If there is abundant fresh sign of grizzly bears in the area, consider hunting elsewhere. Last winter was fairly mild, which means good winter survival for big game in many areas. Currently hunting black bears with hounds is not legal in Region 1. There have been many hunters, with amazing shooting abilities, that have put 2 or 3 bullets into the vital organs before their bull fell. Mule deer in some mountain ranges experienced significant declines in the last 10 to 15 years, and although mule deer populations in prairie habitats are faring a bit better, drought conditions have hindered populations in some of the eastern areas of Region 4. If a hunter harvests one of these collared does, they are asked to please return the collar to FWP. This has negatively impacted vegetation throughout the season and has likely led to a decrease in nest and brood success of all species. Finally, start planning out your Montana elk hunt. FWP biologists use this age information, along with the sex of the bear, to manage bear populations in Montana. Hunters can expect deer distribution to be somewhat patchy because of the drought this year, and they will be concentrated in areas with good forage and cover. Hunters should read the regulations and become thoroughly familiar with these new boundaries and the regulations and license opportunities for them. In most cases, elk populations throughout the Little Belt, Castle and eastern Big Belt Mountains area are at the high end of the range observed in recent times. Was there last year for rifle with a friend but he got one on private ground. The regulation in HD 340 has changed from either-sex mule deer to buck mule deer only on the general license and a limited number of B licenses. Outside of these areas, elk numbers are generally low, but numbers have been increasing at a moderate rate, accompanied by a gradual expansion into previously unoccupied habitat. Keep these precautions in mind when hunting in grizzly country: For more tips on staying safe in bear country, visitFWPs Bear Aware web page. Sun River elk remain near long-term average for the population with bull to cow numbers slightly above long-term average. The archery season dates will allow you to hunt all phases of the rut, while most general rifle hunters wait for weather to push the elk down into lower, more accessible country. Also during rifle season this area gets pounded by deer hunters in the rut. Antlerless whitetail B licenses will again be available for over-the-counter purchase, with a limit of four per hunter. A 15-percent increase in sage-grouse population trends were observed in the Sheridan area this spring. White-tailed deerdensities saw a decline following another significant epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) that occurred mainly on the eastern portion of the region in the Culbertson area along the Missouri River. Calf recruitment here was observed to be a little lower than average, likely due to effects of drought, but populations are still above objective going into this hunting season. Multiple years of drought have taken a toll on bird numbers. Due to the high harvest, we may see a lower bull to cow ratio during the 2023 season in the general areas. Cow on Tuesday, 422 yards Bull scored 374 6/8. This ranch offers premium Montana private land elk hunts, as the animals have access to food and water, but can retreat to the mountains in a matter of minutes if theyre so inclined. Let other hunters know when bears and/or fresh sign are observed. It is every hunter's responsibility to know the land ownership of the area they are hunting, the hunting regulations, and any restrictions that may apply. With a general elk tag, youre limited to hunting antlerless only. Create a free account to read the rest of this terrain note! Anticipate poor sage-grouse hunting. Moderate numbers of pronghorn licenses were distributed through the drawing system, and those who have drawn licenses should have a good opportunity to harvest a pronghorn. Search our database forMontana Elk opportunities. A unit may have 80% public land, but a particluar species may only occupy 20% on the entire area. The 2022 survey showed white-tailed deer density averages of 7.3 deer-per-square mile across the deer trend areas, which is 31 percent below the long-term average of 10.6 deer-per-square mile. An example is that if you draw unit 410-21, which is an archery-only elk permit, you can only hunt archery elk in unit 410. Advertise on HuntScore and reach hunters interested in this hunting unit! 700 N Larrabee St Unit 1702 has 3 shopping centers within 1.2 miles, which is about a 3-minute drive. Grasses and forbs have grown high, which provide good cover and abundant insect forage for broods to eat. Use temperature ranges to plan and prepare for your hunt. Not all weather elements are available within the unit. Regulations vary between hunting units and sometimes within the same unit. While the buck:doe ratio is below average, the overall number of bucks observed is 10 percent above the 10-year average. Compare that to nearly 2,000 and 1,560 mule deer harvested in those districts, respectively. After that date, the application period is over and youre stuck with a general tag. Just remember that there are always exceptions to the rule, and land ownership is just