MT - Bow vs. Rifle???

G

GrizzlyHunter

Guest
LAST EDITED ON Mar-24-06 AT 03:34PM (MST)[p]If I draw a MT tag do I have the option of hunting with my choice of either bow vs. rifle?

If so, what do you guys do?

I've only hunted rifle out west thus far. I do hunt whitetail with a bow and gun in my home state. I would like to hunt elk in the rut again. I'm torn between hunting them when it's fun (in the rut) vs. hunting with a weapon that extends my yardage quite a bit (rifle).

P.S.-There would be only two of us. We would probably go unguided, unless we could find an affordable archery guide. We have experience back-pack hunting into the mountains.
 
you can hunt both seasons/methods in units open to general hunting. Montana does not make you choose a weapon.
 
But we do have an archery only season. After it is over and rifle begins, you can still use your bow instead of your rifle if you prefer. If you like hunting the rut, a bow is your only choice. Unless you hunt a wilderness area. Some of these are open to rifle hunting in September. Tough hunts though. mtmuley
 
mtmuley,

Are these Sept. rut hunts w/ a rifle open to anybody who successfully draws a general elk license or are they subject to the June drawing?

GH
 
GH, yes they are open to anyone with a general license. They are not easy hunts and most units are a long ways from the nearest road. They see quite a bit of pressure too, and actually the harvest stats are lower than most general rifle units. There is some old info on the F&G site that shows harvest stats.

I can't remember exactly what units they are, but look just east of Gardiner I think there is one unit there that is early and IIRC there is two units in the Bob Marshall Wilderness... which is north, northwest of Helena. I've never hunted them, kind of wanted to, but decided that I'd rather bow hunt.

I really like bowhunting elk in the rut, much more so than with a rifle. IMO you'll see more elk, more nice bulls, and you really have a better chance at killing a nice bull. You do have a much beter shot at killing an elk with the rifle though.

I used to hunt all of archery season and if I didn't fill my tag I would usually fill it opening day with any bull and then hunt deer through the rut. :)

Good luck with what ever you decide. Either hunt will be great no mater what. I will beat the hell out of working!
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-26-06 AT 11:00AM (MST)[p]>PleaseDear,
>
>I don't understand your post.
>Please expain?
>
>Grizly
If you havent hunted with a bow in MT before, you need to show you took a bowhunter safety course in your state at least to do so. When you get your tag for MT it is a Elk tag and nothing more. It is really a gun tag to start with and if you wish to bow hunt you need to buy an additional bow hunting stamp. (minimal fee) there really isnt a bow only tag for MT elk.
But there are bow only seasons and units, but the tag is the same for all weapons. Confused now??
So, you apply for a general Elk tag that is good for any general elk unit for any weapon as long as you get the bow stamp too. Then you can apply for special draw units in a seperate drawing after you draw the general elk tag.
 
Griz.. You have to provide proof of having a previous Archery tag. I've taken a Calif, archery only tag that was several years old, showed it to the clerk at the store and obtained a certificate alllowing me to hunt the archery season. The archery season usually runs 9/1 through 10/15. Then rifle opens on the last Sun of Oct. Tip.. most of Mt's rifle draw units are open for archery. I've archery hunted a unit 6 times that I can never draw a rifle tag for. Id does the same thing but in Id. the archery tag is OTC therefore these types of units are crowded. In Mt the archer needs to plan and apply early so you don't get anyone hunting the rifle draw units with a bow as a bailout. These Mt hunts have all been quality hunts.
 
Geeezzz, I must of had a little 'residual effect' still in me from the party...... it should read;

I believe you have to have a Bow Education to bow hunt in Mont..

Thanks for clearing it up for me schmalts....

hick-up... ha
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-27-06 AT 05:30AM (MST)[p]Schmalts, Califelkslayer & PleaseDear,

I thank all of you for taking the time to help educate a neophyte Montana elk hunter like myself.

Now I have to deal with decisions, decisions, decisions...

You gotta love this forum!

Grizly
 
My friends that have drawn a MT tag come out and hunt with their bows for a week or two and if they aren't successful they have come back in rifle season for their elk or deer.
 

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