But if youre hell-bent on hunting deer in area 270, you better buy at least 160 acres because that is your best chance at a permit in area 270 in the near future. *All Combination License prices include the required Base Hunting License, Conservation License, Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Pass, and Application Fees. Montana's 2022 mule deer breakdown 2021 was a fairly quiet season in Montana with very few notable bucks being taken. Whether the tag in your pocket leads you to a comfortable lodge for a guided hunt on private land, a DIY spike camp deep in backcountry wilderness, or somewhere in between, hunting the West will grab you by the soul and easily can become a year-round obsession. We chose a zone on the eastern side of the state that had better odds of drawing in their lottery and also offered public land to hunt with a General Deer Tag vs trying for a Draw unit. Probably the most important bit of information we found was: If a ranch is enrolled into the Block Management Program and there is BLM land on or bordering that ranch, that BLM land is NOT OPEN to public access. This hunt is very accessible and roaded with lots of open hillsides and meadows to glass up bucks feeding on the edges. Historically, a hunter with some gumption has a legitimate chance at a 180 buck here and many bigger have been harvested. Due to the fact that we are not providing lodging or meals, this is a lower budget hunt, but NOT a lower budget hunting experience! Eastmans Publishing, Inc. is a multimedia corporation whose roots are grounded in the ethics of fair chase hunting. Our first ranch was 15,000 acres and allowed 15 hunters per day. Over the last three years, all non-resident permits were drawn by non-resident landowners in unit 261, and 7 out of 12 tags for unit 270 were drawn by non-resident landowners. Montana also offers Block Management (BMAs) which is private Ranches opening up their property for public Montana mule deer hunting. Mule deer are widely distributed throughout the region but most heavily concentrated in the Missouri Breaks and adjacent prairie habitat. Units in the northwest corner of the state, 10, 201, and 2, are known for producing amazing trophies and offer plenty of public land to hunt, said Alcazar, who added it could take as many as 17 to 25 preference points to draw a rifle elk tag in these units. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Wyomings Elk Area 7, south of Casper, is a large unit with lots of elk and is about half public land. Montana has 7 hunt districts that break down into smaller units in each district. amzn_assoc_linkid = "3d18066eea5f32622cb88644951f608f"; Region H, This general hunt region consists of a big, rugged region adjacent to the famed Region G area we spoke about above. In some places their range overlaps with mule deer, in others they are mostly separate from their long-eared cousins. This hunt area is the other limited quota hunt unit inside the general Region G area. Tags #myhuntstory Archery backpack hunting big game hunting bow hunting deer hunting Eastmans Eastmans' Bowhunting Journals Eastmans' Hunting Journal Eastmans' Hunting Journals Guy Eastman Hunting Mule Deer Hunting Mule deer. As for general-season units, Jones suggested hunters take a look at Pine Valley in the southwest corner of the state, the four Oquirrh/Stansbury units west of Salt Lake City, and Zion on the southern border. Petersen's HUNTING Publisher, Kevin Steele is in the CZ booth with Dylan Rice at SHOT Show to talk about CZ 600 Series Trail rifle. Best Montana . Statistically, the most coveted deer permit in Montana is just outside Darby in the southernmost portion of the Bitterroot Valley. . This is isnt a review of gear we used on our hunt but rather a summary of how we planned our DIY hunt and some pointers that may help someone looking to do some mule deer hunting in Montana. All Petersen's Hunting subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. In western areas, mule deer hunting has always been fun. If you have any questions about the mule deer hunting or how to apply feel free to contact us. They open up for call-in registration at different times. 2022 MONTANA RIVERS AND RIDGES OUTFITTER LLC. 3. The answer is us pushing for more QDM out West, period! We strive to help our audiences become more skilled and ethical hunters, while expanding their knowledge, appreciation, and awareness of the outdoors and wildlife through entertainment media. This hunt should take 12 to 14 points to draw this year. May 25, 2022