one piece of the puzzle. Let me know your thoughts, and any info! Good luck. Additionally, adding a specific forum name to any of these searches can produce even more results (e.g., "Montana elk unit 317 Rokslide" or "Archery elk Montana unit 317 Hunt Talk"). Check the regulations to find out which licenses are valid for these hunts and where they occur. Brood success will be low in areas hardest hit by the drought and improve eastward. However, elk congregating on private lands will remain a challenge for management. The Missouri Breaks (HD 700) and Custer Forest Elk Management Unit (HDs 702, 704, 705) remain the two "core" elk populations in southeast Montana. See all stats but the last 2 years with a free account! Toggle navigation. Drawing Statistics. . The Missouri River Breaks (MRB) encompasses 17,239 square miles of Fergus, Petroleum, Garfield, Phillips and Valley counties in northeastern Montana. Are you an outfitter, hunting guide, game processor or local hotel? Fawn recruitment appears to be very low in HDs 300 and 301, which is likely related to last years drought. Northwest Montana has abundantwolfnumbers and recent population estimates indicate a relatively stable wolf population. This often-overlooked hunting area keeps the crowds to a minimum, but the elk herds are dazzlingly high in numbers. The Missouri Breaks (HD 700) and Custer Forest Elk Management Unit (HDs 702, 704, 705) remain the two coreelkpopulations in southeast Montana. Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Montana Unit 700: Forums Member List Calendar Active Threads: Previous Thread: Next Thread : Print Thread: Hop To : Page 1 of 2 : 1: 2: Montana Unit 700 #16383241 08/28/21. But even if you didnt draw a special permit this year, Region 7 offers opportunities to hunt elk with a general license. With room to spread out, it's important to know how the elk tend to migrate around through the area. So the Boys are all packed out, with all the meat Frozen, packaged, and Shipped overnight, on Dry Ice. Got Terribly busy and missed some time on here! Due to a cool spring, huckleberry crops are patchy and late to ripen. Additionally, EHD impacted whitetails along the Powder River. Double check theregulationsto be sure. Units 261 and 270 have plenty of public land and are quality units. Check the regulations to see what license opportunities are valid north or south of Rock Creek. Only valid on private lands. There are many areas within the region that experienced severe thunderstorms with torrential rains, hail and high winds. Because its a big state, and there is a lot to see here. The east side of the range is home large herds of elk that contain a significant number of really big bulls. Biologists will set quotas on an annual basis; the licenses will first be available through the drawing process (deadline: June 1 each year). Location Colorado Looking for general information on Mt unit 700 archery (798-21), Would like to exchange a few PM's or talk to someone who has hunted the area and/or knows the area well and wouldn't mind sharing some thoughts about access, camping, hunt strategies etc. It resembles the badlands. Expect poorer than average pheasant hunting. Also, I was curious if there is a . In general, large patches of grass and CRP and draws or fields with shrubby cover near farmland are good areas to start looking for gray partridge and other upland birds on the prairie. 909 W Montana St Unit 406 has 5 parks within 1.2 miles, including Oz Park, Notebaert Nature Museum, and Wrightwood Park. Other units may have a Type 1 and Type 2 license where the difference is that they are valid for different portions of the area. # Successful. Good luck in the draw! This regulation applies only to Region 1. Now, it is knowing where to go; which units are the prime for hunting elk? Montana tracks antler points of deer. Forums. That was likely the result of increased hunter harvest last fall. 7 HDS. This year is gonna be even tougher is sounds like because of the lack of vegetation and water due to the drought. Near Great Falls, biologist Jake Doggett says that elk are doing well in the Highwood Mountains and Devils Kitchen hunting districts, where numbers remain well above long-term averages. sbschindler 07-Nov-15. Elk numbers in HD 380 may be down a little in some localized areas, but overall numbers continue to be within objective. Travel and hunt in groups whenever possible. Just received my Montana elk tags in the mail. Tipsy Tuesday: Elk Film, Gear, News, & More. Most elk hunting opportunities are allocated through limited permit or B License drawing in the region, except for HD 690, where general licenses are valid for antlerless elk during the general season. Theres a lot of cut up private/public boundaries in the unit, but your access to the private through the outfitter will increase your odds. Have you ever hunted near that area before? HDs 301, 309, 312 and 360 are above objective. FWP biologists have seen slight growth in the population over the past year, but theyve also seen very low fawn production this summer due to extreme drought conditions over the past two years. This kind of weather can have very adverse effects onnesting hens and young broods. Hunters should be aware of a HD boundary change affecting HDs 310 and 360 in the Big Sky area. As is often the