Absaroka Wilderness Area Montana? What to expect?

flyingbrass

Active Member
Messages
750
I'm going on a combo hunt to Jardine, MT near Gardiner MT. We will be hunting for 7 days. First 3 days is either elk or mule deer and the last 4 days is elk only. What kind of mule deer should hold out for 18"-20"?
 
I grew up in Livingston, Montana and hunted some of that country. You could hold out for a mature buck, 20 to 24 inches wide and five points per side, they're around for sure, but chances are slim unless the rut is on. The season for deer ends before the rut gets going and that is what the game department wanted. The mature bucks were at very low numbers since the mid-1990's and I hope this shorter season is helping the population. That country is more for elk and the hunting is close to the park boundary. I hope you can catch a bull that got lost and wandered out of the park. Last season a guy killed a record bull in that country. Maybe you'll be lucky too. If you have some extra time after your elk hunt you might try hunting some private land north of Big Timber and bring home some whitetail deer.

This one was off the highway at the mouth of Yankee Jim Canyon.

027_27.jpg


This is the upper Yellowstone valley. You'll be in the country on the left.

002_2-1.jpg
 
I grew up in Livingston, too. My dad harvested a 32" muley from that area in 1985. However, there are thousands of hunters road hunting Jardine every season.

During hunting season there is hardly a living creature that does not get shot within 15 minutes of legal shooting time in Jardine. If want to go home with a deer I would shoot the first buck you see.
 

Click-a-Pic ... Details & Bigger Photos
Back
Top Bottom