montana combo tag info

[jadeball1]

I was drawn for montana elk/deer combo. I have a cabin to stay at in unit 292. This area im told has lots of muleys and a fair number of elk. Have moderate info on hunting area but would like any additional advice and/or if anyone has hunted this area and what to expect. This area is approx 60 east of missoula, north of i90.

[Muleyslyr]

Is it just a cabin or do you have some private land usage around there as well?  I've gone through there before but never hunted it.  I think your right in the middle of excellent Deer and Elk hunting.  Depending on were you are actually gonna be hunting it might be more of a migratory hunt though.  When do you plan on heading over there?

[jadeball1]

The cabin is on private land.(100acres) butted up to blm land 60 miles 3 directions. Im flying solo on this hunt. The owner says its a quality hunt, average terrain and a fair amount of animals to look over. This is my first hunt over there(of many to come!) Im going the 25th of oct for 10 days. planned on a scouting trip but I drew the margaret f tag and want to focus on that. so many animals, to little time.

[HuntingFanatic]

Sounds like quality is right! Wish I were going!

[TheHunt]

The cabin is on private land.(100acres) butted up to blm land 60 miles 3 directions. Im flying solo on this hunt. The owner says its a quality hunt, average terrain and a fair amount of animals to look over. This is my first hunt over there(of many to come!) Im going the 25th of oct for 10 days. planned on a scouting trip but I drew the margaret f tag and want to focus on that. so many animals, to little time.

You sure were lucky today...   Heck,  Margaret tag and a Montana Combo...  Since things come in three's you might consider buying a lotto ticket.

[Rocky Mtn Fever]

i know 292 is a lot of private land and what isnt is hunted pretty hard.....do you subscribe to the magazine Huntin Fool if so you can use their software along with google earth and fly over it....

[Rocky Mtn Fever]

in unit 292 for the 2006 season 9 non resident hunters got zero bulls and 3 cows and out of 600 resident they got 3 bulls and  135 cows....hope that helps
 NUMBERS TAKEN FROM Montana Fish wildlife and parks Unit 292 2006 Harvest Statistics for elk for the 292-00 and 292-80 tags....the info is there if you want to read it. these being statistics there is a reason for error which is not implied by a degree of confidence....these numbers give a general idea as to what happened..

[Hornseeker]

Im not sure where that data is from Rocky Mt...but MT FWP does not require harvest reports, all harvest data is from road check stations and random phone calls to about 3% of the hunters. There is NO WAY they know how many people killed bulls in 292. I know of 2 people that killed bulls in that unit and there were probably more like 20-50 bulls killed... at least...

That aside, you are right, there are MUCH better places to hunt. However, even a little 100 acre parcel "could possibly" turn the odds in Jades favor... it just depends on the property.

That is really cool that you have a NW MT muley honey hole. Keep at it and you will see a big dawg up there eventually. I'm trying to send Boneaddict up there into a few holes I know about....

Jade...send a PM if you want to talk some about other areas...even areas that you can drive to in the morn from the cabin. (also..try and find out the location of the cabin. I lived in Missoula for 10 years and worked all over that unit for the BLM...so I may be able to give you some decent insight)


Ernie

[jadeball1]

Ichecked out the harvest reports earlier, and they where marginal. the property owner says most people dont even get out of there trucks most the time, and if they do its not very far. Im hope-n that they will push everything to me. this area is west of ovando and helmsville. I did apply for the muley tag for that unit(can only hunt that unit if applied for) but elk is anywhere. Id like to get a muley first and then perhaps move around for elk if it looks dead in the area. I think some quality boot miles will put me into a good situation. huntin solo, so may just hunt hard in the area without alot of checkin other areas out without knowledge. 

[Rocky Mtn Fever]

Im not sure where that data is from Rocky Mt...but MT FWP does not require harvest reports, all harvest data is from road check stations and random phone calls to about 3% of the hunters. There is NO WAY they know how many people killed bulls in 292. I know of 2 people that killed bulls in that unit and there were probably more like 20-50 bulls killed... at least...

That aside, you are right, there are MUCH better places to hunt. However, even a little 100 acre parcel "could possibly" turn the odds in Jades favor... it just depends on the property.

That is really cool that you have a NW MT muley honey hole. Keep at it and you will see a big dawg up there eventually. I'm trying to send Boneaddict up there into a few holes I know about....

Jade...send a PM if you want to talk some about other areas...even areas that you can drive to in the morn from the cabin. (also..try and find out the location of the cabin. I lived in Missoula for 10 years and worked all over that unit for the BLM...so I may be able to give you some decent insight)


Ernie

i got the data from MFWP by going to unit 292 elk and reading the harvest data for year 2006 go there and see for yourself

[Hornseeker]

Jade, find out where the cabin is...I know that area really well...there are pockets in there that can be fantastic as you catch the Meyer Ranch Elk moving back and forth between private parcels...if you dont have access to a good spot though, through private, the hunt is very tough....VERY tough.

Rocky...wasn't trying to bust your balls. I am very familiar with FWP's harvest stats... they dont mean much..like I said, they take a small random sample of hunters by phone and they have a check station on the road...so..the number "3"..is a guess at best. We, the Montana Bowhunters Association are trying to convince MT to have mandatory harvest reports like many states...and if you dont turn it in you dont get a license the next year until you do... it would be invaluable for good mangt. After giving it some thought, i know three people that killed branch bulls in that unit last year.. after giving it more thought and reading your post again...that may have been just for the special draw tags, not for the general tag. 292-00 is an antlerless tag only....and they only give out 150. General Elk tag holders probably killed 20-50 bulls...

Anyhow..just trying to make it clear that more than....way more than, 3 bulls were killed in the unit.

Ernie

[Rocky Mtn Fever]

Ichecked out the harvest reports earlier, and they where marginal. the property owner says most people dont even get out of there trucks most the time, and if they do its not very far. Im hope-n that they will push everything to me. this area is west of ovando and helmsville. I did apply for the muley tag for that unit(can only hunt that unit if applied for) but elk is anywhere. Id like to get a muley first and then perhaps move around for elk if it looks dead in the area. I think some quality boot miles will put me into a good situation. huntin solo, so may just hunt hard in the area without alot of checkin other areas out without knowledge. 

Ovando is good for nice mulies up high...i hunt north west of there and do well ever i get drawn for 150 + class mulies