With a healthy total number of bucks observed, Region 7 biologists moderately increased the number of regionwide, 007-20 either-sex licenses. While some survey areas have observed increased numbers and are at or above their long-term averages, there are still a few areas where pronghorn are still below their long-term average, mainly in the Havre area. As a result, bird populations are expected to be stable in this area and similar to last year, around average or slightly above average. 90% of the elk will be down on the river bottoms and on the private hayfields most likely. I have hunted the. Elk distribution will likely change from now through the archery season and again during general rifle season due to changes in vegetation, snow levels and hunting pressure. Follow all food storage regulations. If huckleberry crops fail in large areas of northwestern Montana, black bears may move down into lower elevations and riparian areas where they are more accessible to hunters. After that date, the application period is over and youre stuck with a general tag. They are typically associated with agricultural and private lands at lower elevations, where permission is required for access. For HD 580, spring surveys and 2021 harvest data indicate average whitetail numbers. Wolf-related legislation and Fish and Wildlife Commission season changes may affect several aspects of the 2022 hunting and trapping seasons, and hunters are encouraged to closely check regulations and the FWP website for updates. Also put in for a cow and drew that. Pronghornpopulation numbers in the Golden Triangle are good. Brood success in eastern areas appears to be good in areas that received precipitation in spring and early summer. In Region 6,gray partridge(also known as Hungarian partridge) populations are not monitored through any structured surveys, but harvest estimates show their populations do track with the other bird species in the region to some degree. For the 2022 season, changes to the 2022 mountain lion regulations allow for purchase of a general lion license or an unlimited lion license until February 28, 2023. Whitetailnumbers remain variable depending on the area of the region. Location Colorado Looking for general information on Mt unit 700 archery (798-21), Would like to exchange a few PM's or talk to someone who has hunted the area and/or knows the area well and wouldn't mind sharing some thoughts about access, camping, hunt strategies etc. Forest grouse populations are considered to be stable in the region. There is also an area in HD 103 that requires a permit to hunt mule deer (HD 103-50). Based on spring survey data,sage-grousepopulations are in decent shape in Region 6. Get unlimited access to over ten years of historical drawing and harvest data for over 1,700+ hunt units. Despite the spring conditions, overall numbers should be similar to last year and hunting should be good for all three species of mountain grouse. I used to hunt antelope and deer north and west of Brusett all way to the UL bend. Get a good quality boot that is water proof as the weather can change drastically from the beginning of a hunt to the end. Total number of 1st choice applicants that were successful. Create a free account to read the rest of this elk hunting note! Unlock the secrets of limited license lotteries and discover drawing and harvest trends to create a better hunt planning strategy. A grasshopper outbreak has infested much of the region for the second year in a row. In HD 556, overall pronghorn numbers remain well below long-term average, so this upcoming hunting season will be a bit more challenging than in previous years. For any further questions, consult your local area biologist or the 2022 hunting regulations. So well look at a few of the best elk hunting units in Montana. The east side of the range is home large herds of elk that contain a significant number of really big bulls. Out of those 700, half of them were bull elk. Although there are areas where grass and vegetation still remain green and grasshoppers are abundant, the continued drought conditions are expected to cause habitat quality to decline further over the remaining weeks of summer. As in other years, hunter success will be influenced by snowfall during the hunting season. Elk distribution in the Dillon area may look differently than it has in the past due to extreme climatic variation. Even if you dont draw a special permit, it doesnt mean that youre out of luck. Despite good numbers, wolves can be difficult to find, dont always move as a pack and often move long distances. Elk are very close to objective numbers in the Little Belts (old HD 413). The Missouri Breaks (HD 700) and Custer Forest Elk Management Unit (HDs 702, 704, 705) remain the two "core" elk populations in southeast Montana. Best guess is that numbers may remain low until the later portion of general rifle season. Most elk hunting opportunities are allocated through limited permit or B License drawing in the region, except for HD 690, where general licenses are valid for antlerless elk during the general season. He actually died there on his last hunt. That district now has an antlered buck regulation throughout. Kolbe also reported that pronghorn populations are also doing well. Hey, just following up on this thread to see how you did? The habitat looks great compared to prior years, which is good news. The general elk distribution in the Missouri River Breaks includes 1,101,344 acres of private land, 30% of which is currently enrolled in FWP?s Block Management Program. Expect similar hunting to last year in this area. Finally ended up taking a decent bull way back in on the north east side of the forest. 2/3 of the bulls harvested were 6-point bulls or larger. Bird populations in this area of the region are expected to be slightly below average. This can help you make casual noise to alert bears to your presence, and it may also increase your chances survival in the event of a bear attack. The Yellowstone River corridor in southern Richland County experienced a more widespread outbreak, but nevertheless whitetail numbers remain good through much of the area. See all stats but the last 2 years with a free account! Despite good grain production and some opportunistic moisture in the spring, brood survival appears to be relatively poor. On windy days, sharptails will generally stay on the leeward side of a hill, out of the wind. Well see what makes them amazing, and how you can use that information to maximize your elk hunt to make it safe and productive, as well as memorable and enjoyable. Those numbers were at or near 40-year lows. However, they . Select A Region Select one or more regions from the map or check the option to select all regions 7 HDS. Abundant spring/summer rainfall this year has resulted in rapid recovery of range plants, but abundant vegetation also means increased fire danger as grass dries out. # Successful. Given the population trends and good vegetative production and cover, theres a good chance the nest success of upland birds will be good this