Montana Combo

[winston2789]

I figured while everyone is waiting on the WA draw I would ask about Montana. I drew the big game combo(first time). Right now I'm steering towards the Madison area, anybody with experience there? The elk numbers are way down there and everywhere else so I might be focusing on a big buck somewhere east or North rather than elk as much. Waiting on the BMU packet and still talking to Bio's. Any recommendations?

[Dmanmastertracker]

If your talking Madison River area and your going for deer, I'd only go there if you planning on a whitetail hunt, if your more after a muley I'd shoot for central, to eastern units, anywhere from Great Falls, to the Dakota border. Deer numbers were way down last year, my uncle hunted the central and saw less deer than ever, but the flip side is they had an easy winter this year. Likely a lot of younger deer this year.

[winston2789]

Yes Dman Madison River area, I was focusing there for an opportunity at both deer and elk but will have to compete with many guides and horses so it might be better for me to hook up with a BMA in the 6 & 7 region. Not sure how the elk hunting is over there for the general hunt?

[buckhorn2]

Last year there were lots of deer from miles city to broades but the elk were more central or down around Ennis and Dillon. There is a big ranch by Dillon called the matedoer sp. that is in the block maagement that had lots of mule deer and elk if the wolves have;nt got them.

[winston2789]

Thanks Buckhorn I'll look more into that  , My childhhood friend whos going with me lived in Dillon for a few year and didn't manage to put an elk on the ground  . He does have a nice 5pt rack he got from a wolf kill there.

[KNOPHISH]

My dad lives in Ennis & sez the wolves hit the elk pretty hard & is looking for a new place to hunt. I wish the wolf tags weren't $350. I hope they raise the quota & lower the price. MT also closed 8 moose areas cuz there are not many left. But there are still a few elk & muleys around. I was there last weekend & it's funny to see antelope & deer right in town.  I finally got drawn again this year too.

[Pathfinder101]

I have a buddy that lived in Ennis last year (he's in the Army now).  Shot a raghorn in that area.  He said it's not too hard to find elk, but finding anything bigger than a raghorn is a bit more of a trick.  He lived there 4 years, and has shot several raghorns, but never anything bigger...

[winston2789]

Pathfinder- did he have any luck with deer in that area? Thats the general area i've been looking at, know of a few drainages that were good until the past couple years from the wolves.

Knophish- I agree I wish the wolf tags were cheaper then $350, not sure how to get a tag either  . How does the quota work there? So many people can buy a tag and so many wolves can be taken in each region?

[Pathfinder101]

Pathfinder- did he have any luck with deer in that area? Thats the general area i've been looking at, know of a few drainages that were good until the past couple years from the wolves.

Knophish- I agree I wish the wolf tags were cheaper then $350, not sure how to get a tag either  . How does the quota work there? So many people can buy a tag and so many wolves can be taken in each region?

No, I hunted deer with him last year, and we wound up going to a completely different region in the state (Northeast).  He shot a couple of whitetails around Ennis, but nothing of any real note. 

[KNOPHISH]

There were 3 proposals on the new quota for this year & all were more than last year. They sell as many tags as they can but close it when quota is reached. Here's the last buck I shot there.

[KNOPHISH]

another.

[winston2789]

Great buck for sure KNOPHISH, I'd  rather focus on deer and shoot a buck like that in a good deer area then hunt for deer and elk in a mediocre area and shoot a dink buck & a raghorn bull. Is that on private or a BMA?

[Pathfinder101]

That is a great buck.  Better than the one I shot in my area last season.

[Dmanmastertracker]

 That is a nice buck. I'm headed back this year as well, but am mixing in some early archery with vacation so it won't be a typical hunt for me. I'll be lucky if I tag anything, I'm OK with that as I still have a Wa. multi-season tag.

[Pathfinder101]

Here's some poopy news, if you haven't already read it...
http://myhuntingandfishing.com/where-have-all-the-mulies-gone-great-falls-tribune/3324/

 
Lets hope for a wet, green summer...