Montana 2011

[Buckoholic]

Well got drawn for the deer only for Montana. Now only if I could get drawn for something in our own state. How do you have 6 spring bear points and don't get drawn. Its just unamerican!! 

[hogsniper]

Ur problem is that good things happen to good people!!!!

[Bearhunter]

Try getting up at 4:30am to buy a left over MT combo tag, and not be able to because it looks like the haven't uploaded the license option to there online purchase window yet, still waiting patiently hoping they don't all get sold before I get one.....

[Bearhunter]

Nice, just got my combo license plus now I have a point for next year since I did not draw out in the regular draw, I'm laughing!!!!!!

[Ridgerunner]

wonder how fast they are going to sell out?

[Bigshooter]

wonder how fast they are going to sell out?

I hope they don't sell out until Wyoming's draw is complete.

[boneaddict]

I finally came to the conclusion that its too steep for my taste.  If I go, which is expensive enough at $5 a gallon, which it probably will be, I'll just take my camera and eat angus.  I guess its a rich mans sport now, not that I haven't spent a buttload on hunting.  Kind of makes me ill the way all the states are going.  I wonder if Idaho learned its leasson or if they will double their tags again.  I used to apply to EVERY western state but California.  NOT ANYMORE!   

THis was very tempting.  I had my hands on the keyboard at that time.

[Bearhunter]

Bone, it is truly a joke.  Seriously becoming a rich mans sport, or turn everyone into poachers eventually.  Decided I couldnt miss out on the Rut and had to pull the trigger.  I will probably fly from Fairbanks coming out of the bush to Missoula and get picked up to go Elk hunt.  Gas prices are to high to drive to Alaska so Ill be flying up.....

[boneaddict]

I turned a blind eye to a lot of my expendatures before, as I just worked harder, but its out of that league anymore.  I'm really having to justify it now to myself.  It has my mood as highly irritable.  I hear you about the rut.  Some of the best action around.  I think I might find myself there taking photos. 

[MDGrand]

Try getting up at 4:30am to buy a left over MT combo tag, and not be able to because it looks like the haven't uploaded the license option to there online purchase window yet, still waiting patiently hoping they don't all get sold before I get one.....

I did the SAME THING! SO pissed. You had to log back in and say you didnt have a ALS # to see the option.. That + having to pay the fee feels like a hit and run.. but I will get over it.. once I get my tag

[Ridgerunner]

It's getting to be a rich mans sport, I know I am much more careful about where I am applying nowdays.      That being said MT is still a pretty good value for what you get. 

[Bearhunter]

Ya, I called them this morning and sat on hold for 30mins, she told me to long in without an ALS and the Biggame combo would show up, it sure did.  Now its time to put in for the breaks, with a couple points hopefully we can pull a tag....  Waiting for my deer combo refund now, Montana has $1500 of my hard earned money now, hopefully the refunds come soon.....

[MDGrand]

Yep.. Im right there with you.. going over for spring bear in a few weeks.. at least that tag was OTC..

Been a SUPER long time since I had been to MT though.. Getting a little tired of WA so I thought this would be worth it.

At least if/when I get my deer tag I will be able to hunt rifle durring the rut.. now THAT is worth it. Something you can't do here!

[bearpaw]

I am opposed to losing outfitter licenses and I am opposed to the fee increase for the draw licenses. Your proposal is a double edged sword, the guys who can afford the guaranteed license lose out, and so do the guys who need to hunt on a budget. Why screw up a system that has the best of both worlds? The way it seems both kinds of hunters lose out with your Initiative plan and so would Montana landowners and outfitters.

I made this post when license fees were being discussed in the thread about eliminating outfitter licenses. I tried to explain that everyone loses. I still think it was a mistake to screw up such a good system. I had hunters who benefitted from both types of licenses and it's exactly as I predicted. My hunters on a budget quit applying, and my hunters who could afford the expensive license didn't want to apply. Many will be hunting in a different state.   

