Montana Elk

[IDAbowhunter]

Hey guys im a freshman at MSU Bozeman and I cant wait for rifle season to open!! I hunted a few times during archery but was frustrated every time with lack of elk and lots of other hunters. I am determined to get a good public land bull with my rifle though. I was just wondering what your opinions were on the weather. Have the yellowstone bulls already migrated? Are the elk already on private land? How do you think the opener will be?
Also, hows the mule deer hunting around here (within 100 miles of Bozeman)?
Thanks guys.

 

[mtdream]

you will love it...some phenomenal areas to hunt there...but you need to be careful on the residency thing...

The yellowstone herd of old is no longer...70+% is gone...

This year during archery, the bulls where we hunted, the heat and I am sure several other factors contributed to bulls still being together during Mid September...So it was an odd year...but we managed to pull a rag horn out...

I would suggest some google earth cruising for some areas...just takes some foot work to find your honey hole...

 

[IDAbowhunter]

Yeah i have spent countless hours on google earth and i have a few areas im interested in checkin out... i just dont know how all of the snow is going to affect them?

 

[Bambistew]

The migration usually starts the end of November or early December. Rarely does a major push happen before rifle season is over. A few stragelers might push out, but don't count on it. The elk will 'migrate' from the top of the mountain down a little lower however. Being in school you have the luxuary of hunting pretty much at any time... Hunt hard the day after a storm rolls through.

Lots of hunters usually means few elk. Find areas were there are few hunters and you'll find elk. Its true there are fewer elk than there was 10-15 years ago, but there are still plenty to go around.

Good luck killing a nice bull in rifle season. Your odds of it are about a 1/10 compared to archery season...

Mule deer hunting is tough, very few deer, and even fewer mature bucks.

 

[mtgiants]

Don't be afraid to give the Bridgers a try. They are close and have plenty of elk. Try scouting up Truman. I had a mule deer tag in that area 3 years ago, and saw a few nice bulls.

 

[flyingbrass]

hunt where the wolves ain't!
flyingbrass
cold dead hands
NRA Life Member

 

[ismith]

>hunt where the wolves ain't!
>flyingbrass
>cold dead hands
>NRA Life Member
That could be kinda difficult around Bozeman, or even Western Montana in general. My best advice is to just go find some elk and hunt them! Find a steep, thick and nasty and get to know it well. How far are you willing to drive/hike?

 

[leonard]

I would buy the "Elk Hunting Montana", which you can buy in a book store in Bozeman and begin scouting some of the areas mentioned around Bozeman/Belgrade. I have elk hunted in MT three times and never connected, but manage to kill a elk/bull in CO most every year. It's about being familiar with herd movements, weather patterns, hunter pressure, hunting 2 to 5 miles from the road, etc. Scout and you will locate them.

Preston

 

[Randy11]

+1 on 'Elk Hunting Montana'. Either Ballard worked on that thing for ten years, or is a hell of a bullshipper. I was pretty surprised how spot on he was for all the areas I hunt though.