WABS Posted September 27, 2005 Report Share Posted September 27, 2005 Well I've got a little over a month to go before my elk/deer hunt out in NW MT. You know how it is -- all I can think about is the hunt. I'm flying out, so I'm preparing to send a box with a bunch of my gear ahead of time so that I don't have to carry everything on the plane. Anyone have any suggestions for my prep or anyone ever hunted NW MT that can fuel my impatience? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitetailtrax Posted September 27, 2005 Report Share Posted September 27, 2005 Re: Upcoming Elk / Deer Hunt in MT I know NW Montana quite well - what is the general area that you will be hunting? This area is best known for its whitetails, but there's some huge bulls and mulies too. Are you hunting public land or private? I go there every year chasing whitetails and have a handful of mature bucks to my credit. NW Montana lost 50-75% of its deer herd in 1996-97 and now finally has a strong number of 4+ yearold deer in the population. Let me know if you have any questions or want advice on anything. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted September 27, 2005 Report Share Posted September 27, 2005 Re: Upcoming Elk / Deer Hunt in MT On the stuff you're shipping ahead of time, is it being delivered somewhere, or is it being held for pickup at UPS, FedEx, etc? If it's being held for pickup, make sure they'll hold it long enough for you to get there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WABS Posted September 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2005 Re: Upcoming Elk / Deer Hunt in MT Lots of good info. I'm going to be hunting in Areas 201 and 202, mostly private land. My first priority is a bull elk -- if I'm lucky enough to complete that task before my 6 days are up I'll work at taking a nice buck deer. Prefer Mulie, but if I have an opportunity to take a nice whitetail I won't pass it up. The box I'm shipping will be delivered to the outfitter I'm hunting with and will be held till my arrival, so I'm not too worried about that. However, I am sending it a month a head of time to ensure it gets there before I do. I understand about the altitude -- I hunted SE Idaho back in 2001 (6-8000 ft) and it took some getting use to. Guide did give me a complement at the end telling me he'd never had a client keep up with him before. Thanks for the input!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WABS Posted September 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2005 Re: Upcoming Elk / Deer Hunt in MT I'm considering whether or not to carry my 44 Mag pistol with me. Is it worth the extra weight since I'm carrying a rifle anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitetailtrax Posted September 27, 2005 Report Share Posted September 27, 2005 Re: Upcoming Elk / Deer Hunt in MT [ QUOTE ] I'm considering whether or not to carry my 44 Mag pistol with me. Is it worth the extra weight since I'm carrying a rifle anyway? [/ QUOTE ] Not sure why you would carry a pistol unless you plan to hunt with it. I wouldn't worry about bears if that's why. A relative of mine hunted this area over the weekend and the bulls were fired up but they didn't get any shooting in. The terrain is steep, steep, steep over there!!! Good area for sure and hopefully your guide will provide you with some good opportunities. What guide service are you using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WABS Posted September 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2005 Re: Upcoming Elk / Deer Hunt in MT I'm hunting with Jerry Malson. I think you've convinced me to leave the handgun home. That's the way I was leaning anyway. I am all for keeping the pack light. I'll replace the pistol with a bottle of water or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitetailtrax Posted September 27, 2005 Report Share Posted September 27, 2005 Re: Upcoming Elk / Deer Hunt in MT Good choice - no need for the pistol although my hunting partner took a beatiful 140 class whitetail buck last year in NW Montana with his .357. It's interesting that you will be hunting Districts 201 and 202, with your guide being located in the heart of District 121 (at least according to their website). The country around Trout Creek is awesome, with the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness nearby and plenty of deer and elk in HD 121. I know guides have to stick to their designated areas, so maybe 201 and 202 are "his" area, but it's a fair drive from Trout Creek everyday if that is where you are staying. Anyway, I wish you the best of luck!