Montana Mule Deer - First timer

[judders87]

Looking at applying for a general tag for mule deer with some friends coming from the midwest this fall. Not trophy hunting but looking for opportunity, is it better to hunt the east or west side of Montana. Does elevation factor much in to where they hang out? Just trying to get an idea of logistics and where we should think about if I'm only able to e-scout. TIA.

 

[QuickTrigger7]

East side of the state is way down for mule deer numbers.

 

[Tdonat]

Eastern side populations are hurting very badly the past few years. I used to hunt out there a ton. Unfortunately the winters the past few years along with blue tongue have hit them very hard.
Not to mention every Tom, dick and harry going out there and smoking the first forky they come across.

 

[SuperDUECE22]

you have 2 1/2 months till draw results are posted so you have plenty of time to research

 

[dirtytough]

I personally would hunt the east side

 

[judders87]

I personally would hunt the east side

is there a good reason? obviously closer to the midwest but definitely willing to drive further if the experience will be better

 

[dirtytough]

I could find bigger bucks on the east side vs the west side.

 

[AHayes111]

The east side of the state is a shadow of its former self, but judging by all of the Washington, Oregon and western Montana license plates I see during hunting season the east is still better than western Montana. In the past I would recommend finding a big block of public land and lace up the boots real tight. That is not what I would do now. Not that it couldn't happen back off the roads on public but for example places I went in the 80's and 90's and would see fifty or more deer and two or three quality bucks, today a dozen deer and the best buck will be an ear wide three point is more the norm. Now your best bet is to hunt small parcels of public and hope a rutting buck leaves the does on the private long enough for you to get a shot. Hunters are catching on to this strategy and with OnX and other mapping apps you will not be alone. That being said you will likely see far more deer than you are used to seeing back home and an ear wide three point looks like a monster to most people that have been hunting whitetails most of there life.

 

[judders87]

The east side of the state is a shadow of its former self, but judging by all of the Washington, Oregon and western Montana license plates I see during hunting season the east is still better than western Montana. In the past I would recommend finding a big block of public land and lace up the boots real tight. That is not what I would do now. Not that it couldn't happen back off the roads on public but for example places I went in the 80's and 90's and would see fifty or more deer and two or three quality bucks, today a dozen deer and the best buck will be an ear wide three point is more the norm. Now your best bet is to hunt small parcels of public and hope a rutting buck leaves the does on the private long enough for you to get a shot. Hunters are catching on to this strategy and with OnX and other mapping apps you will not be alone. That being said you will likely see far more deer than you are used to seeing back home and an ear wide three point looks like a monster to most people that have been hunting whitetails most of there life.

Appreciate the insight. The two guys I'm going with haven't either killed a buck or anything bigger than a spike so I'm sure they would be tickled with anything. Focus is driven on them having a good experience and it helps if I don't have to be in grizzly territory. What would you say is the typical shooting distance you would encounter? Should we practice out to 500 or could we expect 300 yard shots?

 

[Dos Perros]

Lots of people are choosing to leave the east be so that it may improve from the desperate position it's in. If you sincerely feel the need to shoot a forkie there are plenty of other places to do it.

The state really ought to put a moratorium on all doe hunting in the impacted regions.

 

[Tdonat]

Lots of people are choosing to leave the east be so that it may improve from the desperate position it's in. If you sincerely feel the need to shoot a forkie there are plenty of other places to do it.

The state really ought to put a moratorium on all doe hunting in the impacted regions.

This.

 

[dirtytough]

Lots of people are choosing to leave the east be so that it may improve from the desperate position it's in. If you sincerely feel the need to shoot a forkie there are plenty of other places to do it.

The state really ought to put a moratorium on all doe hunting in the impacted regions.

Kill a forky on the west side where they are struggling or kill one on the east side where they are struggling?

In fact where aren’t mule deer struggling? Probably shouldn’t answer that.

 

[mt terry d]

Kill a forky on the west side where they are struggling or kill one on the east side where they are struggling?

In fact where aren’t mule deer struggling? Probably shouldn’t answer that.

A: Where they are properly managed instead of merely a revenue stream for government.

Is it really any mystery why hunting is generally better on large private tracts?

Maybe the "experts" would explain to us all how those tracts seem to not have the hard
winters, bluetongue, CWD and predators that public land has? Or did I pretty much
cover that in my answer?

.....................................

OP: East vs west is about more than numbers or trophy quality. East will
have more wide open hunting, generally, west mountains. Then river bottoms
are prime for whitetails more so than mulies.
Whitetails generally are much smaller in MT than midwest corn/soybean/ alfalfa fed
deer. The mulies, too.

You may have "opportunities" as far as the eye can see. Your maximum effective range can only be determined by you with much practice, like several hundred rounds (at least) not off a bench unless you hunt with a bench. Know the terminal velocity of your chosen rifle/bullet combo.
Practice getting into shooting position quickly and making that shot.

Check out the Block Grant program and have fun preparing and anticipating your hunt!

Block Management | Montana FWP

A cooperative program between private landowners and FWP, Block Management helps landowners manage hunting activities and provides the public with free hunting access to private land, and sometimes to adjacent or isolated public lands.

fwp.mt.gov

 

[Dos Perros]

Kill a forky on the west side where they are struggling or kill one on the east side where they are struggling?

In fact where aren’t mule deer struggling? Probably shouldn’t answer that.

If'n I were coming from Indiana I'd hunt a different state entirely.

 

[finner]

It's not worth the time and money at this point for the experience I would want

 

[judders87]

If'n I were coming from Indiana I'd hunt a different state entirely.

We're putting in for multiple states but MT seems to have the highest odds of us actually getting a tag.

 

[Dos Perros]

We're putting in for multiple states but MT seems to have the highest odds of us actually getting a tag.

They’ll take your money no doubt!

 

[Dos Perros]

We're putting in for multiple states but MT seems to have the highest odds of us actually getting a tag.

I struggle with the GoHunt filter sometimes, but it's showing me 52 'results' in Colorado that a NR could draw with 0 points 2nd season. I don't think Montana will get you better than 100% odds.

 

[Kurts86]

I hunted this tag last year and the situation is pretty dire. I hunted 3 different units in 2 different regions over a week and the mule deer situation is a sliding scale of bleak to borderline nonexistent. At one point I stopped at a Forest Service field office as a gut check and the guy at the counter said it’s really bad and that he had a conference call with the mule deer foundation in an hour to discuss the population collapse.

The cool thing about the general tag is that it is a choose your own adventure hunt. You can be hunting Eastern MT one afternoon and the western MT mountains as fast as you can drive there. In some ways you need to be willing to pickup and drive halfway across the state and try a completely different habitat type.

 

[AHayes111]

Appreciate the insight. The two guys I'm going with haven't either killed a buck or anything bigger than a spike so I'm sure they would be tickled with anything. Focus is driven on them having a good experience and it helps if I don't have to be in grizzly territory. What would you say is the typical shooting distance you would encounter? Should we practice out to 500 or could we expect 300 yard shots?

Sky is the limit on shot distance, I have never shot father than 400 yards, but that has been a personal choice. The opportunity for longer shots is sure to happen.