best mule deer units in montana

Arizona Game and Fish mentions that Edwards Park, just south of Mt. Rifle deer hunts are conducted throughout the two week controlled season. 14,019 Views. I have applied for this tag almost every year for the 25 years I was a resident and a couple years as a nonresident. Southeast Montana Rifle Mule Deer. In Montana, 15% of all permits for elk and deer can go to landowners. Nebraska. I think if they cut the quota for nonresidents, maybe theres somebody out there who can put together a class action law suit to get are money back. Cross your fingers for big bucks and good opportunities for the future. Montana made a lot of changes to the deer regulations, with goal being to simplify them. The Interstate Commerce Clause, The Fairness Doctrine in the Constitution and other legal concepts can all be looked at again and Court Rulings Reversed. If you have max points (16) you have a 2% chance at drawing. Over the last 25+ years, this trip has proven to be a favorite for WTA clients. Arizona, Coconino County128 pronghorn in B&C records 12. The answer is landowners. Too many things in our world are going the wrong way. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. He had two suggestions for hunters who approach drawing an elk tag in different ways in the state. In the end we are all in this together, I do not think it is unreasonable for Nonresidents to be afforded 20% of all the hunting licenses in Wyoming.. Here is the pair we use. Maps for Montana Deer, Elk, and Mountain Lion Hunting Districts Select a hunting unit from the dropdown menu or click a unit on the map below. This is also a decent application choice for a lower point holder, as the 400-tag quota does put enough tags into the random portion of the draw to be worth a shot at about 5%. Public land is not a problem here. We cover Units 240, 250, 261, 262, and 270 for Mule Deer Draw Tag Hunters! Hobo Hilton. Archers typically find the best success in the cool hours around daylight and sunset. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit"; (Clickable areas may appear inaccurately on mobile devices) Show Maps Return to Montana Maps Download BLM Map Index Download Forest Service Map Index Man with all yhe points I have for deer and elk I may be screwed. Due to the fact that we are not providing lodging or meals, this is a lower budget hunt, but NOT a lower budget hunting experience! I fully expect 10 preference points to be a requirement to hunt here with 100% surety. Wyoming likely is the first state that comes to mind when hunters think of pronghorn hunting. Eastmans Publishing, Inc. is a holding company engaged in publishing. Lydia Decaria, license sales representative with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, said Pronghorn Area 73, north of Casper, is very popular with hunters because it has huge tracts of Bureau of Land Management property. A couple of these units will close the mule deer season early on November 13th. Mule deer hunters should plan to go high in the mountains for the best opportunity at bigger bucks. From southwest deserts to coastal forests, mule deer hunting presents a variety of challenges. Anyone have input on Idaho unit 59a for mule deer? On the south side of the reservoir, whitetails are found along the Musselshell River as it meanders toward the Missouri. Max points will be required for a chance at this hunt and nearly every hunter (89%) on this hunt walks away with a buck by the end of the season. The bad news is it can take decades to draw a coveted tag in some of the premium units. It can take six or more points to draw a tag for the rifle season, but the area offers abundant public land, including BLM, state wildlife areas, and National Forest Service property. Its a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This is also a decent application choice for a lower point holder, as the 400-tag quota does put enough tags into the random portion of the draw to be worth a shot at about 5%. . For example, fewer animals are found in the region around Fork Peck Dam as opposed to areas at the western end of the reservoir. DESIGNED BY. The northeastern portion of the state has the highest number of pronghorn and provides an opportunity to see a large number of animals during the hunt, while still providing an opportunity at a trophy buck. In 2019 there were 7,654 resident applicants for about 35 tags. Its name is derived from having large ears that resemble that of a mule's. Alcazar recommended units 7 and 8 in the north-central part of the state, near the Wyoming border, for hunters looking for areas with lots of public land and good potential for trophies. Both the mule and whitetail deer breeding seasons occur during this time as well, giving hunters higher odds of spotting a trophy buck. Petersen's HUNTING Publisher, Kevin Steele is in the CZ booth with Dylan Rice at SHOT Show to talk about CZ 600 Series Trail rifle. Region G, The first to die off and probably the first to rebound, or at least we hope. Ord, holds a fair number of mule deer and receives little pressure because of . Publisher Kevin Steele is in the Beretta booth with Logan Killam, the Shotgun Product Manager, to discuss the all new Beretta A300 Ultima Turkey. In Montana, unit 270 is considered one of the top trophy mule deer units in the state. One of the region's prime whitetail grounds is the Milk River drainage, a tributary to the Missouri River. This hunt area is the other limited quota hunt unit inside the general Region G area. Mule deer and