Post by: Pathfinder101 on April 24, 2009, 11:17:47 AM
Post by: jackelope on April 24, 2009, 11:18:21 AM
Post by: huntnphool on April 24, 2009, 11:19:46 AM
Post by: bobcat on April 24, 2009, 11:21:44 AM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on April 24, 2009, 11:30:50 AM
The banks on both sides of the river will still be mostly private land wont they? :dunno:
Are you talking Fort Peck Reservoir? If so you'll probably want a motor on that boat. And there's plenty of BLM ground from what I've heard.
Well, that's the kind of stuff that I was wondering. It's hard to tell from MT.FWP's mapper what is what, especially since I don't really know that part of MT. That's why I was wondering if anyone had done it.
It does look like a lot of BLM land the closer you get to the reservoir, but it also looks like the eastern end of The Breaks is "National Monument". The web sites I looked into made it sound like that was public land.
Post by: bobcat on April 24, 2009, 11:32:58 AM
Post by: jackelope on April 24, 2009, 11:34:44 AM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on April 24, 2009, 11:40:27 AM
Post by: bobcat on April 24, 2009, 11:41:21 AM
http://www.monstermuleys.info/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.pl?az=show_thread&om=7324&forum=DCForumID6&archive=yes
Post by: Pathfinder101 on April 24, 2009, 12:40:05 PM
Maybe I am reading fwp's map wrong, or they have designated a bunch of private ground to be "wilderness". :dunno:
Post by: bobcat on April 24, 2009, 12:46:47 PM
Post by: whacker1 on April 24, 2009, 12:54:38 PM
From Craig Montana on the missouri river below the dam - much of the river bank is private land. I have floated about 16 miles of it while fishing and there is some nice ground - saw one nice buck, but mostly private property.
Post by: Pathfinder101 on April 24, 2009, 12:58:22 PM
No, the CMR Refuge is marked pretty clearly on the fwp map in purple. I knew that was public land, since that is the area everyone is talking about hunting. The area upstream from that is shaded green, which (the way I am reading the legend) is "Dept of Agriculture" and is marked on the map as a "wilderness area". I am talking about the portion of the river below Fort Benton and above hwy 191. No one mentions hunting that area though, so either they designated the private ground on both sides of the river "wilderness", or I am reading the map wrong.
After visiting a couple of other sites, I am starting to think they designated the private property as "wilderness". There is a lot of talk about ranchers not being able to graze their cattle in the breaks because of the designation. I can't really tell if they are talking about the private property being shut down, or some "open range" being shut down.
Confusing :bash:
Post by: Pathfinder101 on April 24, 2009, 01:06:29 PM
Yes, it is the Charles M Russell National Wildlife Refuge that encompasses the breaks of the Fort Peck Reservoir and is open for hunting with special rules that apply. If I remember correctly the season ends a little bit early on the Wildlife Refuge, but I can't remember for sure. The water gets pretty rough and get can get very cold and windy at the drop of a hat. Not something you will want to canoe in.
From Craig Montana on the missouri river below the dam - much of the river bank is private land. I have floated about 16 miles of it while fishing and there is some nice ground - saw one nice buck, but mostly private property.
Thanks Whacker. That clears some stuff up. It doesn't look like the actual season ends early(the way I read it those units are open til 29 NOV, unless I am reading the reg wrong), but a lot of talk about the boat ramps on the Reservoir closing due to weather, which would affect boat hunting.
Yeah, if I hunt the reservoir it wouldn't be by canoe. I would probably either rent a boat at one of the marinas or borrow one and bring it with me.
Post by: whacker1 on April 24, 2009, 01:09:11 PM
Lots of big bucks come from up there. Never been. I was supposed to go in 2007, but had back surgery instead. Montana did send me back 90% of my money for the medical refund. Gracious for that part.
Post by: bobcat on April 24, 2009, 01:11:06 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on April 24, 2009, 01:29:45 PM
Post by: bobcat on April 24, 2009, 01:30:43 PM
I think I figured out what is causing your confusion. You are in "topographic" mode and therefore the shaded green areas are simply wooded areas. Switch it over to "highway map" and you'll no longer see the green shading. I looked at the Bob Marshall Wilderness and it's shown as a definite dark green. Also in the upper tool bar on the right it will help if you change it from "L" (Low Image Quality) to "H" (High Image Quality.)
Post by: Pathfinder101 on April 24, 2009, 01:34:26 PM
Pathfinder,
I think I figured out what is causing your confusion. You are in "topographic" mode and therefore the shaded green areas are simply wooded areas. Switch it over to "highway map" and you'll no longer see the green shading. I looked at the Bob Marshall Wilderness and it's shown as a definite dark green. Also in the upper tool bar on the right it will help if you change it from "L" (Low Image Quality) to "H" (High Image Quality.)
Yup. That's what I was doing. :bash: I guess this is all my fault for never using Montana's map software until AFTER I got drawn for the tag. :chuckle: THanks for the help.
I think they have authority to change the seasons within the refuge. Can't remember for sure, but I know they have more authority than one would think.
Lots of big bucks come from up there. Never been. I was supposed to go in 2007, but had back surgery instead. Montana did send me back 90% of my money for the medical refund. Gracious for that part.
Now you have got me worried whacker. I was planning to hunt the last week of the season, but what if they close it on me...
Post by: whacker1 on April 24, 2009, 01:47:12 PM
FYI - from what I remember from friends - you don't want to be there the last week of the season. I think the success typically takes place earlier in the rut. Just what I have heard from a few friends that have had some success over the last few years.
