However, counts and harvest in this district were low last year. Similar to mule deer, whitetail fawn recruitment this spring was below average at 44 fawns per 100 adults. Montana's deer tag runs almost $700, which is much higher than many other Western . Most elk hunting opportunities are allocated through limited permit or B License drawing in the region, except for HD 690, where general licenses are valid for antlerless elk during the general season. Hunters are encouraged to read the regulations closely as there are multiple changes this year including some hunting district boundary changes in HDs 201/202/240/285 and elimination of HDs 203 and 283. Also, I was curious if there is a . The regulation for this district has been liberalized to allow either-sex mule deer harvest on the general deer license. Prepare for the cold and you'll be fine on the warm days. Also during rifle season this area gets pounded by deer hunters in the rut. Starting with Elk Hunting in Montana: Know Before You Go, Prime Elk Hunting Unit 1: Snowy Mountains District 411, Prime Elk Hunting Unit 2: East Bridger District 393, Prime Elk Hunting Unit 3: South Little Belt Mountains District 540, Start Now for Your Montana Elk Hunt of a Lifetime, Busy Farm Finds Support in LandTrust Partnership. Region 1 is not a priority surveillance area for CWD this year. The east side of the range is home large herds of elk that contain a significant number of really big bulls. Discovering the Best Elk Units in Montana. Create a free account to read the rest of this deer hunting note! There was a record high elk count this year, including bulls, across HDs 445 and 455 this past March. The rifle permits have tough odds, but most of the archery permits can be drawn every two to five years as a non-resident. From about 2012-2020, mule deer numbers had been increasing in southeast Montana, a result of mild winters and good spring/summer moisture. A buddy and I drew that tag this year. For 2022, Montana did away with the 900-20 archery elk permit. Looking for general information on Mt unit 700 archery (798-21), Would like to exchange a few PM's or talk to someone who has hunted the area and/or knows the area well and wouldn't mind sharing some thoughts about access, camping, hunt strategies etc. 700 404 651 530 400 611 401 620 640 410 650 500 100 630 380 580 520 680 570 121 447 413 560 417 340 311 1 03 426 110 . I hunted east of the there about five years ago in unit 410 so pretty familiar with the landscape, just looking at some potential areas to camp, access and hunt should I draw the archery tag. Only sevenmountain goattags are available within Region 1. This e Those portions of Garfi eld and McCone Counties lying within the following-described boundary: Beginning at the Musselshell River Bridge near Mosby on State Route 200, then north down the Musselshell River to the Missouri River, then east and north down the Missouri River to the Fort Peck Powerhouse, then south along the east shore of the Fort Peck Reservoir to Big Dry Creek, then south up Big Dry Creek to Little Dry Creek, then up Little Dry Creek to State Route 200, then west along said route to the Musselshell River Bridge, the point of beginning. Id love to talk to your son about his experience in unit 700. Despite good numbers, wolves can be difficult to find, dont always move as a pack and often move long distances. However , I think you might have a hard time getting solid info from any one on here in regards to elk or deer in SE montana . Travel and hunt in groups whenever possible. Avoid carcass sites and concentrations of ravens and other scavengers. In the eastern portions of the region, sharptail numbers are expected to be fair to good. Thank you. Hunters will find better densities and good public land opportunity in this remote portion of Region 7.. Overall, elk numbers should be similar to last year. Elk movement and harvest is going to be influenced by the arrival of snow. Northwest Montana has abundantmountain lionnumbers. Elk should be in good weight and condition going into the fall after a wet spring and early summer. HD 319 is now a limited draw permit for mule deer bucks, along with a limited number of B licenses; therefore, hunterscannothunt mule deer in HD 319 unless they have either this permit or a B license specific to HD 319. A few districts where elk habitat and numbers are very low and difficult to find offer either-sex harvest on a general license. Wolf-related legislation and Fish and Wildlife Commission season changes may affect several aspects of the 2022 hunting and trapping seasons, and hunters are encouraged to closely check regulations and the FWP website for updates. Apr 25, 2017 #3 Oldbig New member. Hunter harvest surveys from 2021 suggest an estimated elk harvest of 41 in HD 703 and 132 in HD 701. Phone: (435) 865-1020. Hunting is limited to a few hunters who received a license through a special drawing. Gray partridge is almost always the least numerous of our game birds