white-tailed deer are the most widely distributed and abundant big game mammals in Montana. Then you have the nonresident landowners who get thrown into the nonresident pool but get guaranteed preference of at least 15% of the tags over the rest of the nonresidents. The largest antelope the author has seen taken by a hunter was downed a couple miles north of Fort Peck Reservoir. Reading the bill I took it that way unless I misunderstood it. This hunt is one of only two limited quota hunts inside the Region G zone where 15 lucky applicants will hunt for big rut staged high country deer during the final two weeks of the month of October. By Bethany Grace September 17, 2022 Updated on February 14, 2023. By doing so, they have combined a number of units. Large chunks of the private land in Area 7 are enrolled in Wyomings Access Yes program, which opens private land to public hunting, with some restrictions in certain areas. The downside of hunting the rut is that most of the mature bucks are harvested every season while they are more vulnerable as they are out chasing does. Following in the footsteps of his father, Guy has taken up the reins and is now at the helm of the Eastmans Hunting Journal and the Eastmans Bowhunting Journal. There is a lot of private land, but there is plenty of Block Management and public land for anyone to have a good hunt. Holders may not hunt Antlered Buck Mule Deer in any other HD. With that said, I hope these choices help you out and this year is what it is. With a mild winter and wet spring, I really think there could be some gems in these hills for those who hunt hard this fall. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Although they evolved to live and thrive in broadly different environments, the two species are remarkably adaptive. 16 years worth of buying points all for 1.5% better odds than someone with zero points. As mentioned previously, New Mexico is home to world-class pronghorn hunting. We have personally guided hunters to some of the largest bucks killed in the unit each year. The eastern side of the state provides good mule deer hunting. Best States to Hunt Mule Deer June 9, 2022 onX Indigenous to western North America, mule deer are found west of the 100th meridian from 23 degrees to 60 degrees N. Much larger than whitetail deer, a buck mule deer can weigh between 130 and 280 pounds. And it has been increasing every year. We also develop and sell products such as apparel, hats and artwork. This is a very solid hunt in my opinion for the meager three or four point spend. Statewide, mule deer populations in Montana during there 2018 season were hovering around 334,965, which is down 13.23% from a peak in 2017, but still vastly higher than the low in 2012 of 211,361. , I (Montana resident), drew this tag this year and was wondering how the hunt went for you. The more popular areas for whitetail are along the river systems and large agricultural areas throughout the eastern part of the state. Both state and federally managed public lands sprawl across thousands upon thousands of acres of prime habitat. Montanas general deer tags provide a great opportunity to harvest a mule deer or whitetail and provide plenty of time to get it done over generous season dates. A fine hunter in his own right, Guy has taken several trophy animals and has become an expert in trophy hunting as well. Adamc55; Dec 2, 2022; Sniper's Hide Fieldcraft ; Replies 10 Views 236. This is done by a scorecard placed in a dropbox on the location of each BMA. Desert Ghosts: Hunting the Elusive Coues Deer, Predator Hunting with .17 Caliber Rifle: Pros and Cons, The Only Three Guns You Need to Go Hunting, Venison Backstrap with Sweet & Spicy Peach Relish Recipe, Tested Tough - Modern Zeiss Sports Optics. This is an action packed hunt during the rut. Thx Guy, The rugged "breaks" along the Missouri contain dense stands of ponderosa pines and junipers. Sand Hill country GMUs 31, 32, and 33 in the southeast corner of the state also are capable of producing B&C bucks. Home Guided Hunts Retreats Book Hunting Trip Successful Hunts About R&K Hunting Company Inc. 80 W. 100 S. P.O. Also, having a SOLID pair of binoculars is very important for finding mule deer. Hopefully, some of what I have learned can help you if your itch to hunt out of state gets to the point where you need to try it. *Illustration by Robert Neaves courtesy of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Characteristics of a mule deer CAUTION! For many hunters, even those who dont live in the region, western big-game hunting is a passion that consumes them year-round. An emerging opportunity for hunters in Region 2 is to hunt mule deer on private lands, where numbers generally are growing. Registration for each BMA is different. As for general-season units, Jones suggested hunters take a look at Pine Valley in the southwest corner of the state, the four Oquirrh/Stansbury units west of Salt Lake City, and Zion on the southern border. Edward Wright: This was 20 years ago when coyotes in my home state hit epidemic proportions. Some of our hunting areas include vast open ridges with . Ornoski said elk hunters with patience should consider looking at Arizona units 1, 3A/3C, 9, 10, 23N, and 27, which typically are extremely hard to draw. Using the OnX off-grid mode I was able to mount my I-pad on my dash and keep my GPS location up to speed in real-time. Guy Eastman, Editor-In-Chief Fair Chase, Prime Big Trophy Hunts since 2006. Professional outfitters' and guides' services are also available throughout the region, providing expert services to out-of-state hunters. 