The Courts can and do go back and modify rulings from the bench when situations change. It's not the same question as asking what is the best Colorado OTC archery unit. Elk hunting is a tradition shared by thousands of hunters each fall. Rifle deer hunts are conducted throughout the two week controlled season. Each year we see and possibly harvest bucks that score 190+ B&C including some that score over 200 B&C inches. Here is the pair we use. The Bitterroot Valley has long been known as the best place to take a trophy buck, and it is no secret as the draw odds have been horrible for units 261, 262, and 270. Mule Deer
With a mild winter and wet spring, I really think there could be some gems in these hills for those who hunt hard this fall. We ended up hunting the type 1 BMAs for 6 of the 7 days hunted. Our Montana Elk hunts are conducted on private ranches in West Central Montana near Bozeman, Anaconda, Philpsburg and Deer Lodge, Montana. Our goal is to provide the best fair chase Colorado Elk Hunting and Trophy Mule Deer Hunting available. Arizona Game and Fish mentions that Edwards Park, just south of Mt. Pretty bummed to read this. Archery: Sept. 2 - Oct. 15 Youth, deer only: Oct. 19 - Oct. 20 General: Oct. 21 - Nov. 26 Shoulder seasons: Aug. 15 - Feb. 15, varying dates before and/or after the archery and general seasons Muzzleloader: Dec. 9 - 17 The bad news is it can take decades to draw a coveted tag in some of the premium units. An emerging opportunity for hunters in Region 2 is to hunt mule deer on private lands, where numbers generally are growing. Why do they get this fantastic benefit too?!?!? We ended up hunting the type 1 BMAs for 6 of the 7 days hunted. Colorado is widely regarded as the nation's top mule deer destination. BOOK YOUR 2022 MONTANA FLY FISHING TRIP TODAY! The area consistently produces exceptional trophy mule deer, which are the priority on this hunt. Go on more hunts with better information! The Region H hunt can be a very good hunt on the right year for really good bucks. With only 50 tags on quota, a 20-day season in November and lots of public land to hunt, with a little help from the weather, this hunt should continue to excel well into the future. The best mule deer numbers are found southeast of the Panhandle region of Idaho. A fine hunter in his own right, Guy has taken several trophy animals and has become an expert in trophy hunting as well. If you do, remember this: Dont pass the first day what youd shoot the last. Best Montana Moose Hunts 2020 Galleries. And thats just what can be done by driving in a pickup. Rifle or Archery Elk hunting, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Moose, MT Lion Montana Guided Hunts. Maps for Montana Deer, Elk, and Mountain Lion Hunting Districts Select a hunting unit from the dropdown menu or click a unit on the map below. March 24, 2020
This general hunt region consists of a big, rugged region adjacent to the famed Region G area we spoke about above. The 2021 state estimate was 293,950, which is down 34,363 from 2020. New Mexico, Socorro County117 pronghorn in B&C records 13. For those interested in doubling up their hunting pursuits, most of the good whitetail habitat in Missouri River Country also harbors healthy populations of pheasants. I would not go back without it! Reading the bill I took it that way unless I misunderstood it. Since the draw odds are slim for this area we cant book a hunt for this unit specifically. Some of our hunting areas include vast open ridges with . As you can imagine 270-50 has the highest number of landowner applicants for any deer permit and by far the highest for nonresidents. Its a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. For the most part, hunters should be prepared to hunt at least a mile from vehicle access, as elk usually keep a buffer of about that distance from motorized activity. We cover Units 240, 250, 261, 262, and 270 for Mule Deer Draw Tag Hunters! . Based purely on the data and uncertainty going into this years Wyoming mule deer draw this list should probably be blank, however, that does not work well for readers so I will give you the best list possible with the information I have at this time. And every other year at least one or two of the four tags go to landowners. Sonora Mexico Mule Deer Hunts. The open country provides endless glassing opportunities and the gentle rolling hills allow for fairly easy hiking. The archery season runs September 3-October 16, most rifle seasons run October 22-November 27, and the muzzleloader season runs December 10-18. Some large bucks also have been taken in GMU 45 in recent years. Archers typically find the best success in the cool hours around daylight and sunset. From southwest deserts to coastal forests, mule deer hunting presents a variety of challenges. Like Utah, Arizona is famous for producing record-book mule deer. Mule Deer- Limited Entry Units 87 & 89 - Worldwide Trophy Adventures. Hunters can expect to see 75-100 deer a day and as many as 10 bucks. These were usually posted as enrolled if there was no access. Like many others, I have 12 points for deer and elk. , I (Montana resident), drew this tag this year and was wondering how the hunt went for you. