Montana

[Wtrfowlr62]

My dad and I got the tags for Montana this year! (like everyone else that applied). I grew up in montana and havent been back there in about 6 years so im pretty excited to catch up with some old hunting friends. When i lived there we always used to hunt opening week and have great success being blessed with having access to a big ranch. two years ago the ranch was sold to a different owner and currently dont know if we still have access on it, but not to worried about options where to hunt. My main question is the timing for hunting rifle seaon. Im currently in school and itll be a slight challenge to balance time when we can hunt. My plan currently is to hunt the second to last or the last week (thanksgiving time) due to the days i have off. however i would be able to with my schedual miss a week of school, but would to prefer not to. Is this decision good/bad due to the time? benifits of hunting later/ down sides? bacically how late can i put off going over there. Any advise very welcome  .

thanks yall.

[boneaddict]

depending on where you are thinking about going, the rut maybe dwindling if you wait too late and you may have weather/snow issues.

[3nails]

 If you're hunting mulies the rut should be over by then. If hunting whities the rut should be peaking then. Elk, imo, is best first week and last week.

[Skyvalhunter]

I usually hit those last couple weeks for mulies in the rut.

[longknife]

Friend lives 30 min from Agusta, he waits til the week of Thanksgiving before going out with his wife. They get 2 nice 4point bucks every year. The snow dropps, and they move down, Just be prepared for it.
 I will be there next year,,luck permiting! Congrats on the tags!

[Skyvalhunter]

Heres what you do just fork over the big bucks and hunt Ted Turners ranch 
MONTANA
If your looking for the ultimate trophy bull elk hunt yet for this fall we may be able to help you. Our outfitter on the famous Flying D Ranch (owned by Ted Turner) still has a couple openings on 2 separate dates for this November. The quality of Elk hunting here is second to none. They have November 15-20 available for 2 hunters and November 21-27 for 2 hunters. Price is $10,000 plus $4,000 on kill. Success is extremely high and the average bull is 8 years old and scores in high 330's with some being as high as 370. This year in winter they counted nearly 600 branch antlered bulls that combined with the 150 spikes that will become branch antlered this year...lots of bulls to look at. The best thing about the later hunts is that the winter brings them out to the openings more. Here's the catch:  Montana's combination non-resident elk/deer combo licenses sold out months ago but many non-resident hunters will be turning those licenses back in for a refund who do not draw special permits for elk or have changed plans. In this case, an alternate list is created for resale of the license. If we get your name on this list, you’re quite likely to get the license issued to you but we need to do it sooner than later so if your interested give us a call now.

[Wtrfowlr62]

thanks for in info sofar and thanks for the offer on the outfitters guide but we got it all set up  . i didnt apply for the combo just the elk tag, to save money. i have been reading alot the upsides of hunting later in the season is that you can play the weather into factor. Colder weather will pushing them down, and the fact that the ruts over the big bulls seclude themselves and branch off. on the other hand growing up there the first part of my life i know the weather can be brutal  .

[JLS]

Later season can also mean crunch, crusty snow that makes hunting timber impossible.

Personally, I like the second and third weeks best.  Whenever you can go is good though.  What beats elk hunting?