2022 MONTANA RIVERS AND RIDGES OUTFITTER LLC. Our Eastern Montana mule deer hunts are on exclusive and private Montana ranch land and hunting properties. Dont wait for build it, they will come ! Table Mountain Outfitters provides many private leases, which allow you the best opportunity to harvest a trophy animal without the pressure from other deer hunters. Snow cover is more likely at this time, making deer more visible. This is a very limited, late season hunt with hunt dates during most of the month of November. Kevin Steele from Petersen's HUNTING speaks to Jordan Egli of Burris Optics about the all-new Veracity PH Riflescope. Go on more hunts with better information! amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; The best thing about Montana Whitetails is that Keith and Bob are bowhunters and understand the quarry and the strategy to harvest big bucks. Thank you, Jason. Please call us to match you up with the best hunt to fit your specific needs and budget! They further broke that number down into each region as follows: region 1 with 6,055; region 2 with 9,551; region 3 with 43,025; region 4 with 58,082; region 5 with 32,103; region 6 with 67,994; and region 7 with 77,140. Some areas are easily accessed by roads, while others offer a wilderness experience for those willing to hike a distance from their vehicle. The Courts can and do go back and modify rulings from the bench when situations change. The answer is us pushing for more QDM out West, period! Your honest assessment is greatly appreciated. A lot of large bucks stay nocturnal during the general rifle season, making them very hard to find. This hunt should take 12 to 14 points to draw this year. Hunt mule deer with Ike and Guy Eastman during an October snowstorm. We decided to apply for deer only as we had done a combo tag 2 years prior on a bow hunt. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; Get unlimited access to over ten years of historical drawing and harvest data for over 1,700+ hunt units. These are high country bucks that migrate to lower country to rut low country does which can make for a great hunt if you hunt hard and give yourself plenty of time to cover lots and lots of country. For example, in 2019 there were over 1400 applicants with zero points, and one person drew. This is with roughly 1000 nonresident applicants every year. The rifle season dates allow hunters to hunt the rut. This hunt is very accessible and roaded with lots of open hillsides and meadows to glass up bucks feeding on the edges. You can easily spot them around in any season. Kevin Steele of Petersen's HUNTING is at the Streamlight booth at SHOT Show 2023 to go over the Bear Trap light from Streamlight. READY TO GO ON YOUR EASTERN MONTANA MULE DEER HUNT? Learn how your comment data is processed. If I could recommend one vital piece of gear that greatly helped us out on our hunt it would be the use of OnX Hunt! We publish book and magazines, along with producing videos, DVDs, and TV programs. This year we would have limited time and left the idea of the Elk/Combo out of the equation. With such a variety in habitat and easy access to abundant public land, a mule deer hunt can be as challenging as you want to make it. More than 295 ranches are enrolled in the Block Management Program here, which provides licensed sportsmen with free access to about 1.3 million acres of mule and whitetail deer, antelope, and elk habitat. There is some public land along the Milk River with deer hunting also available on Block Management Areas, a Montana program that facilitates public access to private land. Add to that the possibility of an additional 50% of what is left going into an outfitter only draw and nonresident point holders in Wyoming are extremely nervous to continue with Wyomings draw system much further into the future. 406-342-5475 tlp@rangeweb.net . . There were 96 people with max points and four applicants drew. John Vore, game-management bureau chief for the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks department, reported some hunters tag huge mule deer bucks using boats to access the Missouri River Breaks area where the river separates regions 4 and 7 in the state. This hunt must be done with a group of three hunters. Our Montana Elk hunts are conducted on private ranches in West Central Montana near Bozeman, Anaconda, Philpsburg and Deer Lodge, Montana. They open up for call-in registration at different times. 28-Oct-08. Too late. With 80 tags on quota and an October season, with a little help from some weather, this hunt could create a great opportunity for a big staged up high-country deer during the final five days of the hunt. Its often reported the state is home to more pronghorn than people in a good weather year. I lost count at 450 phone call attempts to register the morning the 2 we really wanted became available. Although the thought of the 90/10 proposal could be very difficult to comprehend for most of you at this point, I really do think if it does in fact happen for deer, elk and antelope, I would be very surprised if it happened before the 2024 hunting season. This has been considered the holy grail of mule deer permits in the Big Sky State for the past couple decades. My partner got through and signed us up for a 2nd one giving us only 1 day on that particular ranch. For many hunters, wrapping their hands around the thick bases of a tall, wide, heavy mule deer rack is a moment dreams are made