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line in 2023. Somebody please post up the best trophy mule deer hunting in Montana so anyone that is smart enough to work the google can pull up this thread! This is an action packed hunt during the rut. What I thought I could accomplish in a day would have taken a solid week. READY TO GO ON YOUR EASTERN MONTANA MULE DEER HUNT? This hunt can be had with only about six or seven points. Public land is not a problem here. Sand Hill country GMUs 31, 32, and 33 in the southeast corner of the state also are capable of producing B&C bucks. The zone we hunted also had leftover antlerless tags available for $100 apiece. $5,400/Hunter. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. My partner passed on a good deer the first day and we spent the majority of the rest of our hunt trying to find that deer. The Bitterroot Valley in Montana is known for and home to some of the State's Best Mule Deer Hunting! This is also a decent application choice for a lower point holder, as the 400-tag quota does put enough tags into the random portion of the draw to be worth a shot at about 5%. ABOUT; OUR HUNTS. Kevin Steele from Petersen's HUNTING speaks to Jordan Egli of Burris Optics about the all-new Veracity PH Riflescope. The recommended hotel also has a restaurant. Looking at maps sent to us by the state we found what looked to be really large areas of BLM land (Bureau of Land Management) that were accessible by vehicle. This hunt has been getting better and better each year and now seems to be producing some very consistent results as of the late. RAB, As phutch30 stated there are good mule deer numbers in the Breaks, but one thing to keep in mind about the Breaks is the FWP - Biologist have issued a lot of elk permits over the last few years (both antlerless and A9/B12). There are a few 2023 dates left open. Archery and muzzleloader tags in those units will require fewer points.. Again, pay close attention to the regulations to make sure you are properly licensed to hunt mule deer. Our hunts take place from open country on the high plains east of the Rockies, to the steep, rugged mountains of the Greys River. Give my best to your Dad, Be well my friend John McGannon WildEats, Isnt the 90/10 split for the trophy species onlygoat, sheep, bear ect? Each tag was priced at right around $700/hunter. Hobo Hilton. However, by looking at all point levels from 1-16, multiple applicants drew permits in just about every point level from 0-16. They are the Henry Mountains, Antelope Island, the Alton CWMU and the Paunsaugunt. We decided to apply for deer only as we had done a combo tag 2 years prior on a bow hunt. The bowhunting here can be very lucrative. Along with exceptional big-game hunting the Montana's Missouri River Country boasts robust populations of sharp-tailed and sage grouse, and gray (Hungarian) partridges. The mule deer grow quite large, and it is not uncommon for a deer to exceed 325 pounds in weight fully dressed out. The eastern side of the state provides good mule deer hunting. Hunters stay at a comfortable, nice, and clean hotel of our recommendation and are picked up and dropped off every day. The downside of hunting the rut is that most of the mature bucks are harvested every season while they are more vulnerable as they are out chasing does. Professional outfitters' and guides' services are also available throughout the region, providing expert services to out-of-state hunters. If it borders the BMA it becomes part of the BMA. So that is 7 permits skimmed off the top immediately for residents. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; As a general rule, elk density also increases from east to west. We chose Montana for a few different reasons, none of which could be overshadowed by the convenience of having their lottery run by mid-April. With 80 tags on quota and an October season, with a little help from some weather, this hunt could create a great opportunity for a big staged up high-country deer during the final five days of the hunt. This information really put a damper on much of the areas we thought we were going to hunt. Tag holders can expect to see 20+ quality bucks per day. Kevin Steele, Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING talks with JJ Reich of HEVI-Shot about the new offerings for 2023. For example, in 2019 there were over 1400 applicants with zero points, and one person drew. There are few secrets on premium LE units. The best thing about Montana Whitetails is that Keith and Bob are bowhunters and understand the quarry and the strategy to harvest big bucks. (Shutterstock / Cornelius Doppes photo) Data can be deceiving. Its often reported the state is home to more pronghorn than people in a good weather year. Nevada, Washoe County114 pronghorn in B&C records 14. