Over the last 25+ years, this trip has proven to be a favorite for WTA clients. Elk thrive amidst this cover. Almost feels like a time share that well never get to use. Montana made a lot of changes to the deer regulations, with goal being to simplify them. Cedar City, UT 84721 Elk may be the marquee quarry in the mind of many visiting hunters, but northeastern Montana also boasts outstanding opportunities for mule and whitetail deer. Utah has always been known for its top-end mule deer, but it also has many different limited entry deer opportunities that will satisfy just about anyone. The Courts can and do go back and modify rulings from the bench when situations change. Montanas Block Management Program opens more than 500,000 additional acres of private land to walk-in public hunting in the region, which is home to the highest concentrations of elk in the state, produces huge bulls, and is responsible for approximately 50 percent of the states elk harvest each year. Kevin Steele, Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING talks with JJ Reich of HEVI-Shot about the new offerings for 2023. Pronghorn Area 38, between Cheyenne and Laramie, is a mix of public and private land where landowners typically charge minimal trespass fees and hunters needed only two preference points to draw a tag in 2018, Decaria said. Snow cover is more likely at this time, making deer more visible. This hunt has been getting better and better each year and now seems to be producing some very consistent results as of the late. Colorado Mule Deer Hunting License fee structure is as follows: DEER Resident adult: $39.75 Resident youth: $15.50 Nonresident adult/fishing combo*: $396.75 Nonresident youth/fishing combo*: $101.50 One final fee is your annual habitat stamp. It's pretty easy to figure out which units offer the best trophy potential and have limited tags (and corresponding tough draw odds). For example, in 2019 there were over 1400 applicants with zero points, and one person drew. It sported horns measuring more than 17 inches. 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. 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. Hike it often in the summer months and note where you see bucks. Although the numbers are down here from the objective by about 25%, the big buck potential here should be very, very good this year. 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. Anyone have input on Idaho unit 59a for mule deer? Neither of us had ever hunted this area before or knew any landowners. 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. Dan Pickar
We have guided and unguided hunts. Although the region is not heralded as a trophy destination for pronghorn, lucky hunters may encounter outsized bucks. This has been considered the holy grail of mule deer permits in the Big Sky State for the past couple decades. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. This hunt has been getting better and better each year and now seems to be producing some very consistent results as of the late. Too many things in our world are going the wrong way. The bowhunting here can be very lucrative. At Montana Rivers & Ridges Outfitter, our guides are Montana natives and well experienced across the state. The most likely areas to produce a record-book pronghorn are GMUs 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 46, 47, and 48. So put on your sweatband and grab your stress ball, were going to take a look at the hard numbers. And in the evening, glass until it's too dark to see, you'll understand and appreciate the term "coming out of the woodwork". Public land is not a problem here. Max points are a must to apply for this hunt. This country is big, rugged and nothing comes easy here, but the bucks here are by far the largest in the state, historically speaking. Dream destinations include the Arizona Strip (units 13A and 13B) or Kaibab Plateau (units 12A East, 12A West, and 12B), but the drawing odds are long, sometimes in the low single digits, Ornoski said. As a reminder, Montana has a squared bonus point system. Although a big buck here would be a very tall order, a fun hunt with limited pressure is what this hunt should offer up on a somewhat later season experience. Our editors have hand-picked these essential pieces of gear to make you a more successful hunter when you hit the game trails this season. This is just another example. By having OnX we were able to find exactly where we could and couldnt be. We offer many different types of Montana Mule Deer Rut Hunts on several private ranches. The Tag: Unit 44 Rifle Mule Deer. Unit 22 is open for archery hunting late August to mid September and then December through the end of January. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Our guided mule deer hunts offer the highest opportunity for a trophy you can display with pride. The Eastern Montana prairie is open country with rolling hills of grass and sagebrush broken up by coulees and deep ravines; carved from thousands of years of flash floods. 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. 