Post by: Karl Blanchard on April 16, 2014, 08:40:35 AM
Post by: 180-GRAIN on April 16, 2014, 08:53:06 AM
Results are posting! Drew the deer/elk combo (didn't see that coming :chuckle:)! Elk special permits are still pending.
No kidding me to! :chuckle: Waiting on the deer and elk permits to post now.
Post by: cougfan79 on April 16, 2014, 05:11:19 PM
Post by: longrange7mm on April 18, 2014, 03:20:00 AM
Post by: Karl Blanchard on April 18, 2014, 04:00:10 PM
Post by: vandeman17 on April 18, 2014, 04:11:02 PM
Post by: soccerguy on April 18, 2014, 05:33:50 PM
Post by: YoterHunter on April 18, 2014, 05:44:38 PM
Post by: Craig on April 18, 2014, 08:56:31 PM
Post by: MTMule on April 19, 2014, 03:03:26 PM
SCORE!! Drew unit 652-50 special permit for deer. Eastern Missouri Breaks area...don't know a lot about it but I'm about to find out. Mostly public land so that's a plus and I guess the quality is close to as good as Montana gets. With only 50 tags for a 40 day season allowed...I'm excited!!
How many points did it take if you don't mind me asking?
It was a solid unit in the past. Bad winters got to it a bit, but I'm sure there is some quality deer there. A few of the biggest Mule Deer I have seen in Montana wasd riving through that unit.
Post by: soccerguy on April 19, 2014, 07:49:28 PM
SCORE!! Drew unit 652-50 special permit for deer. Eastern Missouri Breaks area...don't know a lot about it but I'm about to find out. Mostly public land so that's a plus and I guess the quality is close to as good as Montana gets. With only 50 tags for a 40 day season allowed...I'm excited!!
How many points did it take if you don't mind me asking?
It was a solid unit in the past. Bad winters got to it a bit, but I'm sure there is some quality deer there. A few of the biggest Mule Deer I have seen in Montana wasd riving through that unit.
Five points...I will post a report after the hunt. Trying to decide if using a guide or not...would prefer not to. Anybody hunted that unit before?
Post by: JLS on April 19, 2014, 07:56:54 PM
SCORE!! Drew unit 652-50 special permit for deer. Eastern Missouri Breaks area...don't know a lot about it but I'm about to find out. Mostly public land so that's a plus and I guess the quality is close to as good as Montana gets. With only 50 tags for a 40 day season allowed...I'm excited!!
How many points did it take if you don't mind me asking?
It was a solid unit in the past. Bad winters got to it a bit, but I'm sure there is some quality deer there. A few of the biggest Mule Deer I have seen in Montana wasd riving through that unit.
Five points...I will post a report after the hunt. Trying to decide if using a guide or not...would prefer not to. Anybody hunted that unit before?
I've never hunted it, but it's a neat unit. Mostly badlands and shortgrass prairie.
Given the winterkill and EHD mortalities, I'd make sure to quiz the biologist in Glasgow as to what a realistic expectation is. Hopefully the upper age classes are mostly there for you.
As for guide or no guide, I guess that largely depends on your time allowance and your slush fund. If you have the time I don't see any reason why you can't have a very good hunt sans a guide.
Post by: Bigshooter on April 19, 2014, 10:37:50 PM
Post by: Karl Blanchard on April 21, 2014, 06:10:13 PM
As far as hiring a guide is concerned, I would base that on your own personal confidence in finding mature mule deer. If you are confident in your abilities then a guide probably isn't necessary. If it were me, I would opt to spend the extra funds on possibly taking multiple trips. I would take the first week off so I got first crack at the bucks as know one in Montana hunts early. The bucks are more patternable that time of year as well. Then if I needed to, I would go back the week before thanksgiving and hunt the peak of the rut. Only downfall to that is probably 75% of tag holders will be hunting that week as well lol. Nice part about Montana is there are enough deer around the roads to keep most guys in the cabs of their trucks, so if a guy burns some boot leather its not impossible to find good bucks. IF it were my tag, I would have a 170" gross standard. Deer in that country tend to have short main beams so make sure to get a good side view. How much time are you going to have off for this hunt? One thing about it, you are gonna see lots of bucks and have a ton of fun! Take lots of pics so we can tag along!
Post by: soccerguy on April 22, 2014, 01:44:12 PM
I've been on a few hunts the last few years where other hunters have shot bucks in the 160's (alas, I had no tag), so bucks in that range won't be a problem. Finally, I'm self employed and November is by far my slowest time of the year, so I've got tons of time to commit to this hunt. Oh, and since the last post I found out that a guy I sheep hunted with two years ago has drawn this tag twice in the last ten years ago and is willing to provide me with maps, camping locations, specific hunting areas, etc. I think the outfitter idea is gone.
Post by: Karl Blanchard on April 22, 2014, 01:52:05 PM
Post by: huntnphool on April 23, 2014, 10:40:50 PM
Your gonna have a blast then! Only other advice I can give is beware of the Montana gumbo (mud). If its rainy or it gets warm and the show melts, stay off the dirt roads!!!!!!! Its like nothing I have ever driven in!And if its dry out you can plan on your rig never being clean again, that red dust never seems to go away.
Post by: bearpaw on April 23, 2014, 10:53:09 PM
Big Game elk and deer combination: 2,931
Elk only combination: 2,040
Deer only combination: 2,050