Phillips and Valley counties in northeastern Montana. Public land and private land percentages can sometime be misleading. Elk numbers in HD 380 may be down a little in some localized areas, but overall numbers continue to be within objective. Mule deer populations in HD 321 (formerly 321 and 334) appear steady although very low density. Northwest Montana has abundantmountain lionnumbers. The most recent population estimate . See all stats but the last 2 years with a free account! Toggle navigation DRAW ODDS ALASKA BISON BLACK BEAR BROWN BEAR CARIBOU DALL SHEEP ELK MOOSE MOUNTAIN GOAT MUSK OX ARIZONA ELK MULE DEER ANTELOPE COUES DEER DESERT SHEEP CALIFORNIA ELK DEER ANTELOPE Whats new for chronic wasting disease management for 2022. Hunting opportunity will be similar to last year, but much reduced from a few years back. These private ranches and USFS leases contain over 28,000 acres and takes in 2 major drainages. Finally ended up taking a decent bull way back in on the north east side of the forest. Expect decent antler growth this year due to good growing conditions this spring. north and west of Deep Creek in Watch for environmental indicators of recent bear activity. Drew this tag last year. Timely moisture in the spring and early summer has provided quality habitat across the region. Pretty much the only thing for certain is the wind will blow. Hunters can expect deer distribution to be somewhat patchy because of the drought this year, and they will be concentrated in areas with good forage and cover. There are only a fewpronghornhunting opportunities in western Montana. While harvest in 2021 was around average, this years lek counts are down compared to 2021. The Hunt Started this Morning! Sorry I can't be more help. Mule deer hunters should plan to go high in the mountains for the best opportunity at bigger bucks. The archery season dates will allow you to hunt all phases of the rut, while most general rifle hunters wait for weather to push the elk down into lower, more accessible country. In contrast, wet conditions this spring and good forage growth could mean wider distribution of elk and other wildlife this hunting season. In general, large patches of grass and CRP and draws or fields with shrubby cover near farmland are good areas to start looking for gray partridge and other upland birds on the prairie. Some units are brow-tined bull only, meaning you cant shoot cow elk, spike elk, or forked antler elk. If the animal is transported for taxidermy or meat processing, the brain and spinal tissue must be bagged and disposed of in a Class II landfill. cubdrvr 08-Nov-15. I was not successful in drawing a tag this year but we'll keep trying. The message here is that the extra windshield time to reach the southeast corner of Region 7 is absolutely worth it, said Melissa Foster, Glendive/Baker biologist. However, they . If youre a Montana resident, your general tag will allow you to hunt either sex elk. Good luck in the draw! The elk populations on the north side of the Breaks in region 6 have fallen below elk population objectives, with the exception of unit 690. Sharptailnumbers are likely to be similar to last year. This winter has been really good for precipitation across Montana, and if it keeps up, the Breaks units should have a really good horn growth year. Being in the breaks out of Sand Springs, I've driven past that area and around Ft. Peck and really found the country to my liking. Well see what makes them amazing, and how you can use that information to maximize your elk hunt to make it safe and productive, as well as memorable and enjoyable. 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. HH. For most hunting districts in this region,elknumbers remain at or near all-time highs. Contact the applicable land management agency for updates on area closures or fire restrictions. Kolbe also reported that pronghorn populations are also doing well. Expect similar hunting to last year in this area. Some areas of HD 331 were affected by the Alder Creek Fire last year, which means reduced forage and cover in some areas and enhanced forage in others. The ranch has an insulated cabin that acts as base camp for hunting parties. It resembles the badlands. out! The archery season is September 2-October 15, rifle season is October 21-November 26, and muzzleloader season is December 9-17. There have been several changes to elk regulations in the Butte area hunting districts so please check the regulations before heading afield. Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Montana Unit 700: Forums Member List Calendar Active Threads: Previous Thread: Next Thread : Print Thread: Hop To : Page 1 of 2 : 1: 2: Montana Unit 700 #16383241 08/28/21. Taking weather and habitat conditions into consideration, overall hunting success for upland birds is predicted to be below average, although still very dependent on hunter effort. Fawn production looks good again this summer after our third consecutive mild winter. Use temperature ranges to plan and prepare for your hunt. JavaScript is disabled. I've heard a lot about glassing and hunting from a boat and am curious if anyone out there has done this. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Marty Miller, PA. All bow hunters must purchase an archery stamp before hunting. White-tailed deerspring surveys in HDs 502, 525, 555 and 575 showed a modest uptick in over-winter fawn survival in 2022, which should result in some improvement of whitetail numbers for the upcoming hunting season. The 2022 elk hunting season was very successful for rifle hunters as there were great snow conditions during the states five-week rifle season. Hunter harvest surveys from 2021 suggest an estimated elk harvest of 41 in HD 703 and 132 in HD 701. Hunters are asked to deposit only one wing from each bird harvested into one of these barrels or with the Butte, Sheridan or Dillon wildlife biologists offices. Not valid on National Forest lands HD 700 was surveyed in late December 2021, with excellent survey conditions and exceptional observability of the elk. . 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 . If you can find some block management close to those areas is where Id spend most of my time. Use temperature ranges to plan and prepare for your hunt. Hey, just following up on this thread to see how you did? There is some block management up there along with the BLM and forest service. 