NW Montana Whitetail

Waterdogs · Aug 22, 2011

I have been toying with the idea of coming to Montana to Hunt whitetail. Lookng at the northwest region since it isn't that far from home. I was wondering how the hunting was. Pressure and if they have had the winter kill and low numbers Idaho has been having. Not sure if this is a good area to freelance or not. I am trying to plan for next season.

Randy11 · Aug 22, 2011

Numbers are way down from 5-10 years ago, but there's still plenty enough to make a good hunt of it. You probably won't be seeing five-ten bucks a day, but you can still be picky. Come around thanksgiving if you can.

Really it's the same story as Northern Idaho. We haven't had the really bad winterkill like they have, but we've had poor management (doe tag increase and lion tag decrease) that's knocked the numbers way down.

You can still hunt Idaho this year though, you'd have to wait to enter the draw for MT next spring.

Waterdogs · Aug 22, 2011

Sound like the same hear. We have seen it really go down hill. I gave up hunting Elk, Mule deer to hunt whitetail eight years ago. I got addicted bad. I still take kids up to a friends ranch to hunt them but I enjoy those crazy whitetail. I guess I see it as more of a challenge. I just thought it would be cool one season to take all of November and hunt two week in Idaho and two in Montana. A guy can dream.

Randy11 · Aug 22, 2011

It's definitely worth doing if you have the time.
I'm saving up every penny I can to hunt N ID to go along with my two tags here in MT. I'm headed over in a couple days to get the lay of the land in the unit I'm hoping to hunt in November.

Even though the numbers are down, we're still seeing some really nice bucks on public land every year. Thanksgiving week alone this year, I messed up on a 135-140 inch buck, got my buddy on a 134 inch buck with crazy webbing and mass, and glassed probably another dozen bucks in the 110-125 range.

muledeernuts · Aug 22, 2011

Waterdogs where would you be talking about when you say NW Montana, there is a lot of area up there for consideration? Find the horn Goose!

Waterdogs · Aug 22, 2011

Anywhere not to far from the Idaho Border. I want to be a border jumper. I guess which area has good bucks least amount of people and you know the perfect spot. I am not a rich guy who can pay for a guide but would take the time to scout this fall for next season. I hunt so close to the Montana border anyway. Not to far from Lolo and superior. I would travel further to get away from people. Maybe further north. My guess is the closer you get to the cities the more pressure you have.

NONYAMT · Aug 22, 2011

Hunted a full week in the Troy/Yaak zone last two years,didnt see a single mature deer.

Waterdogs · Aug 23, 2011

I think I am just going to burn up a tank or two of gas and do some looking around this fall. Should let me know what area's look good, hunting pressure and so on. Talk to some folks why I am up their and just go from their. Looks like their should be atleast the same type of hunting I am use to.

muledeernuts · Aug 23, 2011

Waterdogs just put in some time and you will find the deer. I have found over the years that it is better to have good knowledge of an area to kill a big buck vs. hunting the best areas. today there is pressure everywhere and you just need to find a spot you enjoy hunting. The LoLo area is good but has a lot of pressure from Missoula and same as Superior. The further North you go towards say the Troy and Yaak area the less people you will find. There is good bucks up there as that is where i am from. They are hard to hunt but ti appears you are familiar with that as well. I believe somebody said it above me to come around Thanksgiving as that is when the rut is usually going strong. Find the horn Goose!