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WABS Posted September 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2005 Re: Upcoming Elk / Deer Hunt in MT I'll double check that I got those numbers right -- he is out of Trout Creek. My memory isn't what it used to be. I'll got back through my files and check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WABS Posted September 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2005 Re: Upcoming Elk / Deer Hunt in MT I was wrong it is 121 -- I take that it good news from what I read in your post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitetailtrax Posted September 28, 2005 Report Share Posted September 28, 2005 Re: Upcoming Elk / Deer Hunt in MT [ QUOTE ] I was wrong it is 121 -- I take that it good news from what I read in your post. [/ QUOTE ] I think 121 has better trophy potential - especially for deer of both species. Districts 201 and 202 are south of 121 and probably have more elk overall, but 121 is good also. The Cabinet Mountains are perhaps my favorite mountain range in the state and there are some monster bulls living there, but the terrain is difficult to hunt and the vegetation is extremely thick! I don't know anything about your guide, but I'm guessing you will have opportunities to harvest an elk and the deer are plentiful. What week are you hunting? Deer hunting really picks up towards the end of November with the rut. Weather is always the wildcard up there. An early dump of snow will improve your chances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WABS Posted September 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2005 Re: Upcoming Elk / Deer Hunt in MT I'm there from 6-13 November -- praying for snow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lilbuckmaster Posted September 28, 2005 Report Share Posted September 28, 2005 Re: Upcoming Elk / Deer Hunt in MT Well good luck and hope you get him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WABS Posted September 29, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2005 Re: Upcoming Elk / Deer Hunt in MT I'll let you know how it goes -- hopefully I'll have lots of pictures to show you all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarvDog Posted September 29, 2005 Report Share Posted September 29, 2005 Re: Upcoming Elk / Deer Hunt in MT Best of luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 Re: Upcoming Elk / Deer Hunt in MT best of luck on your hunt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WABS Posted November 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2005 Re: Upcoming Elk / Deer Hunt in MT Just an update. Got back on the 13th of Nov. Bad news was I didn't fill my elk tag. Good news is I did manage to take a nice whitetail (see the deer section for a picture) and I had an absolute GREAT time. Beautiful country, lots of different game. I think I saw elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, bison, bighorn sheep, coyotes, bobcat, mountain lion, turkeys as well as wolf track and black bear track. It was a great week even though I didn't get my elk. I'll try again in a year or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted November 22, 2005 Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 Re: Upcoming Elk / Deer Hunt in MT sounds like a great time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkrie1357 Posted November 23, 2005 Report Share Posted November 23, 2005 Re: Upcoming Elk / Deer Hunt in MT Mick You Can Afford a Hunt Like that! But You Have to Make A Plan & Stick to it. I Planned over 2+ years to go on a bear hunt to Canada. Put away $100.00 a month. Did My home work on checking out a Good Guide Service & it Didn't cost me a penny while I was there. The Biggest Problem You will run into is getting a big or record animal while on your Hunt. Then What (a Taxidermy Bill) Mine wasn't as much as my hunt, but almost. My buddy had a full body mount done & it cost him 1.5x the cost of the hunt. WOW! Let me tell You this, neither one of us would do it any different!!! Lucky the Taxidermist is a Busy Fellow, almost a 100 bears this year alone. + he does Deer & everything else. We'll have almost a year to save More $$$$$$ Valkrie1357 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WABS Posted November 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2005 Re: Upcoming Elk / Deer Hunt in MT Valkrie you're exactly right. It like saving for anything else. You do your research, develop a budget, make a decision as to when you're going to go. For me it is usually 2-4 years out. I then create a hunting fund at my bank and start saving. Loose change, any odds and ends check I get I put into the account. It's amazing how fast it will build up. I think my hunt to MT cost in the area of $7000 when I figure in the cost of outfitter, license, transportation, equipment, taxidermist, butcher, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Xen Posted November 23, 2005 Report Share Posted November 23, 2005 Re: Upcoming Elk / Deer Hunt in MT looks like i'm a bit late for posting about the pistol, but i never leave mine home. in the rough country it isn't uncommon to jump a mountain lion or wolf, or even a deer or elk. sorry you didn't get your elk, but i'm glad you had a good time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WABS Posted November 25, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2005 Re: Upcoming Elk / Deer Hunt in MT I ended up leaving the pistol home primarily to cut down on the amount of weight in my day pack. They'd also told me that most of the bears were already bedded up for the winter. We did have a mountain lion come within 30 feet of us while we were overlooking a bowl however. Once he saw us he just diverted and slowly walked off. Can't wait to go back. I hunted with Jerry Malson and they did an excellent job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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