Missoula area?

I am Looking for some hunting advice for the missoula area. I just moved here and am looking to hunt Mule deer or whitetail it doesn't matter. I'm trying to figure out the rules of Montana. I'm looking to see if anyone out there hunts around this area. If so, how is it? Are there a lot of good public areas to hunt? Is there easy access areas I can use until I find a hunting buddy/partner?

Thank you

If you want a run-down on the rules, check the MTFWP website. If you have specific questions or you're still not clear, the FWP HQ's are out on Spurgin Road there in Missoula.

I was born in Missoula and have hunted the area for 33 consecutive years.

Its went through major changes in that time, and still is going through changes.

IME, (and its extensive experience) if you're planning on hunting within 50 miles of Missoula, I'd concentrate on whitetails. Thats what I did...and still mostly do when I hunt around Missoula. The whitetail hunting in the mountains is not like hunting them in an ag. field...at all. Hunting whitetails in the timber is not easy, but the pay-off of dark antlered, old bucks is well worth the effort.

For some perspective, I've shot a lot of elk while hunting whitetails...

I keep detailed journals, and the BEST week, to hunt whitetails in the area, is from Nov 19-25th, with the peak days being those around the 20-22nd. I've shot some earlier and some later, but 90% of the best bucks I've killed were in that time frame.

I mostly still hunt ridge tops to mid-slope...and I've shot a LOT of big bucks mid-day. In fact, I see more deer activity from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. than any other time (during the days mentioned above). Anyone not hunting daylight to dark during the rut is a fool and obviously arent real serious. Concentrate on pinch points early and late in the day as well as edges.

Once you get into some good areas...I've told my family and friends over and over and over again about still hunting mountain whitetails...its really easy to hunt too fast...and almost impossible to hunt too slow.

As far as mule deer, I'd recommend looking in other parts of the state.

There are some elk around Missoula, but prepared to spend a lot of time figuring that out.

Also note that with the severely decreased lion quotas, whitetails have, and still are, taking an azz kickin' all around Missoula. Not nearly enough lions are being killed thanks to some wrong-headed "trophy" lion bullchit agenda via the houndsmen.

The deer hunting isnt what it was 6-7 years ago, but its still fair.

Good luck.

A few Missoula area whitetails we've taken over the years (not the best quality pics from the earlier years).

Thank you BuzzH for the information! It will help me out. I do plan on hunting close to the Missoula area, but I have been looking into doing maybe a back country or camping hunt somewhere else in the state. The pictures have gotten me umped to start hunting and even scouting!

One last question. how do you get your deer off the mountains? Pack out, drag or just drive you truck to where you can?

thanks again I appreciate it!

Mule deer are a bit tougher. Most areas are a draw, although a few are unlimited. Good bucks are around, but you'll have to work hard. Elk? Like Buzz said, it's a learning curve. Pick an area and learn it. Hunt it everytime till you know it better than the elk. And better than the competition. mtmuley