Done the MT Buck/Bull Combo as a NR the last 10 years in a row. Last year was my first year eating both tags. But that was my choice; had plenty of opportunities on both deer and elk.
Even though there are a lot of wolves in Montana, there are good numbers of elk, but there are definitely some problem areas where elk are having some trouble. Elk quality is fair. The vast majority of bulls are going to be raghorn type bulls, but I truly believe this state gives you the best chance of stumbling up on a big general unit bull over any of the other state.
Mule deer have taken a beating over the last half a decade. Mostly because of some bad winters, a few outbreaks of bluetongue and some other disease, and coyote numbers seem to have exploded. Mule deer numbers are low in many parts of the state. But even before that with a healthy population of deer, Montana wasn't known as a monster buck state. Bucks of any good size and age are REALLY hard to come by. I hunted mule deer 14 days last season and didn't even flip off the safety...
As far as public access, there is just gobs of it, but only if you study your maps and are not afraid to make some big hikes.