Post by: Pathfinder101 on April 24, 2009, 02:10:55 PM
Post by: Bigshooter on April 24, 2009, 03:32:28 PM
Post by: buckhorn2 on April 24, 2009, 04:00:47 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on April 24, 2009, 04:10:50 PM
I have not read this years regs, but the last few years the CMR area closed in mid november.The regs say that those units will be open til the 29th, but an earlier post said the CM Russell can close them earlier if they want.
Fort Peck can get just like the ocean in a hurry and the later in the season it can get real cold. Drifting the river and hunting the islands can produce some nice whitetail and glassing the rims there are nice muledeer. The part of the river we were on was by winiferd and I think we put in around the robinson bridge it is after the resevoir sp. anyway I think it was in fergus county or 417. We had an 18 foot boat and jet motor but I remember how cold it was in the mornings but we were there the last week of the season. if you go left at wineiferd you drop down to the river and there is a real nice boat ramp that hunters go up and down the river from.
When you hunted that stretch, did you have any access/provate land issues? Is that public? (I am about to go check the map regarding the float you just mentioned).
Post by: Pathfinder101 on April 24, 2009, 04:22:34 PM
I just checked the map, and that is the area I was hoping to hit (the float you mentioned). I am worried that the banks of the river on both sides are private.
Post by: bigdave on April 24, 2009, 04:25:25 PM
If memory serves, there is a strip of land along both sides of the river corridor that is public.
Post by: Pathfinder101 on April 24, 2009, 04:51:34 PM
Post by: andrew_12gauge on April 24, 2009, 06:30:02 PM
Post by: buckhorn2 on April 24, 2009, 07:07:58 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on April 24, 2009, 07:58:17 PM
as was stated before fort peck can get nasty in a hurry make sure you have a good sized boat if you do go out on fort peck, my dad, grandpa, and I almost lost a 16 foot glasstron out there on fort peck in 2002 it was a scary boat ride and we were up in one of the bays that was "protected" from the wind, we went out across the bay(stupidest decision ever) and it got really bad on the way back across there were rollers comin over the front of the boat and ever piece of gear and clothing we had with us was soaked by the time we got back to the launch. we talked to a game warden out there who said they usually lose a few boats out there on fort peck every hunting season. oh and all we saw was a little 2 point buck that spotted us from about 500 yards and the last we saw he was a mile away and still goin full bore but i dont think we were in the right area, it sounds like you have to get out on the main channel of the lake to find the big boys
Thanks for the warning Andrew. What kind of boat would you recommend to hunt Peck effectively? Sounds like more than a one man operation.
It was over ten years ago when we made this trip but there was public land there then. We hunted for years with ranchers that had property there and if you want I can mail you there name and they have huge tracks of land and own down by the river and allow hunting there through the block managment. There are some huge bulls on there property but is a drawing for the permit but if you draw they allow hunting.Buckhorn, I didn't draw the big game combo, I drew Deer A, so I will only be deer hunting. I know there are 2 kinds of Block Management in Montana, the kind you sign in for, and the kind you have to call ahead and make a reservation for. I would love to get those property owner's information, since the official Block Management list doesn't come out until August. I was thinking of doing the float trip, but that was mostly to get away from the crowds. If I can hunt Block Management land in the Breaks that won't be overrun by hunters, that would be just as good (maybe better from the sounds of it). I am primarily after a mule deer (of course I don't think I have it in me to pass up a big whitey.. :chuckle: ).
Post by: 400out on April 24, 2009, 08:52:09 PM
The banks on both sides of the river will still be mostly private land wont they? :dunno:I think that the breaks of the missouri is montanas form of blm land I THINK! :dunno:
Post by: Pathfinder101 on April 24, 2009, 09:15:47 PM
The banks on both sides of the river will still be mostly private land wont they? :dunno:I think that the breaks of the missouri is montanas form of blm land I THINK! :dunno:
Seems like about half the people I talk to think the same thing, and the other half think that the Breaks are private. I guess maybe I should call Montana Fish and Game and ask someone. I am not sure what would be worse; getting run off someone's land I didn't know I was trespassing on, or seeing a big buck on land I was not sure I could hunt...
Post by: andrew_12gauge on April 24, 2009, 11:42:21 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on April 25, 2009, 08:06:46 AM
Post by: andrew_12gauge on April 25, 2009, 05:00:08 PM
Post by: Hooter on April 27, 2009, 12:09:12 PM
Post by: groundhog on April 28, 2009, 07:50:21 AM
I have a 22' Asaltor with 37 inch sides so I have enough boat. He suggested that I hunt the Block management instead. It was good advise. As stated before the reservoir can really kick up and get nasty. One of the problems is leaving your boat and going hunting. It is best to get dropped off. Even then sometimes it is hard to get picked up because it is so rough. If you decide to do this another problem to watch out for is that if you get rain everything turns to gumbo type mud. Many boats have gone down because the gumbo from your boots gets in the bilge and plugs up your bilge pump. As you are beating your way home you take on water and eventually capsize. He recommends two high volume bilge pumps and a second pair of boots to keep the gumbo out of your bilge. If you go good luck, have fun and be careful.
Post by: luvtohnt on April 28, 2009, 07:59:53 AM
Brandon
Post by: William B. on April 28, 2009, 10:02:21 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on May 04, 2009, 09:45:11 PM
Hooter, thanks for the tip about the eyepatches. Also, I am probably doing this trip alone, so if I float, I would have to arrange a pick-up. Are there shuttle services in the area? Any suggestions?
THanks again, I appreciate everyone's :twocents: