Any MT deer updates?

[Tbob]

I’m headed over next week for some deer hunting. Anyone having any luck over there this year so far?

[HillHound]

We are here now, east side. Seeing deer but good bucks are scarce compared to years past. Definitely a lot less deer than the last 10 years we have came. Got some leads for the morning so hopefully we can find one worth putting a tag on

[MADMAX]

Will be there 9-19th
Should be fun

[ganghis]

I shot a small buck on Fri.  The cliche of the WA hunter who comes over and kills the first buck he sees, ha ha!  Although, in my defense, I had spent about 15 days hunting in WA (deer, bear, archery elk) and haven't harvested anything so far and really just wanted to get something in the freezer.  Headed back out in November for elk.

Couple observations:  it's pretty hot right now.  In 7 days of glassing, I didn't see a single animal.  I'm sure this is partially not being a very efficient/patient glasser, but I usually see something.  Animals are not moving around in the open right now very much.  I had much better luck still hunting mid-day.  Set up on a spot with fresh elk sign just outside a bedding area but had a bull came in from behind me and busted me at around 5:30.  Walked up or down depending on thermals and came across a few deer groups feeding during the day.  The first was all does except the buck I shot.  The second day I saw a doe, a 4x4 (buyers remorse on that one), and a spike.  Kind of an interesting group there...makes me think pre-rut is already on in some places. 

Anyway, glass, but don't be afraid to still hunt with the wind in your favor if the weather stays the same. 

[bustedoldman]

Headed over the 5th-16th....Hoping the temps drop a little, looks like a little rain and snow up high.

[stonefly]

13th-24th for my group

[mburrows]

Took a couple friends out from WA and hunted the 25th - 29th. Bucks certainly starting to get more and more interested in does by the day but bigger deer still staying on the outside.

We filled 1 of 2 tags. Had one miss on a nice 4x4 with a kicker, low 160's type buck.

Its not just WA hunters dumping small bucks its most people that hunt in this state, resident and nonresident. Saw a group of guys from Michigan that shot 2 forky and 2 spike MD the first two days of season.  I am all for filling the freezer, but there are a lot of whitetail does out there that carry more meat than a forkie or spike buck.

Some good deer around but they are hard to find.

Good luck and safe travels all.

[Tbob]

Right on. Thanks for all the replies yall.  Good luck to all those heading over. I’m headed out the 11th-19th. Can’t wait. I’ve got a general tag and a whitetail doe tag. Hoping to get that freezer full…

[Sakko300wsm]

1/2 way there right now

[bustedoldman]

Today was 62*, wind blowing 30mph in Eastern MT.Glassed up 7 bucks, let them walk, might regret one of them but we just got here!

[Craig]

headed over on the 13th. still pretty mild weather showing in the 10 day forecast. at least no rain showing.

[jstone]

Any snow up high?

[Tbob]

Oh man, I dont ever care about the temps out there, I always just pray for no rain!! That gumbo crap mud is no joke. Took me a year to get it all out of my truck rims. Haha. Some crazy white-knuckle gumbo drives last year. 

[HillHound]

Got some snow up north by the border and rain further south. Roads went to crap quick today. Some roads will definitely be off the list for tomorrow but looks like it will dry out after that. Seeing deer but not much for mature bucks yet. Lots of small two and three points pushing herds of does

[Tbob]

Oh man, yeah be careful on those roads out there. Sounds like yall know the drill though. I had a day last year where it was frozen no problem in the morning… but man, I was way back in there and at about 11:00 the roads thawed out and damn if that wasn’t one of the worst white knuckle drives ever. Not so scary when ya got a buddy or two with ya, but when you’re out there solo it just feels worse. Lol. Good luck out there!!!

[mburrows]

Any snow up high?

Above 7000'~ in west central Montana. I heard the south west and western parts of the state got some good snow last week.

[MADMAX]

We should’ve brought shorts to Eastern Montana. It was almost 70 today and lovely.

[muleyslayer#1]

Bucks are rutting pretty good now all over the state. Every herd of does has at least 1-2 bucks in it. Lots of outta state hunters are here. My 2 cents is try to find type 2 ranches and get access thru there. Less pressure and more deer are concentrated on type 2 ranches. Not saying a type 1 is bad. I’ve been hunting type 2 since opening weekend and have had success on it. Next week and the following week is gonna be a lot cooler weather with snow in places. Once we get that colder weather here it’s gonna be fun! Took my old man around town here in Helena and found a couple nice town bucks.

[MADMAX]

Heading home tomorrow
4 out 5 tags filled
Nothing huge
Glad to see my buds get a couple of nice ones

[Britt-dog]

I killed an ok mule deer yesterday. Both mule deer and white tails are rutting good. Now is the time to be there.

[robescc]

We just got home from the NE corner. A lot of the big bucks haven’t migrated out of Canada yet. We saw lots of deer and only three shooters. I got the only one I could make a play on.

[jamesjett]

I was also up in the NE corner at is was mid 40’s and hit 60 one day.  Lots of smaller bucks but did not see the usual mature bucks that we see this time of year.  I did harvest a medium size 4x5.  Tough hunting with the weather this year.

[Craig]

I got a decent buck. Deer numbers are definitely down. Seen a ton of 2x2s so hopefully in a few years it will get better. Still almost 50 Degrees where I was hunting. Looks to be getting cold the last 2-3 days of the season.