Post by: Rufenit on January 21, 2012, 11:22:40 PM
I am already starting to think about next deer season and am focusing on Montana. I realize there is a draw but hope to get lucky. I have hunted Mule Deer in Washington for the past 25+ years hunting the back country and have been fairly sucessful. The truth is Washington has way too many hunters and not enough game to allow the deer to mature.
I have been researching the area around Fort Peck Res. or the SE corner of Montan. I have found that there is alot of of huntable land around Fort Peck but I'm not sure of the SE area. My initial plan was to take a boat across the Fort Peck to attempt to reduce the amount of hunters seen. Does anyone know if this is a good idea. I know The Charles M Russell has a shorter season than the general so would that be a reason to look elsewhere.
I am primarily looking more for quality deer, 26" to of course 30" and am willing to work hard . If anyone can get me looking in the right direction I would appriciate it very much.
Post by: JoeE on January 21, 2012, 11:46:07 PM
Post by: canyelk48 on January 22, 2012, 07:58:46 AM
Post by: DaveBTS on January 22, 2012, 08:14:49 AM
Post by: BrushChimp on January 22, 2012, 08:47:51 AM
http://www.primetime-outdoors.com/gallery.php
Post by: canyelk48 on January 22, 2012, 09:53:54 AM
I had to move to E Montana last year. There are plenty of deer. I've heard that mule deer numbers are down, but I saw more deer in a day than I ever saw in a season in WA. I shot a beautiful buck. I saw even more bucks after shooting mine and never saw another hunter the entire season.
No doubt you saw plenty of deer, but take what you saw times 2 or 3 and that's what we were seeing during a normal season. Kind of got spoiled seeing those kind of numbers! Nice buck, and there are still quality bucks over there in places that aren't overrun with hunters; Broadus being one of those areas that I think is overhunted. So....if you compared MT deer hunting with WA deer hunting, then MT will win hands down every time (at least in the parts that aren't overrun with wolves)!
Post by: C-Money on January 22, 2012, 10:13:25 AM
Post by: deerslyr on January 22, 2012, 10:18:45 AM
Post by: Rufenit on January 22, 2012, 11:53:19 AM
Like you say a bad day in Montana is probably better than a good day here.
Post by: BIGMIKE on January 22, 2012, 07:25:53 PM
Post by: NRA4LIFE on January 22, 2012, 08:07:34 PM
Post by: cem3434 on January 25, 2012, 09:21:31 PM
Post by: Cap.Silver on January 25, 2012, 09:29:12 PM
Post by: deerslyr on January 25, 2012, 09:39:48 PM
Post by: huntnnw on January 25, 2012, 10:21:45 PM
Post by: Arteman on January 26, 2012, 12:03:08 PM
Post by: NRA4LIFE on January 26, 2012, 12:30:36 PM
Post by: bobcat on January 26, 2012, 12:32:33 PM
Post by: bearpaw on January 26, 2012, 12:52:27 PM
Here's how I describe Montana, some of the best deer hunting anywhere, lots of deer and some good bucks. But if you look at the record books, you can quickly see Montana is not where the biggest deer are taken. For the best bucks look at other states like Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Nebraska, etc, basically all the other rocky mtn states. But even in those states there are the areas that produce the most big bucks and a lot of those are draw areas.
My best advice for big bucks: Apply in as many states as you can for draw areas, hope to pull a tag here and there.
Post by: GoldTip on January 26, 2012, 12:57:30 PM
It's looking like I won't ever hunt deer (or elk) in Montana again, unless I move there and become a resident. No way am I paying $600 for a deer. And how much is it for an elk tag? $1000? :bash:
Its actually just shy of $1000, but thats for a deer and elk combo. Really not much different than Idaho for the non-resident buying both a deer and elk tag.
Post by: JLS on January 26, 2012, 01:27:42 PM
It's looking like I won't ever hunt deer (or elk) in Montana again, unless I move there and become a resident. No way am I paying $600 for a deer. And how much is it for an elk tag? $1000? :bash:
Its actually just shy of $1000, but thats for a deer and elk combo. Really not much different than Idaho for the non-resident buying both a deer and elk tag.
Where they stick you though, is if you just want to hunt one or the other, and not both. An elk combo is just shy of $900, a whole lot more than the $575 that ID or WY charge you for elk only. I'm seriously looking at WY for archery elk instead of MT (don't have the time to dedicate to both elk and deer), but the extra fuel costs might make it a moot point.
Post by: engelwood on January 26, 2012, 01:56:08 PM
It's looking like I won't ever hunt deer (or elk) in Montana again, unless I move there and become a resident. No way am I paying $600 for a deer. And how much is it for an elk tag? $1000? :bash:
Its actually just shy of $1000, but thats for a deer and elk combo. Really not much different than Idaho for the non-resident buying both a deer and elk tag.
Where they stick you though, is if you just want to hunt one or the other, and not both. An elk combo is just shy of $900, a whole lot more than the $575 that ID or WY charge you for elk only. I'm seriously looking at WY for archery elk instead of MT (don't have the time to dedicate to both elk and deer), but the extra fuel costs might make it a moot point.
WY has to be the worst state for giving archery hunters an advantage. Just my :twocents: but you really don't benefit from the type 9 tag, if that's what you are referring to.
Post by: Fishmasterdan on January 27, 2012, 06:42:33 PM
Post by: Rufenit on February 02, 2012, 07:53:11 PM
Post by: carp slayer on February 06, 2012, 05:33:43 PM