Eastern Montana Mule Deer Hunt

[cjc23]

Buddy and I drew Montana this year and this will be our first hunt out of state. On top of that this will also be our first hunt out of a wall tent as I just picked up a new Davis tent this past spring. My question is for those of you that have hunted eastern Montana out of a wall tent, did you bring wood for the stove with you or were there some areas to go scavenge some? We were originally planning on hunting unit 670 but starting to rethink it as we get closer to our hunt and colder weather.

[Edminsterquality]

Kerosene heater is best. No wood around those parts

[raydog]

We brought wood with us last year. Wasn't much for any trees where we were

[Karl Blanchard]

Just fyi for everyone,  it's illegal to transport firewood into MT from a different state.

[fishngamereaper]

Pressed energy logs is what we prefer in our tent stove...chunk em up into wafers. Clean long burn.

[kramman]

Mr. Buddy portable heater, the bigger 1 and an adaptor so you can hook to a larger lp  tank. If you have a gas bbq just fill and grab that 1. We used a wall tent for yrs. If it's cold, I mean real cold you won't be sitting in you r fruit of the looms but it will take the chill off.

It's easier to start, transport and set up and don't have to worry when u leave. We did a wood stove for 1 yr then decided this was the easier rte.

Good luck with your hunt, and watch out for that montana mud. It'll get everywhere!

[BKMFR]

Just fyi for everyone,  it's illegal to transport firewood into MT from a different state.

Don't think I'm losing sleep over this one.... Look out wood patrol..... sorry just tired of the nonsense!

[MADMAX]

Get a motel
Easy peasy

[Karl Blanchard]

Just fyi for everyone,  it's illegal to transport firewood into MT from a different state.

Don't think I'm losing sleep over this one.... Look out wood patrol..... sorry just tired of the nonsense!

you do you. Just letting folks know they can and will ticket you

[HillHound]

This will be my 10th year, and first time going solo. Most rooms book up fast, but there are constant cancellations of guys leaving early so one that tells you it’s full one day may be open the next If weather turns on you. We have yet to stay in a tent, but we see people doing it every year. I love the idea because it is such a long drive every day in and out of town. There have been a few years. It would’ve been great and a few years it would’ve been downright miserable. Definitely look into buying wood somewhere because there will be none to collect, and I would still bring a buddy heater or maybe even a small generator and electric heater. Me and my friend are taking a tent to Idaho next week with a little stove that will only hold a fire for two hours at a time. Going to bring the Buddy heater as well as the Honda generator and forced air ceramic heater that way we have options. We thought about bringing the motorhome or camp trailer, but we don’t want to for the same reason we have never brought it to Montana. I don’t want bad weather to push us out or get us stuck where we are if we don’t get out. Good luck! When are you going?

[raydog]

Just fyi for everyone,  it's illegal to transport firewood into MT from a different state.

Thanks Karl, I wasn't aware. I'm really surprised the game warden that stopped in camp didn't write a ticket for that. Let's just say I don't think he like us Wa guys 

[timberhunter]

I’ve Taken a Cabela’s Alaskan guide tent over there a few times. I run an electric heater off of a 2000 W generator that is hooked up to a 5 gallon can. I always take the big buddy heater for a back up and needed to run it also the last year I went, but it was extremely cold. This year I’m taking a 10 by 12 Canvas Tent with the same set up. I’m taking an extra tarp to divide off the end of the tent we are sleeping in if the electric heater isn’t quite enough at night.

[Dansk]

In November 600s can be single digits and snow drifts... and can get super windy if the Chinook blows from the north.  We have hunted in 10-15 degrees in 12+" of snow from a motel in ag land multiple times in the past 15 years- cannot imagine that even car-camping on BLM in a wall tent, but to each his own. There's little to no protection on the prairie, unless you hunt more towards the breaks where there are some trees. Also,  the gumbo factor (muddy roads) may limit you if your camp site is off a dirt road on BLM and it rains.

Motels are super cheap over there, and many mom/pops places are 50s era but clean and comfy, some have kitchenettes.  Air bnb / VRBOs can be had for minimal $.  I mean you are spending a whack of cash on your tags and gas alone... another couple hundred for a hot shower, warm bed, etc, is small compared to the total cost of that hunt.  (not to mention the extra gear you can leave at home)

Either way you go, prepare for all conditions... bring CHAINS, your cold(est) weather clothes, toe/hand warmers, etc.

[300rum]

Been over there many times and slept in various places from tent to cowboy summer line cabin to hotel.  It's been 50 plus degrees and it has been 24 below zero in mid November.  No snow, and a couple of blizzards were you just don't go out at all.  The cold isn't what's bad out there, its the wind.  You are going to hate your life decision if you are in the prairie sub zero with that wind coming out of the north.  You might stay warm but the wind will beat that tent and you won't be able to sleep anyway.

What someone said about the hotels is true, I went back with no reservations and was able to get a room every night, I just had to call in every morning to check if they had a cancelation.  Guys get bucks and head out early.  I had to change rooms almost everynight, that was a pain, but it is better than being outside.  Also, the hotels typically have plugins outside for your truck's block heater, a necessity if you have a diesel.

Don't worry about the gumbo unless its unusually warm and wet.  As long as it freezes up at night, you just need to wait it out for the road to firm up.  The guys who get into trouble are the road hunters who are driving roads they shouldn't be in the afternoon.

You'll find out pretty quick why the pioneers burned buffalo chips, it wasn't for the extra flavor.           

[mburrows]

Looking for wood in some of the 600's is going to be a chore. 670 depending where you are in the unit can be near impossible to find a good spot to camp with wind break and enough wood for a wall tent stove.

The gumbo can make life miserable always err on the side of caution. When the wind blows, it freaking blows and can make turning up critters very challenging.

I love that country up there but make sure you are prepared to handle anything on your own. Service and help are limited up there. Take shovels, chains and tow straps.

That being said, a lot of guys hunt it so don't let the challenges of the country scare ya. Just be prepared.