Montana Draw

[airlocksniffer]

I'm about 20 minutes from boots on the ground in 380. Yeah, odds are pretty low, especially w/o points. I put in for 380 each year assuming I get a point and if it's my day then get the tag. Either that or take all the points I've been accumulating and apply for a district w/better odds. I still put in for the cow tag there as well but I can use my general tag for a cow during archery season (spike only with a general during rifle). If I don't draw the cow tag then there are some good options for 2nd choice with really good (or 100%) odds.

 

[westrnwild]

If you draw the elkhorns and don't hunt the elkhorns...you officially suck at life....just saying.

Debating if I blow the 380 numbers up like everyone else or go for Lee Metcalf and sleep with the grizzlys...I got few days to decide..

 

[Riplip]

guilty on 380 as 1st as well but have hunted every year in general areas. Anyone have any experience with the Bearpaws? From what I can tell tons of private and tough draw. By my far my favorite state to bow hunt, tons of options.

 

[dotman]

No worries here, I'm blowing up the draw odds for the breaks . Il hunt it if I draw it but hope I dont, now that I think about it don't really want to use my pts there. My app is in so no changing it up.

 

[Shrek]

I put in for 380-20 because a friend recommended it. After I put in I find out it's a point collection entry for everyone else. I'd be kind of afraid if I draw either of my first choices. I'd be carrying the hopes and dreams of so many hunters and would feel tremendous pressure to not let them down by failing to kill a toad. I just hunt for my personal enjoyment so I'm going to rethink my future applications and just get the general tag without stepping on other hunters dreams of big antlers. Kind of like my lotto dream , I just want enough to quit working so hard and enjoy the simple pleasures but not so much I have to reinvent all my dreams.

 

[Jason Snyder]

If you draw the permit, it has your name on it. I could care less what anyone else's expectations are for the permit.

If I draw my 410 rifle permit, I'll be focusing on fun first and foremost. Anything beyond that is just a bonus.

 

[bhylton]

410 rifle would be a good one. they also have the Elk B tags for that unit with good odds. if a guy gets both he can get a lot of meat on the ground in a hurry!

 

[mt100gr.]

I'm torn, I always put in for 380 and get my point but this year I may head for the breaks. I could go with some buddies who have done well there in the past...gotta decide.

 

[dotman]

If you draw the permit, it has your name on it. I could care less what anyone else's expectations are for the permit.

If I draw my 410 rifle permit, I'll be focusing on fun first and foremost. Anything beyond that is just a bonus.

410 rifle is what I put in for as well, when I was growing up it was always a great unit but I e been out of the state for 16 years and keep hearing it has gone downhill.

 

[orionsbrother]

Seems like we've got a plan put together. Texts, e-mails, maps sent to phones, calls, rolled up topos with highlighted boundaries, screenshots forwarded...odds calculated, contingency plans discussed. It's not even March 16th and I'm already twitchy.

Good luck to all of you.

 

[black525]

I'm putting in for the breaks and 380. I'm just starting to build points so I'm not holding my breath. Good luck to everyone who does win the lotto!

 

[Jason Snyder]

Montana draws all first choice applicants at one time, so if you are putting in 2nd choice for a unit that has more applicants than permits, you are not going to draw it as a second choice.

 

[Shrek]

I've been thinking hard about why I put in for what I did and I've come to the conclusion that my actions didn't match my values. Is a 350" bull from a general HD any less of an accomplishment than a 400" bull from HD 380 ? Are big antlers the reason I hunt ? Do I desire to compare myself to other hunters and feel superior if I have bigger antlers on my wall ? No is my answer to all three questions so I'm in askance of myself. When I put in for a HD for its reputation for big antlers and collect points I'm not really sure I'm being true to my values as a hunter. It's not like I can't find a great and challenging hunt in a general tag HD and shoot a great eating bull with big antlers. The only thing that 380 has that most other HD's don't is genetics for extra large antlers. Not extra large bodies with more or extra good tasting meat. So when I put in for an HD on the basis of bigger antlers I'm really just making it harder for the guys who answer yes to the questions I asked. Are others here putting in for tags for reasons that if they stopped and thought about it they don't really care about ?

 

[Jason Snyder]

I'm putting in for the permit because the breaks is a phenomenal expanse of wildland prairie, breaks, and river bottoms. For me, it's the experience, not the antlers.

The Elkhorns don't necessarily have any different genetics than any other elk herd in SW Montana. The bulls are just allowed to live long enough to reach their potential for antler size because of the limited harvest. I've found bulls just as big in general units where access was difficult.

 

[Shrek]

Jason , you are making the breaks sound like an amazing place to hunt ! The question isn't if your reasons are good enough or anything. Just if you had a real reason that you had thought about and matched your beliefs and style of hunting.

 

[hobbes]

I've only been here 3 years and am looking at the elkhorns out my window as I punch this into my phone. Does anyone actually know someone that doesn't plan to hunt 380 if they draw? I think most folks around here put in for 380 and know they are likely just building points but I've not heard of anyone that is disappointed if they draw.

 

[Shrek]

I would definitely hunt it if I draw it just because of the limited draw putting less pressure on the animals but it's not really a dream of mine and I will probably not put in for it next year.

 

[realunlucky]

An hd unit has everything everyone looks for in a hunting unit. It typically has less pressure, better managed herd, greater age structure, better success rates. Being successful is great no matter how hard you have to work for it.

 

[dotman]

I'm putting in for the permit because the breaks is a phenomenal expanse of wildland prairie, breaks, and river bottoms. For me, it's the experience, not the antlers.

The Elkhorns don't necessarily have any different genetics than any other elk herd in SW Montana. The bulls are just allowed to live long enough to reach their potential for antler size because of the limited harvest. I've found bulls just as big in general units where access was difficult.

I agree on the breaks, it is an entirely different experience for sure.

 

[MTbowhunter36]

I agree on the breaks, it is an entirely different experience for sure.

Yep, there are a plethora of archery hunters, pressured elk that aren't very vocal, rattlesnakes, so many mosquitos that they can drive a man insane and don't forget about the mud, aka gumbo. The Breaks are an entirely different animal for sure.