Eastern Montana bucks.

[Bullcanyon]

I will be heading to eastern Montana for deer during the week of thanksgiving. From everything I've read and been told this is a pretty good area and as long as I don't load the gun the first couple days I should get a good buck. Just curious what you guys think about eastern Montana this time of year? I'm I going too late or just right?

Kris

 

[NeMont]

Eastern Montana is a pretty large area. It depends upon what your expectations are. You will be hunting the final week of the general season. You will be hunting kind of the tail end of peak rutting but the bucks will still be active. They deer will have seen rifle hunters for the previous 4 weeks.

I would be more concerned about the weather. It can change from beautiful weather to absolute blizzard conditions overnight. The truth is the best time to hunt is when you have time to hunt. I know that sounds simple but it is true.

Nemont

 

[muleyguy]

what part of eastern montana???

 

[Bullcanyon]

South of Powderville. My buddy keeps talking about Braudus.(sp) He killed a big buck there 6 years ago. I've never been that far east in Montana. Not sure what to expect.

Kris

 

[NeMont]

LAST EDITED ON Sep-28-04 AT 04:32PM (MST)[p]The Powederville areas has been a good producer of big bucks but it is important to know that area has been heavily impacted by drought.

Also alot of the private land is leased by outfitters so you have to find public lands to hunt. Good luck hunting down there.

Nemont

 

[Gator]

I use to hunt just north of there, Is your tag for any Buck Whitetail or Muley because you should see some huge WT in the river bottoms, Fairview is where we hunted for a few years.

 

[mtAl]

Powderville is a great area, the hotels are in Broadus. I hunt antelope out there quite a bit and do see some good mule deer. There is a LOT of public land around there (look east, on the road to Ekalaka, you'll cross lots of BLM) but you need to know where you are (compas, GPS) to stay on public land.

Do yourself a huge favor and buy the Powderville, Broadus, Alzada and Ekalaka BLM 1:100,000 maps and study them before you go. Look for areas where there's good cover (terrain, trees, etc.), where the ATVs can't get, park your vehicle and walk a mile or so in.

You many also want to get the Block Management guide for Region 7, 406-234-0930 and look for walk in only areas. Beware, lots of block management areas have poor hunting.

Blue Tongue disease (whatever the real name is...) hit the whitetails hard a few years ago, but there are plenty. As stated above, watch the weather! I was shooting prairie dogs east of Powderville a few years back and almost lost it in a torrential downpoor/tornado, and all I got was one lousy prairie dog.

 

[Bullcanyon]

I believe it to be any deer in that area. I'm going to be picky unless it comes down to the last day. The wife won't understand a $600+ tag soup.

Thanks for your input

Kris

 

[Tally]

I got real luck this year and was offered a leftover Montana buck tag. I hunt a little farther north than you.
You will see a lot of deer, not to worry. Block Management
and just plane asking permission.
You'll have a great time.