NW Montana Mule Deer

[alecvg]

Question on the habits of the mulies in the NW part of the state, mostly the Bob Marshell Complex. Never hunted it before, but I have been in some area's up there in the summer that look like awesome country, and I know of bucks being taken out of there. I'm just curious as too if those deer tend to be there later in the season, or does it get enough snow it pushes them out early? I just imagine it could be tough to hunt them late if they are down in that thick timber in the Swan Valley and such. Would love to here any knowledge someone may have, if you want to PM me too, rather than post on the board that is fine.

 

[Jon Boy]

How late in the season are you considering hunting?

 

[alecvg]

October or November. I want to do September as well, but worried if I end up fighting fire this summer, I will have very little or any time to scout.

 

[Jon Boy]

I was about to say I would do it in September. Bitterroot got a nice buck in the complex two years ago during the early hunt. I think phelps got a good one in there last year on his outfitted hunt along with his elk? Never really heard of people hunting it later than that.

 

[alecvg]

I've talked to Phelps, I guess I will just try to scout if I can and hunt September either way. Maybe try it later if I don't find what I want early.

 

[Jon Boy]

Im hoping to be fighting fires that time of year too, but the odds seem fairly slim lately. Let me know how your trip materializes and I might find myself up there this fall. Its one place in MT I need to cross of the list.

 

[Matt Cashell]

The trip is worth seeing the country.

DO NOT expect to see a lot of deer. Densities are very low.

Good luck!

 

[Jon Boy]

The trip is worth seeing the country.

DO NOT expect to see a lot of deer. Densities are very low.

Good luck!

Kind of what I had figured through my research. Doesn't really matter how many animals you see in country like that, its still worth seeing!

 

[mt100gr.]

I would get in there as early as you can. Try to catch the bucks in their summer patterns and bachelor groups. (Small bachelor groups). They also seem to show up better early with an almost red hue to their coats. When they turn gray and the frost turns everything else gray, they get darn slippery. Good luck. Where you thinking of hiking in from?

 

[Matt Cashell]

Maybe PM would be best for specific info.

 

[alecvg]

Yeah. I will just say hunting from the south end.