16 years worth of buying points all for 1.5% better odds than someone with zero points. *All Combination License prices include the required Base Hunting License, Conservation License, Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Pass, and Application Fees. This can make finding a trophy buck something difficult to do on public land. These guides are somewhat confusing, so read them and get to know the area you plan on hunting. The top states for record mule deer are Colorado, Utah and Idaho. This hunt should take 12 to 14 points to draw this year. Fair Chase, Prime Big Trophy Hunts since 2006. Kali Parmley, Editor-in-chief of Bakccountry Hunter speaks with Bret Maffet of Franchi Firearms to discuss the all new Momentum All Terrain Elite. Most of the state is managed to maximize hunter opportunity each fall. This information really put a damper on much of the areas we thought we were going to hunt. In 2019 there were 7,654 resident applicants for about 35 tags. She said it currently takes six preference points to be guaranteed a pronghorn tag in the draw in Area 73 but added the state allots 25 percent of the total quota in each area to a random drawing of all applicants who chose the area as their first choice. 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. If you are a regular nonresident this means you are in the pool of 8,543 applicants for four tags. Kali Parmley, Editor-in-chief of Bakccountry Hunter speaks with Bret Maffet of Franchi Firearms to discuss the all new Momentum All Terrain Elite. 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. Introducing the Veracity PH from Burris, the perfect combination of reliability, quality, and technology delivering a simple aiming solutiona tool for the hunter that just works. With the versatility to guide you on a Western Montana elk hunt, a spring bear hunt or an Eastern Montana trophy mule deer hunt. Elk may be the marquee quarry in the mind of many visiting hunters, but northeastern Montana also boasts outstanding opportunities for mule and whitetail deer. The 2nd one was 29,000 acres and allowed 8. Mule Deer Hunting Rates Get your hunt booked now! Historically, a hunter with some gumption has a legitimate chance at a 180 buck here and many bigger have been harvested. Home Guided Hunts Retreats Book Hunting Trip Successful Hunts About R&K Hunting Company Inc. 80 W. 100 S. P.O. If you have max points (16) you have a 2% chance at drawing. Hopefully this change wont happen for nonresidents. If you have zero points you have a .004% chance of drawing a tag. Thanks to Toprut, I can better strategize my big game applications with access to detailed unit profile information, hunt quotas, draw odds, harvest info, and more. Mule deer are widely distributed throughout the region but most heavily concentrated in the Missouri Breaks and adjacent prairie habitat. So youre probably wondering, how is it possible that zero nonresidents drew this tag in 2018? I have been very hard on this hunt in the past, however the recent historical data here is very positive, particularly when compared to everything else currently going wrong in Wyoming. A type 2 BMA has a limited number of hunters allowed on that property per day. 2022 MONTANA RIVERS AND RIDGES OUTFITTER LLC. If awarded we are going to try to stay on the eastern side of the state due to the drive from Louisiana.. . This hunt can be had with only about six or seven points. Dates: October 27-31, 2023. Statistically, the most coveted deer permit in Montana is just outside Darby in the southernmost portion of the Bitterroot Valley. No population reduction was observed higher in the Ruby watershed. This year we would have limited time and left the idea of the Elk/Combo out of the equation. Arizona and New Mexico are home to huge pronghorn bucks, including the current world record, which scored 96-4/8 B&C points and was killed in Socorro County, New Mexico, in 2013. |
Our Memberships Include The Most Accurate Draw Odds Available, Join Now! More than 295 ranches are enrolled in the Block Management Program here, which provides licensed sportsmen with free access to about 1.3 million acres of mule and whitetail deer, antelope, and elk habitat. The best thing about Montana Whitetails is that Keith and Bob are bowhunters and understand the quarry and the strategy to harvest big bucks. A Muley Doe decoy is a must in Unit 76.The situation in Unit 76 is representative of several OTC mule deer units in Idaho. We narrowed down 5-6 different type 2 BMAs to register for. Hopefully, some of what I have learned can help you if your itch to hunt out of state gets to the point where you need to try it. It can take six or more points to draw a tag for the rifle season, but the area offers abundant public land, including BLM, state wildlife areas, and National Forest Service property. The type 2s were crawling with other hunters and the quality of deer we saw on these properties was not what we were after. Be ready to glass all day. So that is 7 permits skimmed off the top immediately for residents. THE BEST MULE DEER RIFLE CALIBER. Deer move throughout the day, typically to change beds as the shade transitions. This showed us what private, BLM, BMA and State lands were. Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line in 2023. Phone: (435) 865-1020, Big Game Combination License (Elk & Deer), Bow and Arrow License (mandatory for all archery hunts), Preference Point Fee for Combination License (optional), Outfitter Preference Point Fee for Combination License (optional but must hunt with an outfitter). Mule deer and white-tailed deer are the most widely distributed and abundant big game mammals in Montana. 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. Guy Eastman, Editor-In-Chief
