2025 MT Crazies Elk/Deer

[EdPre]

Hi all! New member here from PA. Love the site so far. Son and I are planning a 2025 Rifle elk/deer hunt. Focusing on the Crazies. It's been a dozen years or so since I've been there, and his first time, but I've hunted the Shields River area before. Both times were successful unsuccessful hunts, saw elk, saw deer, got into some, but never punched a tag there. Both archery. Add one additional late season rifle hunt that was relocated because of 3' - 4' of snow and 0 degree temps, but that doesn't really count. Years past, my plan was always to get 2+ miles "in" from any likely access, and up. Cover ground and glass. For 2025 rifle, I'd add in spiking out, weather pending, to save the legs - but I know that's far easier in Sept than late Oct. Past trips were met with what seemed like a camp every 20 yards along the low roads, but as soon as we passed the 1 mile mark in and up, I never ran into another hunter - unless it was down and toward the roads through the spotting scope. I'd love some general area thoughts, opinions, intel, experiences.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Article 4]

I am very familiar with that area and have killed bulls there. There are critters in there, as well as wolves and G Bears.

Yes, your thoughts on how to hunt it are pretty correct, depending on where you are in that country. Unless you have access to private ground, many of the accessible Montana hunts are full of people post covid and some of them have no idea how to hunt elk. The noise and lack of savvy get the animals pretty spooky pretty quick. They hide pretty quick once that first shot is made.

Spiking will increase your odds. Get you loose of most of the people thinking that hunting with a rifle means you get to stomp through the woods like a clown cause you can shoot 500 yards LOL

 

[Flatgo]

a lot has changed in the Crazies in the last 10 years good luck...