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "bennordquist-20"; Some of Lewis' most poetic lines were reserved for their surroundings in Montana where he wrote, "As we passed on it seemed as if those scenes of visionary enchantment would never have an end.". Bring your good quality optics and you stand a very good chance at a 150-170 class deer with the possibility of finding up to a 200 class deer. THE BEST MULE DEER RIFLE CALIBER. Needless to say, hunting mule deer in Wyoming in its current capacity is going to probably be less than ideal. The French Creek hunt was turned from a general hunt into a limited quota hunt about ten years ago and the hunt here seems to be getting better and better each year. Its late July and Im either on a boat or in my office and the expectation of the ever-familiar chime of a new email notification goes off on my phone. This county should have its own chapter in the record books with over 100 B&C entries for mule deer. If you are looking to harvest the buck of a lifetime, this is your unit and we are your outfitter. Post-season 2019 counts in the Pioneer Mountains elk . The restaurant is open early for breakfast and stays open for a late dinner. This is an action packed hunt during the rut. The West side of the Bighorns is a mule deer producing factory on a good year. If you have any questions about the general deer hunting opportunities or outfitters in Montana, give us a call. 15% of the 45 permits are guaranteed to resident and nonresident landowners alike. This long window should offer the option of hunting the pre, peak and post rut. I think it might be time for a class action law suit against the State of Wyoming on tag allocation. Montana Region 7 (made up of districts 700 to 705) in the southeast corner of the state, especially the southern parts of the region, wasnt as affected by the brutal winter of 201112 as other parts of the state and has good numbers of pronghorn in each district, Vore said. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Idaho. Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line in 2023. Pheasant season spans the entire general rifle season for deer and elk. The trophies are big. With plenty of deer, a good buck here can be a tough endeavor, but they are here if you know where to look. Due to this fact, many of those folks hunting elk shot mule deer, as well. Area 141-1, The Green River Lakes hunt is a bit more of a long-shot for big bucks, but I just have a bit of a hunch that given the type of country in this area there could be some big bucks this fall to mine out of here for someone who hunts hard. Nebraska.
Mule Deer Hunting Rates Get your hunt booked now! For some hunters, pursuing elk, mule deer, and pronghorn in the western United States is a future dream; for others its a yearly routine. This country is big, rugged and nothing comes easy here, but the bucks here are by far the largest in the state, historically speaking. Pronghorn tags in both states can be very difficult to draw. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; Hunter success here can be a bit spotty with an average of 57% success but if a hunter is in good shape and hunts hard, a big buck could be possible here. The journals of Meriwether Lewis, co-captain of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, contain detailed descriptions of the country through which they passed new lands teaming with elk, deer and antelope. Book your next hunt in Wyoming with expert hunting guides at R & K Hunting today. I also recommend the cellphone adapter that makes taking photos a breeze. ELK HUNTS; . Since we pride our hunters and offer great quality hunting guides, we are 100% fair chase. If 10% are allocated to the nonresident draw, that means four tags maximum (rounded down) go to nonresidents. 28-Oct-08. Hopefully this change wont happen for nonresidents. No other state comes close to Wyoming's endless harvesting options and ecosystems. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. There are seven different hunting districts within our area; these include units 204, 240, 260, 261, 262, 250, and 270. Core habitat for elk in northeastern Montana is found adjacent to the Missouri River and tributary creeks. Area 128 near Dubois has November hunt dates and limited tags, and units 101 and 102 of the Southwest Desert country have solid deer numbers and great vehicle access. Area 60-1, The Pole Mountain, on forest hunt, is probably the definition of a sleeper hunt unit. I know the 380 bull tag in Montana is a prime example. With plenty of deer, a good buck here can be a tough endeavor, but they are here if you know where to look. Harvest is generally limited to 180" bucks and larger, but our goal for each client is to get a 190 . They further broke that number down into each region as follows: region 1 with 6,055; region 2 with 9,551; region 3 with 43,025; region 4 with 58,082; region 5 with 32,103; region 6 with 67,994; and region 7 with 77,140. Hunting the last week of October tends to be the best bet for the biggest bucks. 