Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: Practical Approach on October 26, 2010, 04:41:14 PM

Title: Anyone hunt the Broadus MT. area?
Post by: Practical Approach on October 26, 2010, 04:41:14 PM: My hunting buddy and I have hunted there a couple years now and have had success on public lands, however while our deer have been decent 4 points, they are a little spindly. Looking for areas that we might find a better quality buck? Or are there any in SE Montana?
Title: Re: Anyone hunt the Broadus MT. area?
Post by: jjdavis2222 on October 26, 2010, 04:57:14 PM: We hunt around the lewistown and the breaks and most the deer in that area are also spindly and the antlers are real light in color. Would be nice to get one with some mass and color when we head over there in 2 weeks but I just dont think they make um like that in that part of the state. I am sure there are a few. Here is a good collection from our last trip. But nothing beats a good old mountain mulie!!

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi225.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fdd150%2Fjjdavis2222%2FMontana%25202008%2F100_0415.jpg&hash=e9d6e13cbceed2205509c1b0a3bb7e608faaffcc)
Title: Re: Anyone hunt the Broadus MT. area?
Post by: Practical Approach on October 26, 2010, 04:59:49 PM: Those look very familiar. Ours have been light colored as well. I think there are some bigger ones out there, they just are far and few between on public land I think. I will keep looking though. Head over in two weeks as well. You do any elk hunting over there as well?
Title: Re: Anyone hunt the Broadus MT. area?
Post by: jjdavis2222 on October 26, 2010, 05:04:17 PM: The area we deer hunt is permit only for elk. Didnt hunt elk two years ago even though we had the combo but this year we'er going from Nov 10th - 21st. So if we all tag out we are headed to a differant area to try elk for a few days. Good luck on your trip and be sure to post up a story and pics when you get back.
Title: Re: Anyone hunt the Broadus MT. area?
Post by: muleyhunter on October 26, 2010, 06:02:10 PM: You're hunting in a very heavy hunting area. The deer don't get a chance to grow up. Get in the BLM units where you have to walk in only and get back deep and there is big muleys back there. I've been hunting back there for over 15 years and found thats the way to get away to where the bigger ones are.
Title: Re: Anyone hunt the Broadus MT. area?
Post by: Practical Approach on October 26, 2010, 08:17:02 PM: Thanks for the advice. heading deep into BLM land is exactly our plan.
Title: Re: Anyone hunt the Broadus MT. area?
Post by: Malardman on October 27, 2010, 12:33:32 PM: I hunted that area alot last year, I have all the maps and landowner info you need, PM me if your intrested. excellant area pulled a nice 5x5 and a huge 3x3
Title: Re: Anyone hunt the Broadus MT. area?
Post by: muleyguy on October 27, 2010, 09:29:54 PM: Quote
Anyone hunt the Broadus MT. area?

half of WA state.......

the other half goes here:

Quote
We hunt around the lewistown and the breaks

don't take this wrong way, but you are 10 yrs too late to Broadus and about 5 yrs too late to the Breaks. Both areas are getting absoulutley pounded by hunters anymore, especially out of state hunters. The "herd" went to Broadus in the early to mid 2000's and then moved on to the Breaks in the mid to late 2000's;

fun hunts, but not too much in the way of mature animals anymore. Both areas are also down on numbers drastically this year from previous years; counts in Broadus are down 30% and the Breaks also had a serious winterkill in the 2008/2009 winter. Still seems like heaven for WA guys, but, not what it used to be unfortunately.

get off the BLM and Block Management around Broadus and go to the Custer National Forest if you want a mature animal; WAY lower deer densities, way fewer bucks, but, there are some mature animals in there; most guys spend a day in there, get bored and can't take it, and go back to driving around the BLM ground and private ground, looking at bucks on the private ground all day that they can't shoot, and playing grab ass with the outfitters all day.
Title: Re: Anyone hunt the Broadus MT. area?
Post by: Practical Approach on October 28, 2010, 10:54:28 AM: Quote from: muleyguy on October 27, 2010, 09:29:54 PM

Quote
Anyone hunt the Broadus MT. area?

half of WA state.......

the other half goes here:

Quote
We hunt around the lewistown and the breaks

don't take this wrong way, but you are 10 yrs too late to Broadus and about 5 yrs too late to the Breaks. Both areas are getting absoulutley pounded by hunters anymore, especially out of state hunters. The "herd" went to Broadus in the early to mid 2000's and then moved on to the Breaks in the mid to late 2000's;

fun hunts, but not too much in the way of mature animals anymore. Both areas are also down on numbers drastically this year from previous years; counts in Broadus are down 30% and the Breaks also had a serious winterkill in the 2008/2009 winter. Still seems like heaven for WA guys, but, not what it used to be unfortunately.

get off the BLM and Block Management around Broadus and go to the Custer National Forest if you want a mature animal; WAY lower deer densities, way fewer bucks, but, there are some mature animals in there; most guys spend a day in there, get bored and can't take it, and go back to driving around the BLM ground and private ground, looking at bucks on the private ground all day that they can't shoot, and playing grab ass with the outfitters all day.

