MT elk question

[oregonhunter14]

i now live in bozeman, MT, and am excited to explore the country around here a little bit. i will not be hunting this fall, but i'd like to find some hikes nearby that would give me a good chance to see some elk or muley bucks. do the gallatins support good numbers of elk and mule deer? and what about the lee metcalf wilderness area near big sky? these places have caught my eye, and i was just wondering how "gamey" these areas are and what the hunting opportunities are like in the fall (for future reference). thanks for any replies and good hunting.

OH14

 

[Hornseeker]

Oregonhunter,

I wouldn't get too excited about the muley pops in the areas you named, but elk.....ahhh yeah! You plan a hike just about anywhere as high as you can get in that country, get out early, or stay out late, and you will see lots of elk!

Good Luck

 

[Bozeman]

Like Hornseeker said the muley population is weak. All the areas you mentioned have elk in every canyon and drainage. Start looking around and you'll find a hunting spot fairly easy. I've been seeing many elk and bulls this spring while bear hunting, looks like the rain is making the grass real green, hopefully the bulls will have a good horn year.

 

[Hornseeker]

I was thinking the same thing Bozeman, if we can keep this moisture up we'll get good growth right out to the tips! Or if it dies out on us, we'll get the weak top ends! :0(

 

[oregonhunter14]

thanks for the reply. sounds like i got a decent shot at seeing some animals. another question- do the bridgers support a decent elk herd? i've heard a few guys talk about seeing elk up there, that might be worth a shot. thinking about making the hike up to Sacagawea Peak on the east side of the bridgers sometime this summer. i understand there's the possibility of spooting rocky mountain goats up there. and how has the bear hunting been, by the way? when i'm hiking/animal-looking in the gallatins or bridgers should i carry bear spray just in case? i haven't seen a bear in the few trips i've made, but i don't want my first encounter to be a bad one. so much country to explore with so little time! thanks again.

OH14

 

[hunterofelk]

I grew up in Livingston and went to school at MSU. If you want to see elk in the Bridgers, go to the east side of the range. Brackett creek is public and there are a few elk. To see more animals during a hunting season, go bowhunting. During the rifle season in that country most of the public ground gets shot out and the animals hang up in the private land.
To see elk in the summer and early fall, hike up to the alpine country in the Gallatin range. Try the trails out of Hyalite Res. Get there before the first freeze when the grass is green. Go up to Flathead Pass in the Bridgers.
The upper Gallatin is getting really populated, so you need to walk aways to get away from the people.
I could always find elk during the non-hunting season. They get gone quick when the guns go off.
And yes, get some bear spray and maybe one of those practice cans of spray. Learn how to use it. Every year there is a story of some run in with a grizzly in the country around the park.

 

[Bullcanyon]

What is the gallatin area like in september? As far as people bowhunting? A friends friend missed several opportunities in near that area last year, but he never said if it was crowded.

Kris