case, hunters have both good news and bad news when it comes to the big game hunting outlook for 2022 in FWPs Region 4, north central Montana. Bird populations in this area of the region are expected to be slightly below average. For more information on deer, elk and pronghorn numbers and hunting opportunities in western Montana, check out past editions of the FWP Region 2 Wildlife Quarterly, available online atfwp.mt.gov/r2-wildlife-quarterlies. HELENA Are you ready for hunting season? Elevation ranges are based on weather stations in or near the unit. Pronghorn numbers are down across most districts in the Livingston area, and license allocations were reduced across HDs 338, 339 and 317. Grouse hunters headed to Region 6 will likely encountersharptailpopulations similar to the fall of 2021. I have hunted the. There are plenty of opportunities to hunt elk in Montana for a hunter who is willing to put in the work. If the animal is transported for taxidermy or meat processing, the brain and spinal tissue must be bagged and disposed of in a Class II landfill. Game damage and management deer B licenses do not count toward this total. If you plan on hunting in higher elevation, as a rule of thumb, expect the tempture to decrease roughly 5 for every 1000' in elevation gain. Best bet is to make at least one scouting trip and get some boots one the ground looking for sign. Taking weather and habitat conditions into consideration, overall hunting success for upland birds is predicted to be below average, although still very dependent on hunter effort. For most hunting districts in this region,elknumbers remain at or near all-time highs. Elk Potential 2022 MT Elk Hunt - Unit 700 Eyeman_1 Dec 21, 2021 Dec 21, 2021 #1 Eyeman_1 FNG Joined Jan 21, 2021 Messages 8 If I am successful in drawing a bull tag for Unit 700 in MT next spring, I have an outfitter lined up whom I've spoken to numerous times and have friends referred me to. HD 319 is now a limited draw permit for mule deer bucks, along with a limited number of B licenses; therefore, hunterscannothunt mule deer in HD 319 unless they have either this permit or a B license specific to HD 319. Research the latest Montana Elk Hunting Draw Odds and Harvest Data for Unit 705. We hunt from our campsite which is . A grasshopper outbreak has infested much of the region for the second year in a row. Its expected that hunters will observe fewer mule deer than they have over the past two years, but harvest opportunities will continue this season. Few either-sexantelope(pronghorn) licenses are allocated in the Helena area. You may get lucky cruising up timber creek, Ive seen a huge heard of elk the last few years hunting there. 2/3 of the bulls harvested were 6-point bulls or larger. The proportion of pronghorn that have reestablished their use of this district is uncertain. Consult with Hunters Who Have Hunted in Your Unit, Join Now! Create a free account to read the rest of this terrain note! As snow covers the ground up high, the elk migrate lower to ensure they still have ample feed to continue packing on the pounds for what can end up being a long Montana winter. Replies 21 Views 7K. There are only a fewpronghornhunting opportunities in western Montana. Hunters interested in pursuing mountain lions are encouraged to review the 2022 hunting regulations. . Hunting unit 411 captures the northern part of these mountains and the surrounding foothills. Spring crowing surveys that measure the roosterpheasantpopulations in the eastern third of the region showed populations around average or slightly above average, with populations in the western third of the region well below average. May 11, 2021. Elk distribution will likely change from now through the archery season and again during general rifle season due to changes in vegetation, snow levels and hunting pressure. I have never archery hunted there before. The Missouri Breaks (HD 700) and Custer Forest Elk Management Unit (HDs 702, 704, 705) remain the two "core" elk populations in southeast Montana. Walk walk walk. When choosing a place to hunt, hunters should first consider their target species. Much of Northwest Montana experienced its third consecutive mild winter last year, benefitingwhite-tailed deer. Go on More Hunts with Better Information, Join Huntin' Fool Today! Finding a buck here may take extra effort, and pronghorn will likely be widely distributed with more forage available this year. Location. I'll be up there the back end of Sept. and into October. Hunters need to be aware of some regulation changes passed by the Fish and Wildlife Commission this winter. Many of them also allow you to harvest a cow; it just depends on what your end goal is with your Montana adventure: meat, trophy, or both. Similar to mule deer, whitetail fawn recruitment this spring was below average at 44 fawns per 100 adults. You are using an out of date browser. I thought I would add,if you hunt from the water be prepared to be stranded by waves. The good news for hunters is that each good year for deer production and survival equals a solid year-class recruited into the population, so Region 7 currently has a good dispersion of age classes with a mix of young, middle-age and older animals. Finally ended up taking a decent bull way back in on the north east side of the forest. A number