Montana Elk/Deer Hunting Help

[Doodlebug76]

Hello. Wanting to look into a wilderness Elk/Deer Combo Hunt in Montana. Would prefer backcountry experience, horses, etc. Want to have opportunities at decent bulls 290-350 range.

Hoping folks could chime in on guide/outfitter recommendations.

Thanks! Chris

 

[bsnedeker]

What you are looking for does not exist. You can hire an outfitter to take you into the back country if you want to, but those are the areas with the lowest elk numbers in the state and you have an extremely low chance of even seeing an elk, let along harvesting one.

Most reports back on these types of hunts are very clear that you would be lucky to see 1 elk/week of hunting. And to be clear, that isn't 1 elk per week per hunter, that is one elk per week per hunting CAMP.

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[Doodlebug76]

What you are looking for does not exist. You can hire an outfitter to take you into the back country if you want to, but those are the areas with the lowest elk numbers in the state and you have an extremely low chance of even seeing an elk, let along harvesting one.

Most reports back on these types of hunts are very clear that you would be lucky to see 1 elk/week of hunting. And to be clear, that isn't 1 elk per week per hunter, that is one elk per week per hunting CAMP.

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Wow! I know nothing about Montana. Very knowledgeable on Wyoming and just had yet another Epic backcountry experience there. Getting longer and longer to get drawn in that state, so thought I would add Montana into the mix.

What do you recommend then?

 

[Werty]

"EPIC" hunts don't exist in Montana!

 

[BRTreedogs]

Wow! I know nothing about Montana. Very knowledgeable on Wyoming and just had yet another Epic backcountry experience there. Getting longer and longer to get drawn in that state, so thought I would add Montana into the mix.

What do you recommend then?

Be ok with hunting 300 yards from the house on a haystack fence. Thats where I seen the most elk.
All kinda rigs driving by. Def not backcountry.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Search for "Bob Marshall" or "Hunting the Bob" threads on here and you will get plenty of information. Hunted up there last fall, and it was exactly as @bsnedeker described above. I was absolutely blessed to have the one opportunity at the only elk seen by 6 hunters in 7 hard days of hunting.

The overall experience was incredible, but opportunities at elk or antlered mule deer are exceptionally low.

 

[bsnedeker]

"EPIC" hunts don't exist in Montana!

I would disagree. I would consider an elk hunt in the Bob pretty damn epic. You just aint gonna kill an elk.

But yeah, other than that there are roads pretty much everywhere so if getting back away from roads and people is important to you, you are going to have a hard time finding that in Montana.

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[Doodlebug76]

Ok, so scrap the wilderness experience. Any other outfitter recommendations out there for an Elk/Mule Deer combo hunt?

 

[WannabeElkHntr]

Be ok with hunting 300 yards from the house on a haystack fence. Thats where I seen the most elk.
All kinda rigs driving by. Def not backcountry.

Still the same or moreso in 2023? I am facing similar dilemma in decision making for montana 2023.

 

[Indian Summer]

You’re looking for two different things. You want a true mountain experience and bulls to 350. That’s only going to happen on a really hard to draw permit. A 320 plus on a general elk tag is extremely difficult. If you want a good chance at a 300-350 bull you’ll have to give up the back country fun and look at private land hunts.

 

[BRTreedogs]

Still the same or moreso in 2023? I am facing similar dilemma in decision making for montana 2023.

Why would the elk suddenly not choose to got to a private land sanctuary in 2023?

 

[slowelk]

Big bulls on public land in Montana are their greatest densities in either permit only areas, or in thick grizzly country. I'm not just blowing smoke up your ass either.