Bear Paws Advice

Carnage2011

Active Member
Messages
121
Well I drew the archery elk tag for unit 690. I have been researching this unit for a couple years now and decided to put in. I didn't think I would draw, but I guess I got lucky. My question here is does anyone have any advice? I know it's a lot of private, but it sounds like some of the ranches allow bow hunters access. I know some people don't like to share information but if you would PM me I promise to keep everything between us and not share it with anyone else. I can offer information for some units around Montana (especially for mule deer).

Thanks. Carnage
 
It's almost exclusively private land, and some of the better public land is blocked by private land. Unless you know somebody from the area, you will have your work cut out for you. Some ranches are BMA, and allow hunting in 2 day blocks, with day one being the day you get permission. Hours are between 7am and 7pm. There is an outfitter in the area that leases roughly 500k acres, and does allow access if you would have signed up and paid a few before the draw. Now, after you drew the tag, it's a fully guided hunt if you want to go. My suggestion would be to head out there this summer and try to befriend some land owners. On that note, where the best elk hunting is on private land, the landowners or their family members generally draw tags too, so they might want their family memebers to fill their tags before allowing access.
 
Thanks a lot for the response 4x4muley. I really appreciate the input. I do know a couple of landowners up there and it sounds like I should have some access. Would you recommend hunting 680 at all? Or would you spend most of your time in 690? It seems to me that 690 is the place to be, but I guess it never hurts to look.

Thanks. Carnage
 
Hey carnage I've been a long time watcher. Used to have an account a long time ago. Just signed back up so I could try and help u
You out . Pm headed your way
 
690 and 680 is a good draw. You will have fun and you will see elk. Bear Paws are nice. gentle compared to most Mountain Ranges. The Breaks in 680 are some rough stuff. Open enough that the elk are visible and there are elk there, and it's mostly public land.
I sure don't mind helping out those that have a good attitude.
Wish I could help more.
Now if your permit was for East of 191 I could help big time. :)
 
Willpower, thanks for the encouragement. Everything I've seen so far makes it look like I should be into some outstanding bulls. I'll let you know how the hunt goes! Thanks.
 
I've measured 3 bulls from that country, smallest was 414.

Can't imagine it'll be a crummy time.

"YOU'RE NOT WORTHY"
 
It sounds like this could be an incredible hunt. I haven't ever hunted a bull anywhere near 400" let alone been able to knock one down. So I'm definitely looking forward to it.
 
LAST EDITED ON May-14-13 AT 03:10PM (MST)[p]I do have plenty of pictures
"YOU'RE NOT WORTHY"
 
Lemme guess your going to hang on to them until someone calls you a liar and then post them with your usual style.I assume your talking gross scores and probably not completely typical,when did you become an official scorer for B&C/P&Y?
 
carnage, I've never even stepped foot there, so I've no info of any sort to share. Noneyet, I checked and my 414 gross was 1% off the official gross score of the typical I mentioned (410+). It was a tough one to score due to the mass. It was a 7X8 typical and ranks #5 in MT P&Y. Can't remember the exact measurements of the other 2 but they were both in the 430s, gross, non-typicals. All I know about that area is it requires more than a weekend outing to get a dandy. Those who do well, usually invest a ton of time in it. Should be a fun one.

"YOU'RE NOT WORTHY"
 
Thanks for the reply SPAZ! I'm headed back up this weekend to do some more looking around. Access is a lot better than I thought it would be. I was able to get approved for 3 weeks vacation (thank god my boss loves to hunt) so I plan on spending plenty of time in the area. Thanks again.
 
I hunted this area a lot prior to it being a "known" unit...and even back then, people in the know were aware of the elk potential there.

I had access and hunted most of the ranches where the best bulls came from, and are coming from.

I applied for a lot of years there for an elk tag and never did draw.

While 7thgenmtdipchit may question the quality of the bulls there...I can tell you that SPAZ isnt lying in regard to the potential of that area.

All I'll say, is that wayyyy back in the early 90's I was seeing some smoker bulls in that unit. There were 2 bulls that I saw while deer hunting that were wayyyy past just your average mature bull. One was a giant 6x6 that was with 2 other very nice 6 points...he had it all and thinking back, if he wasnt a net booner, he was sure as chit crowding it. The other one was a 7x6 that had more mass than any bull I've ever personally seen alive. Again, looking back, I'd bet that bull would have been 375+ all day long.