This area is mountainous and does contain about 25% wilderness at the very top of the unit. This is an action packed hunt during the rut. Southeast Montana Rifle Mule Deer. Unit 22. The 2021 mule deer population estimate is the lowest since 2014. The winter was very mild on these deer and the buck to doe ratio is very, very good right now. I'm not going out on a limb and making any bold predictions, but the science is adding up. 5. 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 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. All Rights Reserved. Wyoming. The unit is overrun with hunters. We have an extremely limited number of very high-demand mule deer tags available for hunters during the January rut. PS I from Nevada. Hey Chopperz, as of right now it has only become law for the Big 5. This hunt is one of only two limited quota hunts inside the Region G zone where 15 lucky applicants will hunt for big rut staged high country deer during the final two weeks of the month of October. Get our No-BS newsletter to your email box around twice a month. Like Utah, Arizona is famous for producing record-book mule deer. Publisher Kevin Steele is in the Beretta booth with Logan Killam, the Shotgun Product Manager, to discuss the all new Beretta A300 Ultima Turkey. The sound of a bugling bull elk or the sight of two monster 6x6s fighting for mountain dominance is a memory that will stay with a hunter for a lifetime. 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? Statewide, mule deer populations in Montana during there 2018 season were hovering around 334,965, which is down 13.23% from a peak in 2017, but still vastly higher than the low in 2012 of 211,361. The answer is us pushing for more QDM out West, period! 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. 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. The terrain where you'll find mule deer ranges from dry, high-desert foothills to the rugged, mountainous, alpine zone. This hunt area is the other limited quota hunt unit inside the general Region G area. I fully expect 10 preference points to be a requirement to hunt here with 100% surety. For many hunters, even those who dont live in the region, western big-game hunting is a passion that consumes them year-round. Pheasant season spans the entire general rifle season for deer and elk. In early June a successful applicant can request a BMA guide that will be delivered around the end of July. Like many others, I have 12 points for deer and elk. Beginners usually hunt mule deer after some guidance before going for any . 20. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. 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. Then you have the, Colorado Corner Crossing Here We Go Again, 10 Most Common Big Game Violations Part 8 Hunter Trespassing, To Feed Or Not To Feed. $5,900/Hunter. My best MT bucks came from heavily timbered units that have limited glassing opportunities. Elk are found in other areas, but most are located within a few miles of these prime locations. The Missouri Breaks also hold modest numbers of whitetails, particularly in creek bottoms containing deciduous cover. Hunter success here has drifted steadily up over the past five years and now nearly reaches about 70% on the best years. But then again the world is upside down these days. Due to the vast quantity of applicants for this unit, the point system does very little for you in return. 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.". 5 Day/night Mule Deer Hunts - $4250 5 day 6 night Mule deer hunt - $4700 if available $1500 deposit to book your hunt Add antelope - $500 (drawing license required) Draw units will typically take a number of years and points to draw a tag and have more trophy class deer. I looked at those stats a few years ago and resident landowners were drawing one of those coveted tags every three years on average. Obviously these are the funds that are used to fund the States road system, educational system, law enforcement, health system and the like. Years of development and pushing the limits of what is possible in a rifle optic have led up to this moment. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Hunter success here has drifted steadily up over the past five years and now nearly reaches about 70% on the best years. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit"; 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 mule deer, including 3D Maps, Draw Odds, Consultations, and much more. James and his guides live in the woods, and would be happy to share one of these experiences with you. I ended up filling my tag with my biggest Mule Deer to date on our 2. day. The deadline for nonresident applications for archery and rifle elk licenses is March 15. Although the thought of the 90/10 proposal could be very difficult to comprehend for most of you at this point, I really do think if it does in fact happen for deer, elk and antelope, I would be very surprised if it happened before the 2024 hunting season. A lot of large bucks stay nocturnal during the general rifle season, making them very hard to find. All Petersen's Hunting subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. However, there are no guarantees a nonresident will even get a tag. The rugged "breaks" along the Missouri contain dense stands of ponderosa pines and junipers. 3. There needs to be some serious adjustments to the hunting seasons in this unit. Our trophy mule deer hunts are only for those who have already drawn a 270 Mule deer permit in Montana, if you have questions about how to apply feel free to contact us through the button below and we can help you out there. If you do, remember this: Dont pass the first day what youd shoot the last. I am currently applying for those myself. Temperatures can be quite warm in September and early October, rendering elk inactive during the day, however, hunters seeking a varied experience find plenty to do at midday. Whitetail deer are also native to Missouri River Country. 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. 5 Best States for Mule Deer Hunting. A lot of large bucks stay nocturnal during the general rifle season, making them very hard to find. Get unlimited access to over ten years of historical drawing and harvest data for over 1,700+ hunt units. Sunday Creek Outfitter's hunts moderate terrain, yet still harvests some of the most respectable Montana Elk, Mule Deer and Antelope in the United States! Unfortunately, Montana has been giving out so many mule deer doe tags that they have put a hurt on the mule deer population. The application for antelope licenses is June 1. 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. Good bucks in the 150-170 range are the norm for most of MT. Me and my buddies have ben putting in for that tag for 15-plus years and still havent drawn. Since we pride our hunters and offer great quality hunting guides, we are 100% fair chase. This is a very solid hunt in my opinion for only one or two preference points. Professional outfitters' and guides' services are also available throughout the region, providing expert services to out-of-state hunters. Give a Gift
PO Box 250 The average deer we take in this unit scores around 180 inches gross. Give a Gift
Holders may not hunt Antlered Buck Mule Deer in any other HD. Here is the pair we use. |
Are you a hunting outfitter? The zone we hunted also had leftover antlerless tags available for $100 apiece. Montana. Rifle or Archery Elk hunting, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Moose, MT Lion Montana Guided Hunts. Eastmans Publishing, Inc. is a multimedia corporation whose roots are grounded in the ethics of fair chase hunting. Unlike our other hunts, we dont provide lodging and meals. Any special permit that a non-resident landowner draws will count against the 10% non-resident quota for that unit. 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. 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. Whitetail deer are also common in the cottonwood studded riparian areas along the river. sitting, and still hunting can be effective, but the best way is to use a vehicle to cover as much country as possible in the mornings and evenings. amzn_assoc_asins = "B00UCI27H4"; If 10% are allocated to the nonresident draw, that means four tags maximum (rounded down) go to nonresidents. The northeastern portion of Montana west of Scobey has copious amounts of state land open to public hunting. Although the numbers are down here from the objective by about 25%, the big buck potential here should be very, very good this year. 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. I know that is a lot of doom and gloom for area 270 especially if you are a nonresident. Credit: Photo Courtesy Missouri River Country. In Montana, Region 3 in the southwest corner of the state covers nearly 12 million acres, more than half of which is public land managed by the BLM or Forest Service. amzn_assoc_design = "enhanced_links"; During the rut large bucks appear in an effort to pass on their genes to receptive does. Sonora Mexico Mule Deer Hunts. At Silver Spur Outfitters, we have many years of experience and have been in business since 1993. Then you have the nonresident landowners who get thrown into the nonresident pool but get guaranteed preference of at least 15% of the tags over the rest of the nonresidents. 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. A fine hunter in his own right, Guy has taken several trophy animals and has become an expert in trophy hunting as well. The restaurant is open early for breakfast and stays open for a late dinner. This general hunt region consists of a big, rugged region adjacent to the famed Region G area we spoke about above. 