14,019 Views. Hunter success here can be a bit spotty with an average of 57% success but if a hunter is in good shape and hunts hard, a big buck could be possible here. We decided to try our hand at getting some tags in our neighboring state of Montana. Archery season runs in September and most rifle seasons occur during October, with some exceptions. This area is mountainous and does contain about 25% wilderness at the very top of the unit. Almost feels like a time share that well never get to use. Be ready to glass all day. Applicants with 10 and 12 points also drew four tags respectively. mtmuley Sep 25, 2013 #6 So unfair and biased. The application for antelope licenses is June 1. The Tendoy elk management unit (HDs 300, 302 and 328) continued to exceed management objectives after the 2019 hunting season, and long-term data trends indicate a stable population. This hunt takes fewer points to draw, mostly because of the larger tag quota (600) and the larger portion of wilderness (21%) inside this region. Being able to hunt these deer during the rut with a rifle gives our clients and amazing edge to harvest a nice mature Mule deer buck. Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING magazine, Kevin Steele is at the Steiner Optics booth with Alberto Corbetta to discuss the Predator 4 and Predator 8. This hunt should take about five or six points to draw this year with a random draw of about 10% for those with less than five points. By Bethany Grace September 17, 2022 Updated on February 14, 2023. *Illustration by Robert Neaves courtesy of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Characteristics of a mule deer CAUTION! A type 2 BMA has a limited number of hunters allowed on that property per day. Publisher, Kevin Steele is with Brett Marquardt from Streamlight Inc. discussing the new Streamlight Pro Tac 2.0, the latest edition in the Pro Tac series. During the rut large bucks appear in an effort to pass on their genes to receptive does. 1 Hunter - 1 Guide. Abundant access to public land is one of the major attractions of elk hunting in Montana's Missouri River Country (there are more than a million acres of land open to public hunting in the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge alone). Large chunks of the private land in Area 7 are enrolled in Wyomings Access Yes program, which opens private land to public hunting, with some restrictions in certain areas. |
Statistically, the most coveted deer permit in Montana is just outside Darby in the southernmost portion of the Bitterroot Valley. Area 78-1, The French Creek hunt was turned from a general hunt into a limited quota hunt about ten years ago and the hunt here seems to be getting better and better each year. Here are some key points when breaking down BMAs: There are 2 types: Type 2 must be signed up and registered beforehand. Petersen's HUNTING Publisher, Kevin Steele is in the CZ booth with Dylan Rice at SHOT Show to talk about CZ 600 Series Trail rifle. The answer is landowners. The Montana application deadline for deer is April 1, 2022. Given the size and range of the mule deer in our area, using horses and mules is a must to cover ground and access the best habitats. Skip B: Let the Flower Children howl. I fully expect 10 preference points to be a requirement to hunt here with 100% surety. Clark "Bart" Bartkowski's mule deer hunt of a lifetime happened this year after drawing one of the coveted mule deer permits for the East Fork of the Bitterroot. Each of these units is worth the wait and gives the hunter an amazing opportunity at Pope & Young and Boone & Crockett bulls, he said. Historically, the bucks are actually larger in this region than they are in Region G, however they are harder to get to and there are less of them. This is a very solid hunt in my opinion for the meager three or four point spend. These tags aren't easy to draw but it's worth the wait. Each fall, hunters from all over the country, and around the world, set their sights on the mountains, valleys, and wide-open spaces of the West in search of adventure, camaraderie, a world-class trophy, and the opportunity to fill the freezer with lean protein. Eastmans Publishing, Inc. is a holding company engaged in publishing. The good news is many Western states have huge mule deer herds and produce phenomenal bucks. Mike Ornoski has bowhunted in Arizona for more than 35 years. No matter what quarry is pursued, modern-day hunters are sure to echo the sentiments of Meriwether Lewis who concluded Missouri River Country includes "one of the fairest portions of the globe."