New to Montana Hunting

[ztbrowning]

Hey y'all, I recently moved to Billings, MT from Texas to be a ER nurse up here for the next three years. I have never hunted out west and have a quick question I was hoping someone may help me out with. Just about every forum regarding the Absoroka range and it's surrounding units (316, 317, 525, 565) mentions the subpar to mediocre hunting and an absurd amount of grizzly. I'm content with the subpar hunting. I have no experience, can only get a general tag this season, and will have four days per week to hunt, so I figure the hunting there should be sufficient for my skill level. However, I am worried about the bears. I have no experience with grizzly and will be a solo hunter. Should I sacrifice the amount of days I may spend in the field by finding applicable units further from home to avoid high bear concentrations or is this something that I am overthinking? I appreciate any guidance or advice y'all may give.

 

[johnsd16]

Why those units? Lots of other areas of the state to hunt with elk but less grizz.

I am not super experienced with grizzlies but do hunt some where they are. I personally will never hunt the north border of the park. I will say being solo with no experience is not a good situation. What if you are successful? You can’t control where an animal dies 100% of the time. Being solo with an animal down in a thicket in bear country is just not a good situation. No reason to expose yourself to that risk as a rookie with lots of other options.

 

[Soj51hopeful]

Do you mainly archery hunt or rifle? I haven’t been in those units but I would assume late rifle season most bears will be asleep.

 

[ztbrowning]

Why those units? Lots of other areas of the state to hunt with elk but less grizz.

I am not super experienced with grizzlies but do hunt some where they are. I personally will never hunt the north border of the park. I will say being solo with no experience is not a good situation. What if you are successful? You can’t control where an animal dies 100% of the time. Being solo with an animal down in a thicket in bear country is just not a good situation. No reason to expose yourself to that risk as a rookie with lots of other options.

Essentially they are the only units within a two hours drive that allows for decent opportunity with a general tag, that I could find at least. I only work three days per week, thus I figured the closer units would give me more opportunity to learn the trade rather than waiting to go to different units only once or twice per season.

 

[Raghornkiller]

Lots of good hunting within a few hours of you,I'd go somewhere else for a few years until you get a little experience.I don't like hunting grizzly country alone unless it's somewhat open.And going back for meat alone is asking for trouble.

 

[mt terry d]

I'd always choose more grizzlies over less hunters, and it paid off.

Besides, grizzlies add to the adventure.

Drive less hunt more.

 

[bradmacmt]

Hey man, welcome to MT. My daughter is a nurse in Billings. What hospital you going to be at?

But I digress - I'm a solo, backpack hunter. All my hunting is in grizzly country. Don't sweat it, hunt it. You've got a rifle. If bowhunting, pack spray and a pistol. I've encountered plenty of grizzlies with no problems. Use your head, keep a clean camp. When packing out meat solo, pack spray and a pistol. Spray is ALWAYS your first line of defense. Truth is, you'll likely NEVER have a problem encounter.

 

[ztbrowning]

Hey man, welcome to MT. My daughter is a nurse in Billings. What hospital you going to be at?

But I digress - I'm a solo, backpack hunter. All my hunting is in grizzly country. Don't sweat it, hunt it. You've got a rifle. If bowhunting, pack spray and a pistol. I've encountered plenty of grizzlies with no problems. Use your head, keep a clean camp. When packing out meat solo, pack spray and a pistol. Spray is ALWAYS your first line of defense. Truth is, you'll likely NEVER have a problem encounter.

Hey man, thank ya. Ill be at Billings Clinic. Ive already invested in the spray and plan to get a 10mm here in a few weeks. I appreciate your advice man!

 

[bradmacmt]

For your pistol, use hard cast LBT style bullets, whether 9mm or 10mm (I'm happy with 9mm).

Welcome and good luck!

 

[jimh406]

Do some more research on where to hunt. Hurry though, draws are coming up soon.

Since you’ll be nonresident in Montana this year, look at other states as well.

 

[jtevanMT]

I hunt regularly in Griz areas and have never have never had a bad encounter. However, in high density areas (around Yellowstone or Glacier) we always hunt in pairs and take extra precautions for backcountry camps. Processing an elk or tracking a wounded animal alone in Griz country is a risk I am not willing to take. If you surprise a Griz at close range the charge will happen so fast your hunting partner may need to save your life with bear spray or pistol. Yes, many people hunt alone in Griz areas, but I would drive the extra 1-3 hours to find lower density Griz units to hunt alone. With 4 days each week to hunt there are many great hunting units in reach with lower Griz densities.

I have no concerns hunting alone in low Griz density areas of the state.

