Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: huntnnw on February 19, 2012, 11:59:13 PM
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I am applying for the 202 unit in MT for the first time...looks to be a 80-90% draw... I was wondering what your experiences were like.. I have driven thru the unit a few times into ID for elk but never hunted the MT side. I know its big country, high and steep, but thats the reason I am applying I love high country Mulies and I think hunting these type of areas gives a hunter a chance of seeing a once in a lifetime buck due to terrain and cover. U can PM me too
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Ive never hunted it and dont know many that hunt the western part of MT looking for a big muley. That being said Im sure theres some nice bucks in there, an area thats steep and has a limited road system will always have nice animals and hardly any human traffic. If I were doing a back pack hunt here though, I would focus on the island mnt ranges in the central part of the state :twocents:
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Western MT is where alot of huge mulies are taken..not many per hunter as not many concentrate on it..most want to see a ton of deer or dont want to get out and hunt roadless terrain.
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You planning on bowhunting it, or rifle? You'll more than likely find your solitude!
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I would agree with JLS. Also, I feel that any dedicated, well educated, passionate hunter that puts in his time, will do just fine. :twocents:
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Western MT is where alot of huge mulies are taken..not many per hunter as not many concentrate on it..most want to see a ton of deer or dont want to get out and hunt roadless terrain.
I was just implying there are better places to find a nice buck on back pack type hunt in MT in my experience, and ive hunted through out the state. Good luck im sure ull do fine.
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The reason I asked about archery or firearm is this. If you want to hunt the high subalpine basins, you'll probably want to bowhunt. I think by the time modern firearm season opens in late October, the deer will be in transition. I would expect that you'll be finding the big boys at mid level or lower by late November, of course depending on weather conditions.
Later in the season you may not be doing much of a true backpack hunt, if that is an important piece of the puzzle.
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The reason I asked about archery or firearm is this. If you want to hunt the high subalpine basins, you'll probably want to bowhunt. I think by the time modern firearm season opens in late October, the deer will be in transition. I would expect that you'll be finding the big boys at mid level or lower by late November, of course depending on weather conditions.
Later in the season you may not be doing much of a true backpack hunt, if that is an important piece of the puzzle.
Good point. Last season was a strange one though. I was back packing into my high country honey honey into the 2nd week of november before there was too much snow. I wouldnt plan on that though.
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Rifle....yeah that is a issue I will deal with come that time I guess. I know last year I could get into the high country thru mid November. I am planning on a early Nov hunt and hope it hasnt dumped yet. I have located the winter corridors and winter ranges that these deer head down to so I will scout them this summer and get familiar with the terrain and where I think I can get into with certain snow conditions on certain roads. Archery hunt in Sept is a possibility if I put a ID bull down then I will head over. I have a buddy who hunted one of the units around Halloween and was seeing several bucks in the high country there last year
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I am putting in for an Idaho bull hunt this season and I have hunted mule deer in MT 202 before. It has been some years, but it was good when I was there. Good luck and what unit(s) are you going for elk in ID?
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18 and then if we dont draw I hunt unit 5