I never told anyone about the elk I was seeing, mainly because of d-bags like 7thgenmtdipchit, and also because I knew eventually the word would get out. I wanted a tag, so kept what I saw quiet for years.

Cat was out of the bag by 2000...and I dont even apply there anymore.

But, there are (or at least WERE) some great bulls in that unit despite what dippy claims.

Good luck on your hunt and congrats on the tag.
 
7thgenmt,

The source, as in Spaz? Not reliable or trustworthy? Not knowledgable with regards to Montana?
I don't know you but I have spoken to Spaz about Montana hunts. Let me list some of his credentials then ask me who should I trust with hunting info, Spaz or the 7thgen

Spaz has personally harvested a B&C mule deer from Mt as well as a whitetail, moose, mountain goat, and several pronghorn, all from Montana. He has also harvested B&C animals from other states. Having talked with him on the phone he has helped me as a non-resident with my apps. for trophy species. His advice helped me take a B&C mountain goat this year in Montana.

All this info is "out there on the net" for you to verify. Now I'm sure someone who has such vast knowledge of Montana as a 7thgen'er like yourself would also have impecable credentials.

The people I know from Montana have all been great, the kid who guided me on a Dalls sheep hunt in Ak., my taxidermist from Arlee, and the people in Great falls who helped with my goat hunt.

Your posts seem to have a certain slant, karma is a powerful thing.
Don Perrien
 
Don,

Would be great to see a photo of your goat and hear how that hunt went. Send an email.

Although I pay attention to Fred King while he measures them up, this one was tough to hone in on where the upper tines actually started. I think the circumference past the 4 was 13+ on both sides.. My boiling pot has seen some dandies, taken by friends. This big bearpaw elk one was sitting in my garage next to one taken by another friend on a general MT tag, public, 60" inside spread, 390+ gross P&Y.

Noneyet your wish is my command. :D

MooseBullRack_zpsb91b0b3d.jpg


"YOU'RE NOT WORTHY"
 
That bull is stud! I'm headed back up this weekend to do some more looking around. There seems to be plenty of elk in the area....now it's just a waiting game for some more growth on the bulls. I did see a bull last time I was up there that already had 4 tines on each side. He was the most developed I have seen yet. Do the elk stay up in the bear paws for the winter? I have yet to find a shed, and I have covered a pretty fair amount of country. Thanks!
 
Here are a few bulls I saw in there two days ago. Crappy picture as I was 1/2 mile away and on the clock.




Good luck on your hunt.
 
Saw 3 cows in the bull mtns this am & the combined weight might be about the size of one of those bulls...
"YOU'RE NOT WORTHY"
 
The hunt has been great. Been into some great bulls, shot over one bulls back that I should have killed, but he was really steep down hill. Had 4 bulls in range in the last 24 hours and 1 was a definite shooter, but I couldn't get a shot. It's definitely an incredible hunt and I'm hoping to seal the deal here shortly.
 
Finally knocked down a bull. He's a nice, heavy 6 point with great tines, mass and length. It's a great hunt, but requires a TON of pre season work. I met some awesome people along the way and gained a fair amount of access.
 
I have no skin in the game, but if can tell you one thing MT7thgen.....if Spaz knows Fred, he knows Montana hunting, if he is a friend of Fred, he is a person of good character!!!

I grew up with one of Fred's sons, and have known Fred for a long time, and had the pleasure of his company while in the field....I have no idea who Spaz is, but I know Fred and his family well, and would wager to guess your barking up the wrong tree....and I say this as someone that is more than a 7th generation Montanan :)

>Don,
>
>Would be great to see a
>photo of your goat and
>hear how that hunt went.
> Send an email.
>
>Although I pay attention to Fred
>King while he measures them
>up, this one was tough
>to hone in on where
>the upper tines actually started.
> I think the circumference
>past the 4 was 13+
>on both sides.. My boiling
>pot has seen some dandies,
>taken by friends. This
>big bearpaw elk one was
>sitting in my garage next
>to one taken by another
>friend on a general MT
>tag, public, 60" inside spread,
>390+ gross P&Y.
>
>Noneyet your wish is my command.
>:D
>
>
MooseBullRack_zpsb91b0b3d.jpg

>
>"YOU'RE NOT WORTHY"
 

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