year, especially compared to the previous three or four years. Mule deerrecruitment in the Helena area was up this spring compared to last year with good winter survival, though overall numbers are still low. Montana FWP Hunt Planner User Agreement Maps from the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) Hunt Planner are intended for use as a guide. . Stay alert, especially when hearing or visibility is limited. HD 331 is no longer open for harvesting antlerless elk on the general license on public land. Drew this tag last year. Finally, start planning out your Montana elk hunt. Kolbe reports that although mule deer in the Little Belt, Castle and eastern Big Belt Mountains experienced significant declines 10 to 15 years ago, their numbers have been steadily increasing since then. Finding areas with grass higher than your shin, mixed with shrubs and small draws and near a food source (farmland/shrub berries) is a good place to start. That report is available on the FWP web site. Access onX Hunt's interactive map below to view Montana's hunting districts for its primary species, including elk, deer, antelope, turkey, and more. Overall whitetail numbers should be stable to increasing across the region, and hunters should see a fair number of bucks this fall due to three years of solid recruitment. Powered by UBB.threads PHP Forum Software 7.7.5. Distribution and hunter access to elk will depend mostly on weather. Create a free account to read the rest of this access note! The areas that received good moisture throughout the early brood-rearing season in late June into July will have the greatest brood success and best pheasant numbers this fall. Send us an email at [emailprotected] to learn more. In 2022, all of the non-resident deer permits drawn in units 261-50 and 270-50 were drawn by non-resident landowners. Best bet is to make at least one scouting trip and get some boots one the ground looking for sign. Multiple years of drought have taken a toll on bird numbers. You are using an out of date browser. The muzzleloader season can be good as it gives hunters another opportunity for those late season wintering bulls. JavaScript is disabled. InHDs 502, 525, 555, 575 and 580, spring surveys showed mule deer numbers in these districts were similar to the previous year. Elksurveys in the Missouri River Breaks in 2022 were 43 percent below the long-term average, from 1995 to 2022. There are plenty of opportunities to hunt elk in Montana for a hunter who is willing to put in the work. The second option is to hunt elk in one of the general units. . Ive seen some very nice bucks come out of this area during the last several seasons,said Jay Kolbe, FWP wildlife biologist based in white Sulphur Springs. Apr 13, 2016. They may see some groups of does without any fawnsa continuing short-term impact of drought. % Successful. Get a free account to view the details! Spring crowing surveys that measure the roosterpheasantpopulations in the eastern third of the region showed populations around average or slightly above average, with populations in the western third of the region well below average. There are also a number of limited-entry units that have the potential to produce bigger bulls, with most of these units located on the eastern half of the state. Additionally, the second opportunity 799-30 doe/fawn license,valid only in HDs 704 and 705,was moderately increased due to strong populations across much of those districts. In HD 318, there are pronghorn does that are collared as part of an FWP study. It resembles the badlands. Key portions of elk summer and winter ranges are located on privately owned lands. See all stats but the last 2 years with a free account! Check for current or recent wildfires in this area. Just received my Montana elk tags in the mail. In the Sweetgrass Hills, elk numbers remain well over objective, giving hunters opportunity to harvest antlerless elk. Montana Montana has a lot of country and lot of mule deer. Some units are brow-tined bull only, meaning you cant shoot cow elk, spike elk, or forked antler elk. Hope to hear back from you! Thanks in Advance. Thanks. Wyoming's 2023 elk application overview . Hunting is limited to a few hunters who received a license through a special drawing. The number of elk observed during post-season aerial surveys currently numbers approximately 7,500 elk (Figures 1, 2, and 3). Branch-antlered bull hunting is by permit only in HDs 700, 702, 704, 705 and the far southwestern portion of HD 701. While providing additional opportunity on a general elk license, spike bull harvest remains a small portion of the overall bull harvest and has not shown to have a measurable impact on the ratio of bulls to cows. The Missouri Breaks units continue to produce good bulls, but Eastern Montana has been in a drought for the last couple of years. I drew the same tag this year. Phillips and Valley counties in northeastern Montana. The effort to find suitable cover may increase substantially in the drought stricken western portions of the region this year. The miles and minutes will be for the farthest away property. Remember that HDs 319 and 341 have been combined into one district, HD 319 and HDs 321 and 334 have also been combined into one district, HD 321. These big ranches are getting bought because they now have so many . White-tailed deernumbers have been on an upward trend in recent years after several hard winters suppressed recruitment between 2017-2019. Contact the applicable land management agency for updates on area closures or fire restrictions. This often-overlooked hunting area keeps the crowds to a minimum, but the elk herds are dazzlingly high in numbers. So the 2 nd Bull was taken, turned out to be a Broken rack 6X4 Nice Bull also! Temperatures in June were near average with below-average precipitation, but in July and August, the summer turned hot and dry. Whitetail harvests were below average in the Madison area in 2021 and within average for the Bozeman area. This year is gonna be even tougher is sounds like because of the lack of vegetation and water due to the drought. Do you have landowner tags, lease land, or have an lodge? Sample submission is voluntary throughout Montana. Consult with Hunters Who Have Hunted in Your Unit, Join Now! FWP biologists have seen slight growth in the population over the past year, but theyve also seen very low fawn production this summer due to extreme drought conditions over the past two years. The ranch has an insulated cabin that acts as base camp for hunting parties. Overall, partridge numbers this fall are likely to remain average to above average for the eastern half of the region, and below average for the western half of the region. With a general elk tag, youre limited to hunting antlerless only. Mule deer numbers on private land vary but may be overabundant in some localized areas, especially in agricultural areas. However , I think you might have a hard time getting solid info from any one on here in regards to elk or deer in SE montana . 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