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. Subscriber Services. Read on to discover some of the best units and areas to consider when applying for elk, mule deer, or pronghorn tags out West. , I (Montana resident), drew this tag this year and was wondering how the hunt went for you. Hunt mule deer with Ike and Guy Eastman during an October snowstorm. Busted . Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks website has a fairly easy . Theres thousands of people who have invested a lot of money in the point system. The area consistently produces exceptional trophy mule deer, which are the priority on this hunt. Hunters need to realize that . Eastmans and Huntinfool have that covered. The deer in Unit 76 are extremely call shy - due to hunting pressure and predation - but this has made them more visual creatures. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "bennordquist-20"; The eastern side of the state provides good mule deer hunting. Thx Guy, 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. Hunting these trophy bulls with a rifle requires a long-odds lottery permit, but those who do draw have the chance to take amazing animals. With that said, I hope these choices help you out and this year is what it is. Kevin Steele of Petersen's HUNTING is with Dawn Wehunt of Rock River Arms INC. learning about the new Ascendant platform. Our area has a very impressive Mule Deer population, which leads to a very high success rate of 4 X 4 bucks. Dont wait for build it, they will come ! Mule deer hunters should plan to go high in the mountains for the best opportunity at bigger bucks. This is a very limited, late season hunt with hunt dates during most of the month of November. So far, Wyoming is looking in great shape from the winter and into spring where the weather has been very wet and cool. Its name is derived from having large ears that resemble that of a mule's. 28-Oct-08. Mule deer can also be found on more open prairie and agricultural areas, especially in places offering patches of bedding cover. Registration for each BMA is different. If you have max points (16), you have 256 chances in the drawing. This is with roughly 1000 nonresident applicants every year. If they want a true limited entry trophy type hunt they need to get rid of the cow and spike hunters. 15% of the 45 permits are guaranteed to resident and nonresident landowners alike. The more popular areas for whitetail are along the river systems and large agricultural areas throughout the eastern part of the state. The highly anticipated North Dakota Deer Lottery has been run; NOT SUCCESSFUL! With plenty of deer, a good buck here can be a tough endeavor, but they are here if you know where to look. This country is big, rugged and nothing comes easy here, but the bucks here are by far the largest in the state, historically speaking. Kevin Steele from Petersen's HUNTING speaks to Jordan Egli of Burris Optics about the all-new Veracity PH Riflescope. Mike Ornoski has bowhunted in Arizona for more than 35 years. Again, pay close attention to the regulations to make sure you are properly licensed to hunt mule deer. Unit 102 has been a desirable hunter destination for trophy mule deer in Wyoming over the past two decades. This will cause massive demand on the system this year and next with high point holders forcibly pushed to cash in their points before the change which will cause huge gains in point creep for deer, elk and antelope inside the Wyoming point system. The Milk joins the Missouri just below Fort Peck Dam. 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. We ended up hunting the type 1 BMAs for 6 of the 7 days hunted. 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. Cross your fingers for big bucks and good opportunities for the future. Dakota Walleye Classic Recap Lake Sakakawea is Stupid Healthy Right Now Best Cranks for Suspended Walleyes Still Loving the Scheels Tournament Bait Rod at 8.6, Sponsored by OutfitterLogic.com Hunting & Fishing Guide Website Design Winter Getting Long.first signs of spring Winnipeg walleyes Reverse Valentines Gifts for Men Are Custom Rods, The Prairie Skies of Bismarck, North Dakota (USA), Montana has 7 hunt districts that break down into smaller units in each district. Kevin Steele stops by the Taurus booth to speak with Cody Osborn about the all new Raging Hunter platform from Taurus International. Sep 25, 2013 #5 M mtmuley Well-known member Joined Jan 11, 2009 Messages 11,557 Location montana Magazines, TV shows and pics of big bucks with the unit displayed don't help either. Best States to Hunt Mule Deer June 9, 2022 onX Indigenous to western North America, mule deer are found west of the 100th meridian from 23 degrees to 60 degrees N. Much larger than whitetail deer, a buck mule deer can weigh between 130 and 280 pounds. Hopefully this change will help increase the age class of the bucks in those units. (Shutterstock / Cornelius Doppes photo) Data can be deceiving. Montana Rivers and Ridges Outfitter offers a late season 4 Day trophy Mule Deer hunt on the beautiful prairie of Eastern Montana. They also tend to offer less public hunting ground. Our editors have hand-picked these essential pieces of gear to make you a more successful hunter when you hit the game trails this season. 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).