 

[Beendare]

@ztbrowning,
If you are rifle hunting, you don’t need the pistol.
I bowhunt brownie and G Bear areas almost every year. The key is being aware. 95 out of 100 times they leave you alone. If you surprise a sow with cubs or come on a kill…they will defend it.

A pistol can be effective but IMO your training with that weapon and the ammo you choose is the game changer. Hardcast bullets are the #1 choice, no matter the caliber.
.

 

[Beendare]

Hunting wise; just hiking around the woods with a weapon is a low % proposition.
That ain’t hunting.

Learning the country and planning around the inevitable hunt pressure is usually the best strategy.

 

[bobr1]

Hey y'all, I recently moved to Billings, MT from Texas to be a ER nurse up here for the next three years. I have never hunted out west and have a quick question I was hoping someone may help me out with. Just about every forum regarding the Absoroka range and it's surrounding units (316, 317, 525, 565) mentions the subpar to mediocre hunting and an absurd amount of grizzly. I'm content with the subpar hunting. I have no experience, can only get a general tag this season, and will have four days per week to hunt, so I figure the hunting there should be sufficient for my skill level. However, I am worried about the bears. I have no experience with grizzly and will be a solo hunter. Should I sacrifice the amount of days I may spend in the field by finding applicable units further from home to avoid high bear concentrations or is this something that I am overthinking? I appreciate any guidance or advice y'all may give.

I don’t know all the details from your post. But you said you have never done western hunting and are from Texas. I’d first make sure you have all the gear and logistic figured out before going elk hunting, especially going solo. I’d also wait until you are eligible to hunt as a resident for general tags instead of trying to do the draw as a nonresident because it’s stupid expensive if your were to draw as a nonresident. As others have mentioned there are a lot of units other than the ones you mentioned. Go talk to FWP and/or biologist for units.
I know some people that are fine hunting in grizzly country and others that refuse to go. But they are starting to get out a lot farther now then in previous year, so you may still run into them. Just be smart and prepared. Don’t assume a gun or bear spray is going to be 100% effective. Guys get messed up or killed every year in MT by bears.

 

[rlflyer]

Hey I'm in the area of the Beartooths, and was successful last year after 5 years of trying, so if you want to chat sometime let me know.

The units you mentioned are all a bit different. Most of the elk hunting there is done with horse packing because of the high elevation and long distances. The public land in those units are generally above 10,000 ft and involve about a 5000+ ft climb and anywhere from a 5-30 mile trek in. The elk are not evenly distributed through those units and overall you will see way more sheep and bear than elk. A lot of this probably has to do with the lack of logging. Managed forests get way more elk density in general than wilderness. If you aren't seeing any animals, you're going to have a hard time knowing if what you're doing is the right thing.

The other thing is about the logistics in that country due to extreme weather. Last rifle season it went from high 70's to single digits in 24 hrs, with blizzard conditions. This was great for finding animals once it stopped blowing, but you need your gear to be completely dialed for this as your life depends on it. Nobody is coming to save you during a blizzard in the high country.

Also, once the season starts, the herds in the more accessible areas drop into private ranch land owned by billionaires, so the game becomes trying to get a satellite bull who strays over property lines.

If I were you I would consider either going for white tail or muleys because you can hunt more accessible areas and not spend so much time getting in and out, and when the really inclement weather comes you can get back to your truck. Or look for non wilderness national forest units that have been logged - there are several within a couple hours of Billings.

 

[Hunt eat repeat]

Do you mainly archery hunt or rifle? I haven’t been in those units but I would assume late rifle season most bears will be asleep.

This is what I always assumed but I have picked up bears on my trail cameras in late November in single digit temps. While most are probably headed to den up it only takes one to ruin your day. Lol

 

[Milestone522]

Don't forget to sign up online with MFWP to receive a block management book and maps. Each map shows the locations on private property in each region for hunting, and the book is easy to understand showing each property and related rules. The book and map changes every year.

You might want to start out with the block management hunts just to get started, and there are probably quite a few very close to where you are in Billings. There may not be much elk opportunity, but you are definitely in mule deer country.

 

[alves.greg3]

One of the best things I have done to get more comfortable hunting GB areas in MT is getting out the rest of the year in that country, using your gear, and treating every trip like scouting. Plenty of quick hiking trails or fishing areas that will get you out enjoying the summer and preparing for the season. There are plenty of folks who never run into them and are out all the time, and plenty of folks who run into them at trailheads... seems like luck of the draw sometimes.

 

[GooseJuice]

If you want some advice or want to learn some areas around Billings give me a holler.