Winnett, Montana Hunting

[CavemantheHunter]

Has anyone here ever hunted near Winnett, Montana? My buddy hunts there all of the time and I'm going to hunt there next year with him. Just wondering what I should expect.

Thanks y'all

[spookgus]

Gumbo and wind. Should be fun.
What info are you looking for that your buddy can't provide?

[JLS]

Use Google Earth.  Prairie and wind.  Brushy coulees.  Rattlesnakes.  Gumbo.

[CavemantheHunter]

I should have clarified, my buddy has never hunted there, but his family hunts there yearly. So this will be both mine and his first times over there. From Google Earth, it looks like a lot of rock and very little tree cover and lots of valleys and ravines. I'm assuming that the animals use the ravines as travelways and bedding aras during the day similar to around here?

[JLS]

Look beneath the crests of buttes, sides of coulees, rockpiles for bedding areas.  If it's hot, find the shade.  If it's cold find the sunny slopes.  If it's windy, find the wind shadows.

[canyelk48]

....and if it's rainy, forget about it cause you aren't going anywhere until it dries out!   

[CavemantheHunter]

It's not until mid-November, so I'm assuming there will be snow there?

[JLS]

or it could be 75 degrees...

[spookgus]

I haven't seen a lot of snow there. If it snows and melts midday the roads will get bad. If it snows with a bitter north wind the roads will stay frozen and deer will likely be on the southern slopes out of the wind. Be cautious where you kneel or sit and wear boots that will resist cactus. The cactus are short and unnoticed till it's too late.

There was enough snow to cover the ground one day when I went to the prone position to shoot a buck and laid in cactus. I crawled right and more cactus. I ignored it and shot the buck and spent the next half hour removing cactus from my legs. That north wind was brisk on bare skin.

[Craig]

I am in Winnett a couple times a year. Cool little town. I hunt north of there. 2010 it was -15 degrees during part of the deer season. 2011 I was in a t shirt for a couple days I was there during deer season. Like everyone said. watch for the gumbo. If its windy find coulees or any low spot were the deer get out of the wind. Deer numbers have been way down the last couple of years. Have fun.

[buckhorn2]

My buddy sat down in some catus and he said either the hospital or one of us had to get them out and it cost him 2 prime rib dinners.

[jjdavis2222]

We have hunted around that area 3 times. First two times the whole group tagged out. As stated, the deer numbers are WAY down! Last year our camp went 0-5!!!! Couldnt believe how bad it was. Good luck it is fun hunting!

[JLS]

I haven't seen a lot of snow there.

Most likely, but I've also seen 8-10 inches on the ground during antelope season.  Plan for anything

[spookgus]

I haven't seen a lot of snow there.

Most likely, but I've also seen 8-10 inches on the ground during antelope season.  Plan for anything

Exactly. When I think about a lot of snow it reminds me of the panhandle in '96.

[JLS]

The panhandle in 96 puts things in perspective, doesn't it?

The thing about 8 inches in eastern MT, is that a 30 mph wind quickly equals 0 inches in some places and three feet in others.

[CavemantheHunter]

Why is the population down so much? Wolves? Hard winters? Both?

[gveil]

The population is down because of one tough winter, spring flooding and blue tongue. Mule deer numbers were about half of what I have seen in years past and they have been declining steadily for a few years. White-tailed deer practically disappeared last year because of blue tongue. Lots of good habitat in the creek and river bottoms is gone due to the aftermath of the flooding. Our group of 4 went home with 0 bucks last year. Typically, we tag out with some decent deer. I kicked myself for passing on an average white-tailed buck the first day.

[cougfan79]

Check out Chain Buttes BMA.  Lots of people, but have seen lots of deer and elk the past 4 years.
Deer numbers were down last year, but still saw lots of deer and elk and my group was 3-3.

[CavemantheHunter]

Thanks for all the info, I will continue researching. How about the elk population?

[JLS]

Elk is by permit only.  Your concern would be finally drawing the permit, not finding an elk when you do.

[finnman]

We hunted it in 08' and 09', got our deer both years, we hunted east of town on BMA's, deer were not plentiful except on private ground around town and other areas off limits. We got chased out of there in 09' by a nasty winter storm that covered the entire north half of the state! Expect the worst! Fun stuff though, if our draws go south I will apply again this year!

[big wood]

I hunted winnet and eastern Montana for 26 years. e mail me if you want some info

[CavemantheHunter]

Thank you all for the help. It is greatly appreciated. I'll be getting with my group next weekend to get our stuff together and put in for the draws. Will keep y'all updated. All I know is it's going to be a long year spent in anticipation for this season!

[high_hunter]

Hey All, I know this is a 12+ year-old post. Wondering if anyone has any more recent info or advice for the area, particularly about deer #'s.

This is one of the areas my group of 3 is considering going for our first MT modern deer hunt Nov 15-24th.  We have some of E & W WA, N. Idaho, New Mexico, and U.P. Michigan experience between us but nothing in Montana.

Other options on the table are Jordan, Malta, Glendive, Harve & Fort Peck area based on limited intel from buddies. If anyone has insight about one over the other that would help.  Reply or PM as you feel comfortable.

Thanks,
HH

[deerlick]

Did you draw the tag for that area? New this year

[JDHasty]

Be careful and be prepared.  You can get real good and dead there real fast.  The temperature can go from in the forties to way below zero in half an hour. 

How do I know these things?  Some of my family ranch there.  The ranch HQ is in Augusta now, but they have grass there.  It’s a tough gig keeping water open through the winter in that country. 

Big deer and big elk and nice speed goats. 

[The scout]

Hunted there since about 2010, WAY fewer deer numbers BUT the mature deer seem to stay the same population some how

[Killerhiller40]

Make sure and be mindful of that eastern Montana gumbo. Any moisture and the dirt roads can get really nasty


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[high_hunter]

Thanks for all the replies and reply to my PM from Big Wood. 

Happy to burn some time and a tag if needed learning a new area, just excited for the adventure! 

-HH

[Sakko300wsm]

Be careful and be prepared.  You can get real good and dead there real fast.  The temperature can go from in the forties to way below zero in half an hour. 

How do I know these things?  Some of my family ranch there.  The ranch HQ is in Augusta now, but they have grass there.  It’s a tough gig keeping water open through the winter in that country. 

Big deer and big elk and nice speed goats.

Augusta is an amazing area!

[blindluck]

Hunted winnett twice saw some good bucks got average bucks some big bull elk there too. The gumbo is no joke, could barely stay on the road on level ground. When it freezes at night you can get out while its froze till it thaws in the morning.

[bigdub257]

Hunted winnett twice saw some good bucks got average bucks some big bull elk there too. The gumbo is no joke, could barely stay on the road on level ground. When it freezes at night you can get out while its froze till it thaws in the morning.

Same experience near Jordan.  Don't even think about driving if the roads are wet!

[MADMAX]

 


Carry chains

[Craig]

Unit 410 just on the north side of the freeway is a draw unit this year. So if around Winnett know where you can hunt this year.

[mburrows]

As mentioned 410 and 417 are no longer general units for mule deer, they are permit only areas now

[high_hunter]

Thanks all for the PM'd info and awareness about the change to draw units. Appreciate the help