Montana 631-21

Hunt4more · Apr 18, 2015

My dad and I hunting here for the first time this coming Sept. This will be our first hunt in this unit. Should we bring a boat? The advantage should be significant as it's about 1,500 miles each way and we are thinking we need a trailer as well. I hear there is a lot of roads throughout the unit. Will the boat give you access to areas that road hunters will have a tough time accessing?

I was thinking the opener may be a good time to get on the bulls before they've been pushed around. Plus, herd bulls likely wont have cows and stalking may be easier with less eye balls. Plus, many hunters may wait til the middle of the month when the rut kicks in to get in the field. Is there any advantage to an outfitter for this hunt and if so, who? From what I've heard DIY is the way to go for this hunt.

mnmthunting · Apr 19, 2015

In my opinion the pressure from boats and those gaining access to the breaks from the shore is more significant then the pressure by the road hunter.
The best way to avoid the hunting pressure is to study the maps, find areas that you can get off the wheeled trails by a deep canyon or better yet 2-3 deep canyon s and ridges, you will be surprise at how lonely it can get.
Another thing, I have seen many times where large herds of elk are way out into the open sage country. Just sayin, not all the elk by a long shot are in the rough county by the Lake/river.

wildfin · Apr 19, 2015

certainly hunt between the water and roads but it wont hurt to have a boat for game collection or to way access, it will double you opportunity to ajust were you hunt.

wildfin · Apr 19, 2015

If you have the boat I would bring it, you will have two way access you can collect game down hill you can hunt toward each other and you double the opportunity to ajust were you need to be.

Hunt4more · Apr 26, 2015

We are going to bring the elk tracker, I mean bass tracker... Appreciate the comments here boys. We got a good idea on how to get started and what to do. It will take at least a couple days to figure things out on the ground i'm sure but that's with any area.... Hopefully the mosquitos dont suck too bad. Sounds like last year was horrible!

bgh7404jas · Jul 5, 2015

Yes the mosquitos were terrible last year. Beware of the mud if it rains.
Jerad

Tharackman · Jul 9, 2015

I also drew this hunt. I have been looking at the maps and Google earth. I don't really want to take a boat. I was wondering if it would make any sense to drive the above roads then walk down to where the elk will be supposedly coming off the river in the evenings or mornings. Do you think this a good plan? Or do I need to make plans and do research to head into a different game plan. It's 800 miles from my house, was Planning to head up there towards the last 10 days of September.