of. Somebody please post up the best trophy mule deer hunting in Montana so anyone that is smart enough to work the google can pull up this thread! At Silver Spur Outfitters, we have many years of experience and have been in business since 1993. This place has it all, comfortable camp, good guiding, good food and Shield River trout fishing, it's just a great week. This hunt can be had with only about six or seven points. For some hunters, pursuing elk, mule deer, and pronghorn in the western United States is a future dream; for others its a yearly routine. This is a very solid hunt in my opinion for only one or two preference points. | A good friend with the same luck in the lottery as me decided we were tired of waiting, we need to go hunting. I also recommend the cellphone adapter that makes taking photos a breeze. Along with the sheer expanse of the landscape, the expedition was awed with the abundant wildlife in the area, especially those game animals that provided them with food: elk, mule and whitetail deer, bighorn sheep, bison, and pronghorn (antelope). Our magazine, which is available in print and online,has everything in one location -application info, draw details and odds, fees, hunter requirements, point structure, age restrictions, youth information, weapon restrictions, other tag opportunities, hunt planning, and much more. I know the 380 bull tag in Montana is a prime example. Make sure you pay attention to the new regulations as there are a number of changes from 2021. Give a Gift Area 141-1, The Green River Lakes hunt is a bit more of a long-shot for big bucks, but I just have a bit of a hunch that given the type of country in this area there could be some big bucks this fall to mine out of here for someone who hunts hard. Add to this bad news the fact that many nonresident applicants are getting very, very nervous, to say the least, given the possibility of the proposed 90/10 license allocation change becoming a reality. I'm not going out on a limb and making any bold predictions, but the science is adding up. The area consistently produces exceptional trophy mule deer, which are the priority on this hunt. These two situations have placed many applicants between the proverbial rock and a hard place as they weigh out the beyond uncomfortable trade-off between a down year for deer hunting and the possibility of future draw odds quadrupling all while tag costs could more than double in the process. The deep, contorted coulees of the breaks provide superb cover, allowing some bucks to achieve trophy status. Mule Deer A very tough spot indeed. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "bennordquist-20"; Lewis and Clark noted the presence of huge herds of antelope mingled with the bison, elk and deer they saw along the Missouri River. Archery hunting is also conducted on a "draw-only" basis, but the odds are better. Historically, the bucks are actually larger in this region than they are in Region G, however they are harder to get to and there are less of them. This is an action packed hunt during the rut. Desert Ghosts: Hunting the Elusive Coues Deer, Six Great Lever-Gun Hunts for North America, What To Do When Your Rifle Breaks While On a Hunt, Federal Terminal Ascent Hunting Bullet: Field Review, The Only Three Guns You Need to Go Hunting, Tested Tough - Modern Zeiss Sports Optics, Professional outfitters' and guides' services, trip planning materials are available on the Missouri River Country website. In early June a successful applicant can request a BMA guide that will be delivered around the end of July. Our 2nd ranch sign in trailer ended up approximately 30 miles from the ranch and in the opposite direction of where we had lodged. With absolutely no doubt in my mind I can honestly say that Wyomings mule deer are currently at the absolute lowest point in my nearly 30-year career in this business. Non-Hunting Companion. RAB, As phutch30 stated there are good mule deer numbers in the Breaks, but one thing to keep in mind about the Breaks is the FWP - Biologist have issued a lot of elk permits over the last few years (both antlerless and A9/B12). If you are a regular nonresident this means you are in the pool of 8,543 applicants for four tags. After months of kicking the idea around exactly what we would do, the real planning started in early March as applications are due March 15th for deer, elk and deer/elk combination tags. Probably the most important bit of information we found was: If a ranch is enrolled into the Block Management Program and there is BLM land on or bordering that ranch, that BLM land is NOT OPEN to public access. Our goal is to provide the best fair chase Colorado Elk Hunting and Trophy Mule Deer Hunting available. It sported horns measuring more than 17 inches. We applied as a party and were successful in drawing our Either Species/Either Sex tags. We chose Montana for a few different reasons, none of which could be overshadowed by the convenience of having their lottery run by mid-April. 