Montana - 331/332?

[Brendan]

Anyone here have any experience with Montana units 331/332 - East / West Pioneer Mountains east of the Big Hole Valley?

It's one of the areas I'm considering for a 12 day trip this fall, approximately 9/15 - 9/26. Just wondering high level what to expect in terms of Elk, Wolves, Bears, pressure, weather, ATVs or anything else that might help me pick a general location and a gear list. Driving from the east coast, going solo, open to camping at the truck or in the backcountry, whatever the area dictates.

Thanks in advance, and happy to continue by PM or email if that's easier.

Brendan

 

[tstowater]

You will find that wolves are around. Pretty country. To the best of my recollection, there is a north-south road that splits the range. Not sure how far you can get away from the crowds. There were sheep and goats when I was there several years ago. Elk also. Access in some areas might be tough. Might be some walk-in areas also.

 

[Brendan]

Thanks - I don't necessarily mind tough access, I do mind walking in and having people blow by me on an ATV if I can avoid that.

Any grizzly in the area? Debating merits of packing bear spray, sidearm, etc.

 

[mt100gr.]

I would say plan on grizzlies being in the area. Even if MT FWP says they aren't, the big bears are just about everywhere in the mountainous parts of MT. An area I hunt "doesn't hold any known Grizzly bears" and more than once, we have discovered otherwise.

 

[Brendan]

Thanks for the feedback. Clean camp, pistol, bear spray it is if that's where I end up...

 

[squeekieslayer]

While I dont have experience with hunting that area, i can say that there are very few places that have elk and dont have grizz in MT. I would always prepare for that unless i am in the Little belts or the breaks.

Joe

 

[Bdubwright23]

Thanks - I don't necessarily mind tough access, I do mind walking in and having people blow by me on an ATV if I can avoid that.

Any grizzly in the area? Debating merits of packing bear spray, sidearm, etc.

How did your hunt go so many years ago first timer trying to head to Montana this year

 

[Brendan]

How did your hunt go so many years ago first timer trying to head to Montana this year

Didn't hunt the unit. Picked somewhere else.

 

[Jeremyc_1999]

While I dont have experience with hunting that area, i can say that there are very few places that have elk and dont have grizz in MT. I would always prepare for that unless i am in the Little belts or the breaks.

Joe

Little Belts have grizzlies now. Based on how they are coming off the front into the farmland, it won't be long until they are in the breaks too I'm afraid

 

[Bdubwright23]

Didn't hunt the unit. Picked somewhere else.

Ok thx anyway

 

[dreamingbig]

You definitely need bear spray. There are not a ton but we saw two grizzly in there last year. The wolves have kept a good check on the elk too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Airborne1]

Little Belts have grizzlies now. Based on how they are coming off the front into the farmland, it won't be long until they are in the breaks too I'm afraid

Have you had any experiences with the grizzlies in the little belts?

 

[Brendan]

Have you had any experiences with the grizzlies in the little belts?

2018:

Grizzly turns up way out in Two Dot, kills calf

A grizzly bear killed a calf early this week on a ranch north of Two Dot, another example of the expanding population.

www.greatfallstribune.com

 

[Airborne1]

Thanks for the link.

 

[Indian Summer]

I’ve hunted several of those drainages. Never got into enough elk to go back. But I probably just wasn’t in the right area as it was new country to me. Definitely wolf and grizzly country. Any cattle rancher there will confirm that.

 

[Wapiti1]

Brendan, shoot me a PM. I've spent a lot of time in those units.

Jeremy

 

[Jeremyc_1999]

2018:

Grizzly turns up way out in Two Dot, kills calf

A grizzly bear killed a calf early this week on a ranch north of Two Dot, another example of the expanding population.

www.greatfallstribune.com

Thanks for linking the article. I haven’t personally ran into them, but have hunting partners that have

 

[Bowhunter65]

I have hunted 331/332 sense 1982, this area has been hammer with wolves and hunting pressure. Yes there are grizzlies. We changed up our area last year and moved camp. good luck

 

[Indian Summer]

Brendan, shoot me a PM. I've spent a lot of time in those units.

Jeremy

HIs post is 6 years old. Someone blew the dust off. He hunted somewhere else.

 

[Wapiti1]

HIs post is 6 years old. Someone blew the dust off. He hunted somewhere else.

Yeah, I noticed that after I posted. Teach me to pay more attention.

Jeremy