Montana general elk

[mitchparker6]

Hey everybody, looking to get some info on a general elk/deer combo tag. First off if we are going to list specific units I would appreciate it if it could be done in a PM. This would be my first montana elk hunt and I am looking for a good unit to put boots on the ground in terms of opportunity and being accessible in the late season. I farm and will most likely be able to make it out there as early as Nov 15th. That late in season I would be worried about accessibility due to snow. I'm also tossing around the idea of doing a solo hunt too. Any help would be appreciated, again not looking for honey holes, just somewhere to get started. I have 3 units narrowed down as well, but would like to talk to someone about them just to get a rough idea of what I'm getting into. Thanks

 

[oldschool]

After opening weekend you better have private land to hunt or you are wasting your
time.

 

[idahohikker]

Yeah Randy Newberg and his group that shot four bulls the first week of November would suggest there are bulls on public.

 

[wind gypsy]

Yeah Randy Newberg and his group that shot four bulls the first week of November would suggest there are bulls on public.

They are only on public for celebrity hunters that time of year.

OP - I have to try pretty hard to come up with units that you'd have trouble accessing that time of year. There can always be snow storms that make things hairy but I think that applies to most places.

 

[Indian Summer]

PM sent

 

[mitchparker6]

So it would be pretty difficult to find elk after opening week?

 

[wind gypsy]

So it would be pretty difficult to find elk after opening week?

If you're looking for them on USFS land from the comfort of a vehicle, probably. High #'s of elk move into lower elevations and private property as gun season progresses. There are still elk to be had on USFS but you might have to work for them.

 

[mitchparker6]

I'm definitely not opposed to hiking 3-5 miles in! I'd be willing to anything to get on some elk as long as its safe!

 

[mitchparker6]

Don't the bulls typically migrate down later on as the snow gets deeper and it gets colder?

 

[idahohikker]

Don't the bulls typically migrate down later on as the snow gets deeper and it gets colder?

If there isn’t tempting private land nearby, most mature bulls will stay high through mid November or later, with variation depending on herd behavior, typography, and weather.

 

[GregB]

Don't the bulls typically migrate down later on as the snow gets deeper and it gets colder?

It can take several feet of snow to get the big bulls to start moving down.

 

[WCB]

After opening weekend you better have private land to hunt or you are wasting your
time.

Just simply not true. I've had better 3rd weeks of season than openers. It all depends on unit, pressure, and weather. Any body that tells you it is a waste of time across the board for all general units in Montana just shouldn't comment.

 

[Ross]

This is accurate
Just simply not true. I've had better 3rd weeks of season than openers. It all depends on unit, pressure, and weather. Any body that tells you it is a waste of time across the board for all general units in Montana just shouldn't commen

 

[Young Blood]

I don't agree with the statement about giving up after the opener either. I've had much better luck later in the season when you are thinking of going. Opening week is a circus and can be more frustrating than fun. Be sure to bring chains (for all 4 tires) and extra fuel in case you get in a bind somewhere. Try to find units with less private in them as the bulls will head for those areas as a sanctuary after the shooting starts.

 

[Okhotnik]

I'm definitely not opposed to hiking 3-5 miles in! I'd be willing to anything to get on some elk as long as its safe!

If there's a good snow, as often happens in the mountains by November, good luck hiking up in the mountains 3 to 5 miles

 

[Indian Summer]

I don’t expect elk to move down until the week of Thanksgiving. I hunt 7000-9000 feet. That’s something you need to consider. If I was at 10-12 things would be different.

Things can also be difficult from year to year. I’ve seen 3 inches of snow that week and I’ve also seen it crotch deep.

If it’s deep of course elk will move down. Big bulls last. But they won’t drop out the bottom. They’ll find a happy medium where there’s enough snow to make hiking tough but they can still dig up food. That’s called survival mode.

They will stage in those spots as long as they can which is usually after the Montana season closes. If there is private land where they’ve wintered for generations they could move sooner. I’m talking mountain country where elk winter on public land.

Elk also have habits. Even though the weather might mot be too bad the last week some elk including some half decent bulls will start moseying toward those staging areas just because it’s that time of year. The key is to find those staging spot and the routes they use to get there.

If I had to pick two weeks to hunt it would be the first because they haven’t been hunted yet... or the last because I know some great staging spots. If the weather was mild Id push over another drainage and a bit higher.

One thing nice about the last week is that new elk move in over night so if you, your partner, or someone else shoots an elk you can go right back to the same area and hunt it the next day.

 

[S.Clancy]

If there's a good snow, as often happens in the mountains by November, good luck hiking up in the mountains 3 to 5 miles

No shit. Everyone seems to hunt "3-5 miles deep" but when we're in that far, I never seem to see anyone, especially guys backpacking in mid November.

There's a ton of places to go in SW MT that won't kill you to get an elk out.

 

[wind gypsy]

No shit. Everyone seems to hunt "3-5 miles deep" but when we're in that far, I never seem to see anyone, especially guys backpacking in mid November.

Yep. I have yet to see a backpack camp in mid November in western MT.

 

[S.Clancy]

Yep. I have yet to see a backpack camp in mid November in western MT.

Yea. With all the "hardcore" guys you'd think it'd be hard to find a spot to hunt at that time...yea right. Even opener this year it was below 0 and blowing, miserable.

 

[Clarktar]

Yea. With all the "hardcore" guys you'd think it'd be hard to find a spot to hunt at that time...yea right. Even opener this year it was below 0 and blowing, miserable.

Sounds pretty nice actually!

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