First Mule Deer in Montana - Ekalaka area

[arhanna]

LAST EDITED ON Sep-24-12 AT 06:31PM (MST)[p]This is first time for me to MT for mule deer. We're heading out Oct 25th for a week. We've been doing a fair amount of research and reading online. Looked at lots of different maps and google earth. Reserved several Type II BMA properties. We're not quite sure what to expect on these BMA's. Most are about 30 miles southwest of Ekalaka. Looking at some of the google earth maps it seems like the landscape on a couple of the bma's is fairly barren then as you go west it gets more "bad land" looking.

Does anyone have any experience or general comments on hunting this area? We plan on walking a lot and getting away from the roads to avoid high pressure areas.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mnmthunting]

Well sure! I've lived about 4 1/2 years in that country.
You say Badlands! Go into there! Got to walk, miles sometimes.
You want to work at it? HARD?
Those that do, Have a good chance at a "Wallhanger" GOOD LUCK"!

 

[arhanna]

Yea we plan on putting some miles on. Not a fan of road hunting anyways and not afraid of work. Are the flat areas worth spending much time on? Seem pretty much due south of ekalaka is pretty flat. We heard anywhere with creek bottoms, even if flat is worth checking into. I used to hunt in Wyoming and there was much more topography so walking and spotting was what I was used to.

Anyone have any suggestions on a model of a frame pack to pack out the deer?

 

[IDbones]

Horn hunter full curl, best pack out there IMO,
good luck on your hunt

 

[arhanna]

I was checking out that frame you referred to. Will the meat bag hold an entire mule deer boned out? It says it is 2,000 cubic inches which is equivalent to 1.1 cubic feet. Seems kind of small but maybe not.

 

[mnmthunting]

Those exspances of flat like land so often once your out a ways there are coulees, not unusual to find deer. Often overlooked areas is where the bucks have a chance to live a little longer.

 

[SLIVER]

I have packed a mature mule deer boned out on my Full Curl, including the cape and antlers. It hauled it, and fit very well. The Full Curl pack is awesome! You won't regret it.

}}-SLIVER-->

 

[Dakota79]

About 10,000 acres just burnt just south of town. Might want to check into that.

 

[huntFX4]

LAST EDITED ON Sep-26-12 AT 03:20PM (MST)[p]Badlands are the best areas for the big bucks in southeast Montana. I grew up there and every time I go back that is where I go. Lots of work to get to them. Best way is to get in early and glass alot from a good vantage point. You will find them moving for a couple of hours after sun up as long as there is no pressure.
As far as the pack goes, I use and love Cabelas Extreme Alaskan Outfitter. I've packed an entire, boned out buck in the high mountains of Utah with it as well half of an elk quartered out on another occasion.

Good luck.