in the region, and as a result, are unevenly distributed on the landscape. JavaScript is disabled. The Hunt Started this Morning! Montana Unit 700-20 Bull Elk. The Snowy Mountains arent quite as impressive as some of the nearby ranges, but they still jut up from the prairie in sharp contrast to the surrounding landscape. Big Game Hunting - need help on Elk hunting in MT-district 700--fort peck-cmr - I was rewarded with a rifle permit for bull elk in region 700,701,703. . Elk numbers in HD 380 may be down a little in some localized areas, but overall numbers continue to be within objective. Out of those 700, half of them were bull elk. Advertise on HuntScore and reach hunters interested in this hunting unit! Made good on the bull tag. Total numbers of pronghorn have been good in the Sheridan area. Distribution and hunter access to elk will depend mostly on weather. Carry and know how to use bear spray. The 2021 elk survey in the Bears Paw area was above the 2019 survey and over twice the 15-year average. The general elk distribution in the Missouri River Breaks includes 1,101,344 acres of private land, 30% of which is currently enrolled in FWP?s Block Management Program. Remember that HDs 319 and 341 have been combined into one district, HD 319 and HDs 321 and 334 have also been combined into one district, HD 321. Over the last 20+ years, we've collected hunting research and data,so join Huntin' Fool today and access the best research tools for hunting Elk in Montana including3D Maps, Draw Odds,Consultations,and much more. This district pushes close to the Missouri Breaks, an area rumored to contain . Wings can also be turned into area wildlife biologists or game wardens. Full on rain gear isn't really necessary, if it's raining that hard you won't be getting around in the gumbo anyways. Mule deerrecruitment in the Helena area was up this spring compared to last year with good winter survival, though overall numbers are still low. Pronghorn numbers in HD 586 have been mostly stable over the past four years but remain about 25 percent below average. PO Box 250 White-tailed deernumbers have been on an upward trend in recent years after several hard winters suppressed recruitment between 2017-2019. Public land and private land percentages can sometime be misleading. The ridges and slopes are covered with scattered timber and numerous basins. Drought in 2021 led to EHD outbreaks in many parts of the region. White-tailed deerdensities saw a decline following another significant epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) that occurred mainly on the eastern portion of the region in the Culbertson area along the Missouri River. Stay alert, especially when hearing or visibility is limited. Hunters should seek areas with a variety of other abundant food sources like serviceberries, chokecherries and mountain ash. 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. Antlerless whitetail licenses will now be allocated similar to antlerless mule deer licenses. Despite the lack of towering peaks, the rugged terrain can be just as impressive and contain enormous herds of elk. HD 302 has seen strong buck-to-doe ratios but is likely experiencing lower fawn recruitment due to drought. Pheasanthunting on the Ninepipe Wildlife Management Area near Ronan and surrounding area could be challenging this year. Joined: Dec 2020. Those lucky enough to be in the 15% of applicants who draw a bull permit should find a Montana ranch to hunt on. . Are you resident or NR ? These populations use the Big Hole for summer range then migrate out of the valley by early November. Thanks in Advance. 700 East 51st Street . After that it dried up got hot and wasn't enough feed to keep em on public and hunting got real tough. A big change that took place last year was that if you draw an elk permit, you can only hunt elk in that unit while your season is open. Mule deer numbers in the agricultural areas near Great Falls are doing well, but populations in the mountain/mountain foothill areas are still rebounding from lower numbers of the past few years. As a reminder, many hunting districts have changed. Many districts require a permit or B license, awarded through the statewide application process earlier this year. Of the three, blue and ruffed grouse make up the majority of the mountain grouse population. I'm going to be on the west side of the mussleshell and along the missouri river. Drought has likely impacted brood success, especially in areas lacking riparian areas. Hunters will receive information and a map of that does locations and history after returning the collar. Public land and private land percentages can sometime be misleading. Hunting opportunity will be similar to last year, but much reduced from a few years back. Forest grouse populations are considered to be stable in the region. Last years extreme drought likely contributed to changes in elk distribution as animals searched for areas with forage. If you plan on hunting in higher elevation, as