit the bill, I would focus on one of the ranges known for lots of roads and join the people doing the same.  Elk get all pushed around in those areas, many  :yeah:times it's not a bad idea just to stay put if you're in a decent area as others could likely push them to you.

MT FWP has good statistics on numbers of hunters, success, etc, fairly easy to pic through units and couple that with one of the mapping apps.

Don't get married to a place, I would have at least a half dozen spots as you could end up in a circus or inaccessible due to snow.  Tags good all over pretty much, stay mobile and pick a camp or hotel you can hunt all 4 directions from.

     

  Focus on either sex areas also. You should be able to identify multiple areas that would work

[Ditchdigger]

I take it you are looking at public land hunt? The area you mentioned near Deer Lodge may be ok, honestly, any area with a known elk herd on public will see pressure. Taking a year off of elk hunting there to buy pts. Hoping to draw a deer tag and perhaps antelope and head to Broadus, located a ranch down that way who allow trespass fee hunting, looks like there are good bucks both wt and mulies.

[MADMAX]

Yes we are looking at public
Yes we are looking either sex and buying cow tags as well
Thanks for the replies
Appreciate any info in regards to elk
We did good over near Broadus for deer
You’ll love it except for fuel ups $$$

[Stein]

It isn't hard to find areas where you can hunt brow tine or antlerless elk, any whitetail and md bucks all in the same unit.  My odds go up considerably when I can shoot almost anything that moves.

Ironically, it's the opposite of a WA spike hunt, there you can shoot anything but a spike.

[Ditchdigger]

Agree, fuel prices will be a big addition to the budget, thanks joe. You may want to have your guys put in for LE HD's, and if not successful , hunt general areas.  You might think about applying for would be 410, lots of public ground, as always, tough draw , but hey, you never know , if you put in as a party, it may be your year. I am hoping I draw the gen. deer tag, after this year it sounds like the rancher will be registered with the state of MT to apply for landowner sponsored deer tags, having a real good chance at a tag and a place to hunt over there would be nice. Just wish their place had elk, lol