No I believe what you are saying is true from what I have seen in the past. Any tips on which part of Custer to head to?
Title: Re: Anyone hunt the Broadus MT. area?
Post by: muleyguy on October 28, 2010, 11:08:19 AM: Quote
Any tips on which part of Custer to head to?

the Custer is no silver bullet; but, there are some better bucks in there; look to the wilderness areas within the custer, those have potential.
Title: Re: Anyone hunt the Broadus MT. area?
Post by: Practical Approach on October 28, 2010, 11:13:25 AM: Ok, thanks. THe local biologist mentioned that he hunted forest service in that area as well.
Title: Re: Anyone hunt the Broadus MT. area?
Post by: muleyhunter on October 28, 2010, 03:14:44 PM: Muleyguy knows what hes talking about. Take his advice and kinda keep what I said in the back of your mind. I'll be over there northeast of Broadas the week of 12th-20th of Nov.
Title: Re: Anyone hunt the Broadus MT. area?
Post by: KimberRich on October 28, 2010, 03:29:30 PM: Quote from: jjdavis2222 on October 26, 2010, 04:57:14 PM
We hunt around the lewistown and the breaks and most the deer in that area are also spindly and the antlers are real light in color. Would be nice to get one with some mass and color when we head over there in 2 weeks but I just dont think they make um like that in that part of the state. I am sure there are a few. Here is a good collection from our last trip. But nothing beats a good old mountain mulie!!

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi225.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fdd150%2Fjjdavis2222%2FMontana%25202008%2F100_0415.jpg&hash=e9d6e13cbceed2205509c1b0a3bb7e608faaffcc)

When you say "that part of the state" are you talking about broadus/lewistown/breaks? Because that's one hell of a big "part of the state" to be grouping together..

Nice Bucks in the picture.. Were those taken around Lewistown or up in the Breaks?
Title: Re: Anyone hunt the Broadus MT. area?
Post by: KimberRich on October 28, 2010, 03:37:22 PM: Like previously stated.. I agree that the animals don't get time to grow up or mature before they get shot or eaten or ??? I also think a lot of it has to do with genetics though. I hunt Central Montana on a very large chunk of private land and the mule deer have specific traits that have not changed for 30+ years. Where I'm at they do not have width.. Period. In 30 years we've shot some bruisers and the widest one was 24" and that was to the outside of a sticker point. They get super tall though..
Title: Re: Anyone hunt the Broadus MT. area?
Post by: buckhorn2 on October 28, 2010, 03:41:43 PM: Take your pick each area has deer.
Title: Re: Anyone hunt the Broadus MT. area?
Post by: CSOUTFITTERS on October 28, 2010, 03:47:04 PM: There are still alot of mature bucks to be taken on block management and blm. I think if a guy times it right during the rut and gets some good cold weather/snow some of these 3.5 to 5.5 year old bucks come out. Those 160-180" bucks over there are 1-2 in 100. Most guys go this time of year because its the opener and they most likey dont have to fight the nasty gumbo/mud. I see alot of guys who intend to get back 2-5 miles but end up shooting a 16-20" 3 or 4 pt within the first mile, so they may never have a crack at that big one. As far genetics and nutrition i dont think the eastern mt deer have that good of a change to really get big due to overhunting and lack of minerals/good feed unless its private managed property or there is some food source. Hold out and good luck!
Title: Re: Anyone hunt the Broadus MT. area?
Post by: KimberRich on October 28, 2010, 04:07:17 PM: Nice bucks buckhorn.. Were those around Broadus or up in the breaks
Title: Re: Anyone hunt the Broadus MT. area?
Post by: KimberRich on October 28, 2010, 04:10:37 PM: Quote from: CSOUTFITTERS on October 28, 2010, 03:47:04 PM
There are still alot of mature bucks to be taken on block management and blm. I think if a guy times it right during the rut and gets some good cold weather/snow some of these 3.5 to 5.5 year old bucks come out. Those 160-180" bucks over there are 1-2 in 100. Most guys go this time of year because its the opener and they most likey dont have to fight the nasty gumbo/mud. I see alot of guys who intend to get back 2-5 miles but end up shooting a 16-20" 3 or 4 pt within the first mile, so they may never have a crack at that big one. As far genetics and nutrition i dont think the eastern mt deer have that good of a change to really get big due to overhunting and lack of minerals/good feed unless its private managed property or there is some food source. Hold out and good luck!

That's what I was saying.. The property I hunt is private managed property with tons of feed and the deer just don't have the genetics. I need to transplant a few 30" bucks from somewhere into the herd to improve things!
Title: Re: Anyone hunt the Broadus MT. area?
Post by: muleyguy on October 28, 2010, 04:54:54 PM: Quote
Nice bucks buckhorn.. Were those around Broadus or up in the breaks

that looks like the custer to me, so that would be my guess....

Quote
When you say "that part of the state" are you talking about broadus/lewistown/breaks?

north of Winnett.......

how was I guys??? 2 for 2 ??????