1 Hunter - 1 Guide. The restaurant is open early for breakfast and stays open for a late dinner. I think we also found that the squared bonus point system is not that effective because there are just too many applicants nowadays. She said it currently takes six preference points to be guaranteed a pronghorn tag in the draw in Area 73 but added the state allots 25 percent of the total quota in each area to a random drawing of all applicants who chose the area as their first choice. The downside is there are unlimited permission slips and limit to how many hunters have access each day. All Rights Reserved. So overall, the Montana mule deer population is up 36.9% the past seven years. Eastmans Publishing, Inc. is a multimedia corporation whose roots are grounded in the ethics of fair chase hunting. Antlered: A deer with an antler or antlers at least 3 inches in length. The French Creek hunt was turned from a general hunt into a limited quota hunt about ten years ago and the hunt here seems to be getting better and better each year. The first to die off and probably the first to rebound, or at least we hope. Our editors have hand-picked these essential pieces of gear to make you a more successful hunter when you hit the game trails this season. We decided to try our hand at getting some tags in our neighboring state of Montana. Deer move throughout the day, typically to change beds as the shade transitions. This has been considered the holy grail of mule deer permits in the Big Sky State for the past couple decades. Only a limited number of tags are given out annually for this area. We ended up hunting the type 1 BMAs for 6 of the 7 days hunted. Pronghorn Area 38, between Cheyenne and Laramie, is a mix of public and private land where landowners typically charge minimal trespass fees and hunters needed only two preference points to draw a tag in 2018, Decaria said. Our area has a very impressive Mule Deer population, which leads to a very high success rate of 4 X 4 bucks. If you would like access to all of our research join today! Hey Chopperz, as of right now it has only become law for the Big 5. A Muley Doe decoy is a must in Unit 76.The situation in Unit 76 is representative of several OTC mule deer units in Idaho. This area is mountainous and does contain about 25% wilderness at the very top of the unit. 1. Because nonresidents are in the same pool, there are 8,543 applicants in the total pool. Montana Rivers and Ridges Outfitter has access to over 1.5 million acres of land to hunt elk, deer, and other big game animals within the Bitterroot National Forest. These guides are somewhat confusing, so read them and get to know the area you plan on hunting. The gear we used included a Christensen Arms .28 Nozler w/Burris Eliminator III. The Tag: Unit 44 Rifle Mule Deer. This hunt should take 12 to 14 points to draw this year. Area 128 near Dubois has November hunt dates and limited tags, and units 101 and 102 of the Southwest Desert country have solid deer numbers and great vehicle access. Kevin Steele of Petersen's HUNTING is at the Streamlight booth at SHOT Show 2023 to go over the Bear Trap light from Streamlight. We narrowed down 5-6 different type 2 BMAs to register for. Based purely on the data and uncertainty going into this years Wyoming mule deer draw this list should probably be blank, however, that does not work well for readers so I will give you the best list possible with the information I have at this time. Whitetail deer are also common in the cottonwood studded riparian areas along the river. Nonresidents fund a very large percentage of Wyomings Fish and Game Budget, the State also receives many millions in the Robertson Pittman Act funds. This hunt area is the other limited quota hunt unit inside the general Region G area. Introducing the Veracity PH from Burris, the perfect combination of reliability, quality, and technology delivering a simple aiming solutiona tool for the hunter that just works. May 25, 2022 We offer many different types of Montana Mule Deer Rut Hunts on several private ranches. I fully expect 10 preference points to be a requirement to hunt here with 100% surety. This hunt can be had with only about six or seven points. New Mexico, Rio Arriba County113 typical mule deer in B&C records 15. The bowhunting here can be very lucrative. Colorado is widely regarded as the nation's top mule deer destination. The same goes for SOME of Montana State Land. Go on More Hunts with Better Information, Join Huntin' Fool Today! You cannot access without being signed up for that specific BMA. Temperatures can be quite warm in September and early October, rendering elk inactive during the day, however, hunters seeking a varied experience find plenty to do at midday. Any further questions call Dan Alleman.". A lot of hunters only hunt or glass in the early mornings and evenings. 1579 N Main Street Ste 100 Yikes! If the weather hits just right this hunt can produce some very big bucks held up in the sagebrush waiting for the rut to begin. Being able to hunt these deer during the rut with a rifle gives our clients and amazing edge to harvest a nice mature Mule deer buck. This can make finding a trophy buck something difficult to do on public land. Resident applicants for this permit are increasing 300-1000 per year proving that the popularity hasnt waned. These dates are provided only as a general reference.Check current regulations or use FWP's online Hunt Planner for specific dates.. 2023 SEASON . I finally got through and was able to sign up for 1 ranch giving us a 3-day hunt on that property. Mule deer are widely distributed throughout the region but most heavily concentrated in the Missouri Breaks and adjacent prairie habitat. amzn_assoc_asins = "B013D2ULO6"; 15% of the 45 permits are guaranteed to resident and nonresident landowners alike. I have been very hard on this hunt in the past, however the recent historical data here is very positive, particularly when compared to everything else currently going wrong in Wyoming.

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