Milk River

I've always had a fantasy about hunting Montana's storied Milk River. As a non-resident, and a Do It Yourselfer, I was wondering if anyone here on MM would know if there have been a significant number of Block Management Areas south of the Alberta/Sask. border going east, over the last year or two.

I'm not particular about which species of deer, hunting the willows and popular treed river bottoms or the brushy breaks above the river. I'd just like to scratch the itch I've had for the Milk River for the last 50 years or so. I'm planning to hunt deer somewhere in Montana this fall, and just beginning to look into various locations.

Planning to hunt the last two weeks of November, wall tent, expecting bitter cold, icy, snowy weather, hoping for a warm spell but preparing for the worst.

Certainly haven't earned any assistance but any given would surely be appreciated.

DeLoss Christensen
Glenwood, Utah

Based on some of the 2011 MM posts, it sounds like there was a significant die off along the Milk River, four or so years back. In light of that, maybe I needed to look else where, again.

There looks to be a ski resort West of Choteau and a highway going up to it from the Choteau area.

I've had a look at the maps where the mountains appear to come out on to the prairie, north and south of this highway. Looks like it might be deer winter range. Maybe more mule deer than whitetail?

Could a person get back, either north or south of the highway, as it enters the mountains, 10 to 20 miles, parallel to Lewis and Clark National Forest boundary line, or is everything private. Are there accessible BMA or State Lands areas out in this area?

Does this country hold many wintering deer? (Based on the size of the wilderness area and the size of the National Forest, I'm thinking the areas at the base of the mountains may hold a large number of deer during the heavy snow season.)

If so, can a DYI hunter access public or private land here, below the Forest Service Boundary that is?

Thanks again.
DC

Buy a wolf tag or three. mtmuley

unless there is another milk river in mont. there isnt NF near the river as it comes into mont. about 60 mi east of the 15 and west of the 15 you get closer to the black foot res. and they kill most every thing in the area. as you go east there is little access and small properties along the milk, as you go north and south you can find blm and state land but no NF. the #s are down and older bucks alot less which left alot of pressure on younger bucks and dont forget that the bad winters left 2 age groups of bucks not there, I am talking muleys, you have both white and muleys, Ill take a good muley standing next to a white any day, I think I may stay away for a few years after 15 seasons, its been good.

Thanks very much, I'm not hung up on mule deer, a whitey would be just as good, for me. I was thinking whitetails are maybe a little harder to get at, in as much as most river/crick bottom lands are generally private, at least those that are out on the plains. Or so it seems.

I believe there is always something, now days, that keeps the numbers of deer down, disease, weather, heavy hunting pressure, access issues, I guess a guy just needs to do as much research and scouting as he can and then just go hunt as hard and as long at it stays fun and take home what ever the time gives up, with or without a deer. If we wait too long, hoping for better conditions, we'll never get to do what we love to do. I've killed enough deer over the years but I still thirst for the search and getting to interact with what's out there. Hope it never stops being something Io look forward to.

Thanks again, I appreciate your sharing your observations, for sure.

DC