a rule of thumb, expect the tempture to decrease roughly 5 for every 1000' in elevation gain. However, hunters should be aware that elk are scarce in these districts; often highly transient or occurring in small, isolated pockets; and primarily found on private land. Do you have any points built up, preference or bonus? The landowner draw takes place before the regular draw. White-tailed deer continue to expand in hunting districts in the Dillon area, but harvest opportunity will remain almost exclusively on private lands. Brood success will be low in areas hardest hit by the drought and improve eastward. Unlock the secrets of limited license lotteries and discover drawing and harvest trends to create a better hunt planning strategy. Kolbe reports that although mule deer in the Little Belt, Castle and eastern Big Belt Mountains experienced significant declines 10 to 15 years ago, their numbers have been steadily increasing since then. . You are using an out of date browser. Unlock the secrets of limited license lotteries and discover drawing and harvest trends to create a better hunt planning strategy. Near the Sweetgrass Hills, pronghorn have been well under long-term average in previous years but have recovered somewhat and are just slightly below average this year. lands in HD 260 as listed. remains above its population objective of 400 - 600 elk with just under 700 elk observed in surveys this past winter. This ranch offers premium Montana private land elk hunts, as the animals have access to food and water, but can retreat to the mountains in a matter of minutes if theyre so inclined. Elksurveys in the Missouri River Breaks in 2022 were 43 percent below the long-term average, from 1995 to 2022. There are districts, or units, in the eastern half that have fewer elk roaming about, but those that are there are easier to spot with the wide-open spaces. Best bet is to make at least one scouting trip and get some boots one the ground looking for sign. Valid in all Region Outside of these areas, elk numbers are generally low, but numbers have been increasing at a moderate rate, accompanied by a gradual expansion into previously unoccupied habitat. Upland game bird numbers in Region 2 are generally looking pretty good for the 2022 fall season. Buck-to-doe and fawn-to-doe ratios remain below average. As snow covers the ground up high, the elk migrate lower to ensure they still have ample feed to continue packing on the pounds for what can end up being a long Montana winter. The landowner you book from may have horses or ATVs you can use, but sometimes it comes down to quartering the animal and packing meat out in a backpack. When you know where youre going, now look into whether or not you will need a special permit, or if that general tag meets all of your needs. Got Terribly busy and missed some time on here! out! Pretty much the only thing for certain is the wind will blow. You cannot hunt a general elk unit. The Yellowstone River corridor in southern Richland County experienced a more widespread outbreak, but nevertheless whitetail numbers remain good through much of the area. There are 4 OTC hunts in this unit. Due to a cool spring, huckleberry crops are patchy and late to ripen. . Not all weather elements are available within the unit. I'm also curious about elk behavior there in general. The Butte area wildlife biologists name and phone number is on the collar. This kind of weather can have very adverse effects onnesting hens and young broods. But even if you didnt draw a special permit this year, Region 7 offers opportunities to hunt elk with a general license. This was influenced primarily by extremely low fawn survival through last winter due to extreme drought over the past two years. In some areas near the mountains, mule deer numbers are more than 25 percent below long-term average and the regulations changed to reflect this, so only mule deer bucks can be harvested there on the general deer license. Buck harvest in the region has been up from lows in 2017 in most hunting districts and biologist anticipate buck availability to be similar to last year. Hunters in HDs 515, 535, and 540 can expect similar opportunities to last year in this area. Just about in the middle of the state lies a small mountain range. I drew that tag this season and am looking for some advice as well, first time in that area. Pronghornpopulations in southeast Montana increased from last year and are 27 percent above the 10-year average. CWD continues to be present across the Ruby watershed. As a result, bird populations are expected to be stable in this area and similar to last year, around average or slightly above average. That large body also means when its time to harvest your animal, and get the meat back to your truck to have it processed, you have to put in a bit of work. White-tailed deer populations are considered strong, but pronghorn numbers are mixed, and in many areas, they have still not completely recovered from the tough