Montana archery

[goldenarrow]

I am thinking of applying for the 900-20 elk tag but from what I have read access to the public land can be difficult. I don't really know what that means. I am not sure if that means that I will have to walk in or it means that all of the public land is surrounded by private and the only way to get to it is to pay a trespass fee or to skydive onto it. I have sit on top kayaks if that would be another option. I am willing to do the research myself to find the areas if I get drawn. What I am looking for is do the areas exist that hold elk and can be accessed reasonably. I am also not above paying a trespass fee if it wasn't too expensive and I can see the value in it.

I probably will not get drawn anyway so I don't want to buy the maps and stuff yet but I don't want to even put in for it if I wouldn't be able to hunt areas that hold elk in archery season.

Thanks for your help. If you feel more comfortable feel free to pm me. I am not asking you to give me your hard earned honey holes but more if those holes exist.

 

[jordanrw23]

I have a co worker that puts in for this unit as his 3rd choice and draws every year so I think your chances of drawing are pretty good. I live only 40 minutes from one of the areas you can hunt with the 900 tag. On the flip side yes the majority of the land is surrounded by private access. The areas hold great elk opportunity but the real struggle is access. Not that it won't be granted but it is a reality and don't let me discourage you at all as my co worker does get access to cross the property but isn't allowed to hunt on. He says one guy he's talked to about a trespass fee was around 2500 bucks which is kinda ridiculous. The good thing about Montana tho is if your 900 isn't panning out your only an hour or so from the Lewis and Clark national forests that are easy to access. Hope that helps a little. Good luck on drawing the tag!

 

[slick]

I have a co worker that puts in for this unit as his 3rd choice and draws every year so I think your chances of drawing are pretty good. I live only 40 minutes from one of the areas you can hunt with the 900 tag. On the flip side yes the majority of the land is surrounded by private access. The areas hold great elk opportunity but the real struggle is access. Not that it won't be granted but it is a reality and don't let me discourage you at all as my co worker does get access to cross the property but isn't allowed to hunt on. He says one guy he's talked to about a trespass fee was around 2500 bucks which is kinda ridiculous. The good thing about Montana tho is if your 900 isn't panning out your only an hour or so from the Lewis and Clark national forests that are easy to access. Hope that helps a little. Good luck on drawing the tag!

I'm not sure if the OP is a MT resident, but if not, he would need to put in for first choice and then still might not draw. Last year non res zero pt holders 153/404 applicants were successful.

 

[jordanrw23]

I see. Yeah first choice it wouldn't be bad odds considering some of the prime units like the bear paws(690). Another GREAT archery opportunity(odds) is the Missouri breaks by the CMR refuge in central MT can't remember the unit but the access is easy. Personally the 900 tag doesn't do it for me but if your looking for ease of access I would go OTC and hunt national forests and not deal with the private land owners.

 

[slick]

410 is the breaks district. The archery tag for residents with zero pts last year was ~85%. Non res zero pt holders was ~19%. I have out of state friends who hunt there and have a great time, but only get drawn about every 2-3 years. Access is good but elk seem to be call shy and does get quite a bit of pressure with 1900 archery permits. There's quite a bit of land so if you're willing to walk you should be able to get away.

690 only gives out 35 tags for archery and odds aren't great at drawing but you can't get it if You don't apply. I'm sure there is great hunting up there. 410 and the 900 or 798 tag would be worth going for.

 

[jordanrw23]

I put in for 690 the year before last and drew the tag on my first time app with no points. So I know it can happen. The issue I ran into was land owners wouldn't let you on or you had to be part of a certain "club" that involved big $$$ and that was fine since I was able to make a reservation for 3 days on one ranch which I missed a 340" bull at 16yds thanks to a little branch I didn't see I hope you draw the 900 tag. You'll get into some bigger bulls for sure it's just nice to have that national forest option too. Good luck man. If you do draw please post

 

[goldenarrow]

Ok thanks guys. It sounds like the 900 tag is not worth it. I think I will put in for one of the other hunts. Not sure if it will be the breaks or I will put in for 690 hoping to build points. I will happily take a general tag either way. I am not a MT resident.

 

[sneaky]

I've done some work for one of the ranchers in the 690 unit and have seen some of the bulls that he and his family have taken off of their place. There are some slammers that come out of there, but even as a resident he said he only draws a tag every 5 or 6 years. That would suck to own that much land and not get a tag. He said he passes up on bulls that would be once-in-a-lifetime type bulls for most people, and after seeing his pictures and mounts, I would agree.