Montana Elk.....Anyone going?

[offshore]

Hey everyone.
Is anyone heading to Montana to elk hunt in 2010? I will probably be drawn for a permit this year due to the points I have. My friend that I have hunted with in Montana over the past 20 years died last year so I wondering if anyone was headed that way.
I hunt the middle two weeks of bow season which is usually Sept.11-26. I hunt public land and have had pretty good success. I hunt the southwestern corner of Montana right on the Montana Idaho border or the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge in central Montana. Normally fly into Kalispell or Missoula depending on where I can rent a 4X4 truck. The Southwestern Montana area is pretty tough hunting up and down and cooler weather as the altitude is much higher. There are fewer hunters as well. The Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge is a special draw but all bow hunters that apply will get a permit for archery season if they draw the general Elk tag. This is a easier hunt on the body but tougher to bag a elk. Some of the biggest elk in the state come from this area.
I have harvest Elk with a bow in both areas and know both areas pretty well.This is not a guided hunt we are on are own If anyone is going and might want to get together to slay a elk let me know. Mark

A few pics from both areas.

[NY Bearhunter]

MONTANA, GREAT PLACE TO BE AND TO HUNT FOR SURE, EVERYTHING IS A DRAW WHICH IS A REAL PAIN, THEY EVEN MAKE BEAR HUNTING A PAIN. THE HUNTING HAS CHANGE ALOT THERE IN THE PAST FEW SEASONS.

[offshore]

Yes it is getting tougher every year unless you go with a guide. When I started hunting there you would get drawn every year for the deer elk combo. For the past ten years its been a every other year draw for me. The bears are thick up around Kallispell afew years ago they were on the radio begging hunters to hunt some of the black bears. Not much food in the high country so they were down in the valley. I have never hunted bear there but a buddy of mine said I should get a fall tag. I have seen some beautiful bruins while elk hunting. Still waiting for a moose tag...Mark

[NY Bearhunter]

AH, THE MOOSE TAG, NOW THATS A REAL PRIZE, REAL NICE MOOSE TO BE HAD FOR SURE, ALL OF THE BEAR I EVER SAW THERE WERE SMALL ALOT OF SECOND YEAR CUBS JUST ON THERE OWN, I WILL SAY THERE ARE ALOT OF COLOR PHASE, THATS ONE OF THE REASONS I HUNT BEAR THERE, STILL LOOKING FOR THAT BLONDE. YOUR RIGHT, IF YOU WANT TO PAY THE GUIDE OR RANCHER YOU CAN HUNT, JUST LIKE NM, AZ THEY WANT BETWEEN 8 AND 12 K FOR JUST THE TAG,TO HUNT ELK. ITS BECOMING A RICH MANS SPORT.

[JasonB]

Good Luck in 2010.
I am originaly from Helena and keep my Montana residency for hunting purposes even though I haven't been able to hunt there in along time. I hope to be there this year and will be putting in for a tag in the Elkhorn mountains, 380.

JasonB

[WAHOONBOX]

CAN'T WE CAN'T SEEM TO LUCK UP AND DRAW OUT....

AND SADLY, WE HAVE 5,000 PLUS ACRES OF PRIVATE LAND TO USE AT OUR DISCRETION .... HECK WE HAVE EVEN SCOUTED IT AND CAN'T SEEM TO DRAW...


GOOD LUCK ...I KNOW YOU WILL DO WELL.

[offshore]

CAN'T WE CAN'T SEEM TO LUCK UP AND DRAW OUT....

AND SADLY, WE HAVE 5,000 PLUS ACRES OF PRIVATE LAND TO USE AT OUR DISCRETION .... HECK WE HAVE EVEN SCOUTED IT AND CAN'T SEEM TO DRAW...


GOOD LUCK ...I KNOW YOU WILL DO WELL.

Wahoo,
Used to be I would get drawn every year. That was ten years ago. These days it is far tougher. Believe it or not the word is that there are Anti hunter groups that put in for these tags as well when they get drawn that is one tag gone. It makes me sick as I try every year. Montana only permits approximately 11500 non resident Elk deer combination tags....Mark