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,39471.60.html

[bowpredator]

Yep, I too pulled the trigger on the surplus combo. Just have to wait and see if I will hunt elk there because I drew a multi season elk here in washington and will be applying for a branched bull tag for eastern washington, if drawn i will hunt eastern washington and not montana, but if i do not draw then I will hunt elk in montana.

[bearpaw]

Yep, I too pulled the trigger on the surplus combo. Just have to wait and see if I will hunt elk there because I drew a multi season elk here in washington and will be applying for a branched bull tag for eastern washington, if drawn i will hunt eastern washington and not montana, but if i do not draw then I will hunt elk in montana.

Since you have the combo, if you have any extra time, you ought to apply for some of the limited-entries in MT. There is some great hunting for big bulls in L-E areas in central and eastern Montana.

[GoldTip]

For me it's just becoming more and more important to be able to hunt with my family.  Very expensive to do in Montana, and yes, is becoming a rich mans sport.  This year I went with the "Family come home to hunt tag", which is a seperate group of tags, but still the same Non-resident price. Being able to spend as much time as I want hunting with the old man and my Bro will be priceless for sure.

[Huntnphish]

Seriously becoming a rich mans sport,

 I don't see it that way. Its funny how you can look at these people complaining about the price of this or that, while lighting up a cigarette, talking on their smart phones standing outside the local McDonalds.

 Those of us that make hunting a priority in our lives will always find ways to get our tags, whether that means one less Starbucks each week, or cutting back on some other non essential waste of money.

 Am I happy about the increase, no, but I can see the long term benefits for me as a hunter, to me its worth it when you weigh the pro's and cons.

[bobcat]

I think it's becoming a "rich man's" sport more due to rising fuel prices than rising hunting license and tag fees.

[littlemac]

I think it's becoming a "rich man's" sport more due to rising fuel prices than rising hunting license and tag fees.

No kidding, I saw diesel at $4.71 in CleElum Sunday.

Not any drama as it turned out for the combo big game draw.

All in all it is great though.  New Mexico in early October and then Montana in the later part of the month. followed by a week in the washington woods, damn gettin' old ain't so bad after all.

[Huntnphish]

I think it's becoming a "rich man's" sport more due to rising fuel prices than rising hunting license and tag fees.

Now thats no joke right there, probably over $5/gal by hunting season.

[Roger]

Just purchased the surplus combo. Had to not use my ALS # as someone else said to do.  It now assigned me a new ALS #. will have to try and get that straightened out.  My main reason to go ahead and get it was not to loose my special Elk points for the quality tags. Was just going to go to Wyoming on left over after not getting drawn for deer combo, but realized I was going to loose those points.  Any way Mt here I come in November. At this point in my life it's not about the money, I still can afford it. Might have to change in a few years when I retire.

[Buckoholic]

I wont say its a richmans sport may an addiction like crack!!! Hunting Eastern Montana is well worth any amount of money they charge me!!! I cant explain to you in words how I feel when I roll into camp there!!! By far may favorite hunting hole ever!!! Like I said its like CRACK!!!

[Craig]

Bearpaw. Do you guide elk in any of the LE elk permit areas in MT? Not sure If i'm going to keep my big game combo tag this year.

[bearpaw]

Bearpaw. Do you guide elk in any of the LE elk permit areas in MT? Not sure If i'm going to keep my big game combo tag this year.

We have a ranch in the snowy mountains with good elk hunting (unit 411) and I am trying to get property in the bull mountains, but don't have that yet. So at this point 411 is my only option for limited-entry elk in MT.

There are also good elk hunts in the Missouri Breaks units, but we don't operate there either. I have a outfitter friend that does operate in the breaks if you apply and decide you want a guide.

Eastern Montana is where Adams killed both of his huge bulls, in Region 7.

[Craig]

I deer hunt a friends ranch in the middle of 410. The problem is It's to hard to draw a elk tag there. I see a bunch of big bulls every year on the ranch. I have 7 elk points and am sterting to look at other units.

[Roger]

I called Mt. this morning to see what they were going to do about the ALS numbers you received and they said that they would be changing everything over to your old number.  They also said that as of 8 AM they about 50 tags left, so they will most likely be sold out today.

[Huntnphish]

They sold out today.