of hunters missed this change in 2022 and got in trouble. Create a free account to read the rest of this elk hunting note! 90% of the elk will be down on the river bottoms and on the private hayfields most likely. Across much of the Golden Triangle,mule deerpopulations remain above average overall with some increases in antlerless licenses. Look up how the terrain, the climate, and the land vary around the state. While elk numbers in HD 392 have increased, they are still below objective. Buck-to-doe ratios were better compared to last year, but fawn numbers remain below average across the area. Contributors to this thread: Titan_Bow 07-Nov-15. When youre looking for a Montana elk hunting lease, and youre more concerned with filling the freezer with some of the best wild game meat you have ever tasted, then opting for a hunting unit that allows you to harvest any animal you happen to see is where its at. As a non-resident, however, your odds (without buying extra points) of drawing a tag land you right around 70%. The area is coming out of a tough drought and has received moisture this year. The landowner draw takes place before the regular draw. JavaScript is disabled. Despite the lack of towering peaks, the rugged terrain can be just as impressive and contain enormous herds of elk. Full on rain gear isn't really necessary, if it's raining that hard you won't be getting around in the gumbo anyways. Blue and spruce grouse tend to occupy areas with a combination of old and new growth conifers with low-lying berries in the higher elevations. Powered by UBB.threads PHP Forum Software 7.7.5. Create a free account to read the rest of this elk hunting note! Despite good numbers, wolves can be difficult to find, dont always move as a pack and often move long distances. Phone: (435) 865-1020. The eastern portions of the region all received better precipitation this year and habitat conditions steadily improved from early May through July. Sharptailnumbers are likely to be similar to last year. Drought in 2021 led to EHD outbreaks in many parts of the region. The Canoe Gulch check station near Libby is no longer in operation and has been replaced by the Libby CWD sampling station located on the south end of Libby (mile marker 35 on Hwy 2). He actually died there on his last hunt. Other areas allow you to shoot either sex, while others allow everything except spikes and forks. Given the population trends and good vegetative production and cover, theres a good chance the nest success of upland birds will be good this year, especially compared to the previous three or four years. Elk population trend counts (Figure 1) indicate that elk numbers are within elk plan objectives, with the exception of HD 328, where the objective for elk counted is 700 elk and we observed 919 elk in 2003. . tire chains and new mud tires are a must when they get .25 in rain, or the snow melts any you will not like the roads at all..there are very little rocks on the roads up there..lots of public get onx maps, some of the landowners are not very nice to non paying hunters and some dont like hunters at all, so be sure of where you are, and hold your ground if you know you are in the right. Even if youre not after that trophy bull, youre likely to find a legal elk since this area allows you to harvest brow-tined bulls or antlerless with your general tag. LPT. I saw around 60 fawns per 100 does during my pronghorn survey flights this summer, which is good fawn production, he said. Overall pronghorn numbers both north and south of the Little Belts (HDs 430 and 490) continue to recover from declines we saw following the harsh winters a few years ago.. The regulation for this district has been liberalized to allow either-sex mule deer harvest on the general deer license. When you know where youre going, now look into whether or not you will need a special permit, or if that general tag meets all of your needs. Core sage-grouse habitat primarily exists south of Highway 2 and is composed of mixed grass and Wyoming big sagebrush rangeland. where the objective for elk counted is 700 elk and we observed 919 elk in 2003. Hunters are encouraged to read the regulations closely as there are multiple changes this year including some hunting district boundary changes in HDs 201/202/240/285 and elimination of HDs 203 and 283. This year will be very similar to 2018. Messages. located 2.9 miles from 5114 W Montana St Unit G. 5114 W Montana St Unit G is near Chicago Midway International, located 10.5 miles or 19 minutes away, and Chicago O'Hare International, located 11.5 miles or 19 minutes away. I have to start over again researching a elk unit as lost out on getting a tag for Idaho when they changed the limits on elk units this year. Everything about tire chains and 4X4 is right. Residents of Montana can purchase general tags at any time, even after the season has started. In most of the northern portion of Region 5, spring surveys and 2021 harvest data indicate below-average numbers of white-tailed deer. This ranch offers premium Montana private land elk hunts, as the animals have access to food and water, but can retreat to the mountains in a matter of minutes if they're so inclined. Antlerless elk may be harvested on private land with a general license. 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