Northwest Montana Elk

[Texas89]

First timer here!

So I hunted southwest Montana two years ago but my buddy is moving to Kalispell so I'll be flying up from Texas to hunt Northwest Montana this year. I've read the elk population isn't as dense as the southwest Montana but there is much less hunting pressure in the northwest due to it being a little more rugged. Just wanted to toss out a line and see if I could get any input from someone who may have hunted up near Kalispell. (Flathead National Forest, Kootenai, Libby, Thompson Falls even) Looking to bag my first elk or muley, gonna pass on whitetail because they grow like weeds here in South Texas.


Any info is appreciated!

 

[Flatgo]

My advice is to drive south. I grew up in nw Montana and don’t know if I could be paid to hunt that stuff again. There are a few elk left but wolves have done a real number on the elk up there. There are a few more elk towards Libby but as far Flathead National forest I would go somewhere else. Good luck

 

[CC]

If I spent a $1000 on a Non Resident tag I would be looking elsewhere.

 

[missjordan]

Again going to reiterate what’s been stated already, I’d go somewhere else, maybe back down to SW Montana


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[goodgrouper]

Lots and lots of hunters in NW MT. Maybe not quite as many as dillon but thats probably because the woods are so thick you cant see the people. Couple that with wolves on every ridge, grizzlies, and lots of lions and really tuff country and it doesnt sound to pleasant. All that said, i get into elk consistently in several spots within a half hour of Kalispell .

 

[Texas89]

Thanks for the feedback/advice y'all. The nice thing is I've got plenty of time to plan, just looking to spend more time hunting versus driving around Montana. Luckily my buddy is moving up there in a couple weeks so I'll have a personal scouter up there for the next 6 months. Thanks again!

 

[Ross]

I’ve hunted in the northwest corner for the last 15 years around trout creek and noxon. This country is tough and dense, yes elk numbers are lower but if you really want to work and see incredible country you can have an opportunity at a great bull and very seldom will you run into anyone once you are a couple miles in.

 

[TradLife406]

My advice is to drive south. I grew up in nw Montana and don’t know if I could be paid to hunt that stuff again. There are a few elk left but wolves have done a real number on the elk up there. There are a few more elk towards Libby but as far Flathead National forest I would go somewhere else. Good luck

South as in Colorado is nice... No wolves, no griz and lots of elk! ;-)

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[Shrek]

I’ve hunted in the northwest corner for the last 15 years around trout creek and noxon. This country is tough and dense, yes elk numbers are lower but if you really want to work and see incredible country you can have an opportunity at a great bull and very seldom will you run into anyone once you are a couple miles in.

Ross is spot on. It’s really tough country to hunt ! If you don’t know the area and don’t have a lot of elk hunting experience it will be frustrating. It’s beautiful country and there’s elk there. I hope your friend has plenty of time to scout and learn the area. There’s a bunch of burns from the fires a couple of years ago. Burns are a good place to start.

 

[adamsls1809]

I’ve hunted in the northwest corner for the last 15 years around trout creek and noxon. This country is tough and dense, yes elk numbers are lower but if you really want to work and see incredible country you can have an opportunity at a great bull and very seldom will you run into anyone once you are a couple miles in.

How would you say Mule deer is?
Going with a total group of 4. 2 of us have no experience western hunting, other 2 live near
kalispell. Going beginning of November.

All the insight appreciated!

 

[Seeknelk]

First timer here!

So I hunted southwest Montana two years ago but my buddy is moving to Kalispell so I'll be flying up from Texas to hunt Northwest Montana this year. I've read the elk population isn't as dense as the southwest Montana but there is much less hunting pressure in the northwest due to it being a little more rugged. Just wanted to toss out a line and see if I could get any input from someone who may have hunted up near Kalispell. (Flathead National Forest, Kootenai, Libby, Thompson Falls even) Looking to bag my first elk or muley, gonna pass on whitetail because they grow like weeds here in South Texas.


Any info is appreciated!

Glad to see the OP came back and updated us on his hunt! Way to typical, post asking for spot info and then never contribute a thing later on. No deer in NW Montana unless you want to shoot a river rat.

 

[Ross]

There are some Great Mountain Muleys in the Nwest corner but they make you work hard extremely hard to get them. Every year there are a few 200inchers taken, but the population is limited.

 

[adamsls1809]

What are the prevalence of griz encounters in the Cabinets, namely south of libby? Anyone know?

Much appreciated

 

[Ross]

A good number of them roam in their and the only griz track I have seen was south of Libby. Don’t believe a lot of encounters but something to be aware of. One was shot illegally last yr up the bull river.

 

[BigLou]

I hunted NW Montana 5 or 6 years ago. Never again. Miserable in every way. Saw one elk all week. Only one other hunter in camp killed an elk and it was a raghorn. Really tough terrain with lots of blow down and under brush. No doubt the wolves have had a big impact on elk populations.