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. Non-resident hunters must draw a general license in order to be entered into the special drawing. And that 20% species distribution may lie 100% within private lands. Have you ever hunted near that area before? Buck-to-doe ratios remain good, averaging 39 bucks per 100 does in the region. HD 301 populations are holding steady but are also experiencing low fawn recruitment this year. Then, searching LandTrust, discover the private land that allows you to hunt the species of your choice. Create a free account to read the rest of this access note! Elk distribution will likely change from now through the archery season and again during general rifle season due to changes in vegetation, snow levels and hunting pressure. Despite good grain production and some opportunistic moisture in the spring, brood survival appears to be relatively poor. For more information on deer, elk and pronghorn numbers and hunting opportunities in western Montana, check out past editions of the FWP Region 2 Wildlife Quarterly, available online atfwp.mt.gov/r2-wildlife-quarterlies. Happy for him ! Multiple years of drought have taken a toll on bird numbers. In total, 1,379 elk were counted in the HD with a bull ratio of 28 bulls per 100 cows, and a calf ratio of 54 calves to 100 cows. Hunt; Fish; State Parks; Activities; Conservation; Education Weather can vary by elevation. 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. #1. Hunters are reminded to check the regulations as only antlered bucks (i.e. In some areas, hunting districts were combined or reconfigured to create fewer, larger districts. 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. 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. You are using an out of date browser. 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. Best guess is that numbers may remain low until the later portion of general rifle season. HELENA Are you ready for hunting season? Although there are areas where grass and vegetation still remain green and grasshoppers are abundant, the continued drought conditions are expected to cause habitat quality to decline further over the remaining weeks of summer. Visithttps://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/wolffor more information. I would suggest that you make sure you are prepared to walk long distances in a pair of quality boots. Elk Potential 2022 MT Elk Hunt - Unit 700 Eyeman_1 Dec 21, 2021 Dec 21, 2021 #1 Eyeman_1 FNG Joined Jan 21, 2021 Messages 8 If I am successful in drawing a bull tag for Unit 700 in MT next spring, I have an outfitter lined up whom I've spoken to numerous times and have friends referred me to. Following last summers catastrophic Robertson Draw fire, many elk shifted distribution to adjacent hunting districts. Back toward the middle of the state, just south of the Little Belt Mountains, the Little Belt Cattle Company occupies 8,000 acres of prime elk country. In 2020, a single CWD-positive whitetail buck was detected outside the MZ near the Thompson Chain of Lakes, and another CWD-positive was discovered outside the MZ in 2021. Back in 2020, there were 345 bull elk harvested from this district; 55% of those bulls were 6-points or larger. Oct 6, 2021. scopeye. Northwest Montana has abundantwolfnumbers and recent population estimates indicate a relatively stable wolf population. been up there on 3 elk hunts. Are you familiar with the license and permitting process for nonresidents? LPT. Although the Wilks' 454 agreement, . This can help you make casual noise to alert bears to your presence, and it may also increase your chances survival in the event of a bear attack. Mule deer numbers in HD 329 appear to be holding steady, with some growth over the past 10 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. Location. The center of the region, Phillips and Valley counties, saw marginally improved conditions this hatching season and were briefly out of drought status in July. Grasses and forbs have grown high, which provide good cover and abundant insect forage for broods to eat. HD 201. Visitfwp.mt.gov/cwdfor more information. . Montana Hunting Districts. While sage grouse appear to tolerate drought conditions somewhat better than our other game birds, the continued dry conditions, especially in the far-western portions of the region, may impact sage grouse production this year. Through the program, we coordinate with landowners to provide hunting access to more than 7 million acres of private land. The southern Rocky Mountain Front shows overall stability in elk numbers compared to recent years, according to area biologist Brent Lonner. What would be a reasonable expectation of seeing elk. Tipsy Tuesday: Elk Film, Gear, News, & More. Hunters are required to stop at game check stations but stopping at the Libby CWD sampling station is voluntary. If huckleberry crops fail in large areas of northwestern Montana, black bears may move down into lower elevations and riparian areas where they are more accessible to hunters. Pay close attention to the regulations to make sure you are aware of season length and are properly licensed to hunt mule deer. In HD 318, there are pronghorn does that are collared as part of an FWP study. So this next week I have my annual elk hunt in montana and am wondering if anyone out there hunts montana elk that could help me. Cow on Tuesday, 422 yards Bull scored 374 6/8. Once I've found a good forum post, I'll look for users who seem to have a good grasp on the unit and send them a private message seeking more detailed . Elk hunting is challenging in northwest Montana due to difficult terrain, heavily forested areas and densities relatively lower than other areas in Montana. Nutritionally stressed does dont produce as much milk for growing fawns, and many fawns didnt gain enough weight their first summer to make it through the winter months. The Canoe Gulch check station near Libby is no longer in operation and has been replaced by the Libby CWD sampling station located on the south end of Libby (mile marker 35 on Hwy 2). Best bet is to make at least one scouting trip and get some boots one the ground looking for sign. In HD 703 and the eastern three-quarters of HD 701, hunters can pursue any elk with a general license. Go on more hunts with better information! 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