winter of 2017/18. Sage-grousecounts this spring showed numbers to be at a 10-year low. Non-resident hunters who draw a general license and are not successful in drawing a special, limited entry permit will still have options. #13. The Missouri River Breaks (MRB) encompasses 17,239 square miles of Fergus, Petroleum, Garfield, Phillips and Valley counties in northeastern Montana. Some areas of the west-central and northeastern portions of the region may have better concentrations, whereas the southern third (which experienced severe drought in 2020 as well) and northwestern portion of the region were hit hardest. Game damage and management deer B licenses do not count toward this total. Bull on Monday 7x8, 389 yards, 300 WM 215gr Berger. Recruitment from last winter was decent, as were bull-to-cow ratios. The areas that received good moisture throughout the early brood-rearing season in late June into July will have the greatest brood success and best pheasant numbers this fall. Allowing spike bulls to be harvested increases opportunity for hunters and prevents accidental violations if spikes are mistaken for antlerless elk. Calf recruitment here was observed to be a little lower than average, likely due to effects of drought, but populations are still above objective going into this hunting season. Yeah were always trying to plan two yrs. Based on weather station data, spring temperatures tended to be below average, precipitation was near or slightly below average, and nesting habitat considered fair to good. In areas where surveys were conducted in spring of 2022,elkcalf recruitment was similar to last year: relatively low compared to other parts of Montana, but consistent with the five-year average for areas where surveys were conducted in northwest Montana. Keep us posted of how it goes as I hope to draw this someday. Not valid on National Forest lands The populations on the south side of the Breaks in regions 4 and 7 are still above elk objectives. Walk walk walk. Enough cover to be protected, but open fields in which to graze. The effort to find suitable cover may increase substantially in the drought stricken western portions of the region this year. . Few either-sexantelope(pronghorn) licenses are allocated in the Helena area. Double check theregulationsto be sure. From check station and wing barrel data, we observe that juveniles (birds hatched that year) typically comprise most of the birds harvested (60 to 80 percent depending on the species). While elk numbers are at all-time high levels with extra harvest opportunities in some areas, mule deer numbers generally still remain lower than in previous years. #19. Bird populations in this area of the region are expected to be slightly below average. Create a free account to read the rest of this access note! Three consecutive mild winters have contributed to normal overwinterelkcalf survival, which should pay dividends for hunters on public lands this year and in the coming years. Other areas allow you to shoot either sex, while others allow everything except spikes and forks. Toggle between terrain, satellite, and topographic views, 1st choice license applications and licenses drawn, Draw odds for resident and nonresident applicants, Harvest stats by hunt_code, manner, season, sex, type, Average # of days between precip or snow event, Probability of other weather events (thunder, hail, etc) by by month. Grasses and forbs have grown high, which provide good cover and abundant insect forage for broods to eat. Fawn production seemed better in areas with more cropland, but buck to doe ratios were higher in the mountain foothill areas. Land ownership has been important to humankind as far back as we can we can determine from archeological, oral, and written histories. Florida. Also put in for a cow and drew that. Consult with Hunters Who Have Hunted in Your Unit, Join Now! Specifically, early vs late season elk presence in the area. Back in 2020, there were 345 bull elk harvested from this district; 55% of those bulls were 6-points or larger. Access to private lands that have elk during the hunting season is always a key consideration in HDs 390 and 391. Montana. The hunts take place in the Missouri Breaks on both private and public ground. A grasshopper outbreak has infested much of the region for the second year in a row. HD 303 is a special permit area where overall population numbers appear to be growing over the past 10 years but with lower recent fawn recruitment. Hope to hear back from you! Took 3 weeks off work for it. Since habitat conditions in the area are quite variable, the key to a successful season for hunters will be finding the areas where the habitat is in the best condition and focusing their hunting efforts there. As in other years, hunter success will be influenced by snowfall during the hunting season. Grouse hunters headed to Region 6 will likely encountersharptailpopulations similar to the fall of 2021. 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