Montana Archery Elk

[black525]

My plan is to hunt in one of the breaks units on the archery tag (410-21, 620-21, 631-21, 632-21) this fall. I'm interested in hearing others opinions on hunting pressure between the units. Is it possible to get away from the crowds? Are the Northern units less pressured due to fewer tags? Are there fewer hunters later in the season? Based on Montana ownership maps, it looks like all the units have fairly easy access to public ground. Feel free to PM.
Thanks

 

[Davesphizikal]

Bowhunting has exploded in Montana in the last 10 years. It's hard to go anywhere and not bump into another hunter. That includes wilderness areas. The breaks does get pressure during the bow season, especially since so many elk permits are given out there just for bow. Are you a nonresident? If so your chances for drawing are very low because we limit the total amount of nonresident elk hunters. You'll basically be getting a permit for a permit, if that makes sense. The breaks north get a little less pressure, but that's because it holds less elk. So it evens out. Access is tough everywhere out there and the few places you can hunt from the county roads will have other people at too. Did I mention you don't want to be out there when I rains? Ha it's tough to explain but the misery you'll remember forever! May I ask why you have the breaks in mind?

 

[bobhunts]

Oh boy! where you correct with mud Davesphizikal! Grew up just south of there and my dad and brother took my blazer up there deer hunting and I remember my dad telling me they where lucky to get out of there after a thunderstorm! But I plan to do the same as a non-resident one day.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Do you have any bonus points? If not, I wouldn't plan on drawing your first year. You could, but it's no guarantee.

 

[IdahoBeav]

Do you have any bonus points? If not, I wouldn't plan on drawing your first year. You could, but it's no guarantee.

For nonresidents, is it possible in MT to just buy bonus points or use a point saver code on the application, or do you have to submit an app for a hunt and be unsuccessful?

 

[Jason Snyder]

For nonresidents, is it possible in MT to just buy bonus points or use a point saver code on the application, or do you have to submit an app for a hunt and be unsuccessful?

It's a really unfriendly point system for NR hunters. You have to apply for the tag AND permit. If you draw the tag and don't get your permit you get a bonus point. You can ask for a refund on the elk tag @ 80%. Pricewise it probably doesn't cost you much more than buying a point in Nevada, it's just not nearly as simple.

 

[black525]

Do you have any bonus points? If not, I wouldn't plan on drawing your first year. You could, but it's no guarantee.

Yes, I have a couple points.

 

[black525]

May I ask why you have the breaks in mind?

I love the look of the country in the breaks. I also enjoy hunting open country. Thanks for the help.

 

[joejoe8]

I hunted that area last year for my first elk hunt. I had a blast, Good Luck!!

 

[BackcountryMT]

It's a really unfriendly point system for NR hunters. You have to apply for the tag AND permit. If you draw the tag and don't get your permit you get a bonus point. You can ask for a refund on the elk tag @ 80%. Pricewise it probably doesn't cost you much more than buying a point in Nevada, it's just not nearly as simple.

You can a buy a point alone for $50 which is much easier but more expensive than simply applying.


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[Jason Snyder]

You can a buy a point alone for $50 which is much easier but more expensive than simply applying.


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Didn't realize it had changed. Thanks,


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[black525]

Thanks for the replies.
What do most people do if rain is forecasted? How much rain does it take to make the roads impassible?

 

[GFY]

If it is going to rain you stay home. It does not take much rain at all to make the roads impassible and the walking miserable. Every couple of steps you have 3-8 pound hunks of gumbo on your feet that you can't "kick off" you need to take a stick and push or scrape off or just keep walking until it builds enough to fall off. I have been stuck on a main road CMR for 4 days without seeing another rig the opening week of rifle season. Also have been stuck in there for over a week do to road conditions. It usually dries out fairly quick as long as the rain stops and the wind blows, but it can also set in and rain for days on end, like last year. If you go make sure you listen to whatever radio station you can get, usually KMMR in Malta for the weather and if they are calling for rain head for the hwy in a hurry.

As far as pressure goes, there will be a lot most everywhere you go. I feel that there is the most pressure the first week. Last year we spent the last 8 days of bow season over there and I saw multiple hunters every day and had three different occasions where other hunters screwed up stalks for me. All three stalks I was over 2 miles from the truck and probably 1-1.5 miles from the nearest road.

Also, don't forget your bug spray as the mosquitos can be terrible.

With all that being said I will certainly try and be there for at least a week next fall.

 

[Straight6]

Buying the point for $50 is for a preference point for the General tag only, not a bonus point for the limited tags. The bonus points cost $20, and I believe there is no point only option for either preference or bonus points, unless it changed this year. Buying the points is voluntary and you can apply without paying the extra for points.

 

[wyosteve]

One other thing I just learned from talking with MT. Game and Fish. If you apply for and get the elk combination license, but do not draw a unit permit, you can get a refund, but it's only 80% of the license fee. So, if a general tag is not really what one wants, it still ends up costing about $170, after the refund.

 

[IdahoBeav]

One other thing I just learned from talking with MT. Game and Fish. If you apply for and get the elk combination license, but do not draw a unit permit, you can get a refund, but it's only 80% of the license fee. So, if a general tag is not really what one wants, it still ends up costing about $170, after the refund.

So there's no option to just accumulate points for a future hunt?

 

[BrentLaBere]

IdahoBeav,
Not without receiving a General License and applying for the Permit.

 

[GFY]

This is a little of the gumbo...

 

[sneaky]

Thanks for the replies.
What do most people do if rain is forecasted? How much rain does it take to make the roads impassible?

People in the breaks don't even spit on the roads

 

[dreamingbig]

This thread is funny but also seems to hold legitimate warning.

We drew the permit this year with zero points. Let the research begin.

We may or may not end up there as we hunted a couple general units last fall with good success.


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