best mule deer units in montana best mule deer units in montana

The Region H hunt can be a very good hunt on the right year for really good bucks. The Brow-tined Bull and Antlerless elk hunts (34 HDs) makes a total of 63 unrestricted HDs where you can take any elk on 29 units and all but spikes on the rest. Core habitat for elk in northeastern Montana is found adjacent to the Missouri River and tributary creeks. This is a very solid hunt in my opinion for the meager three or four point spend. Due to the fact that we are not providing lodging or meals, this is a lower budget hunt, but NOT a lower budget hunting experience! Hunt mule deer with Ike and Guy Eastman during an October snowstorm. Petersen's HUNTING Publisher, Kevin Steele is in the CZ booth with Dylan Rice at SHOT Show to talk about CZ 600 Series Trail rifle. Add to this bad news the fact that many nonresident applicants are getting very, very nervous, to say the least, given the possibility of the proposed 90/10 license allocation change becoming a reality. Best States to Hunt Mule Deer June 9, 2022 onX Indigenous to western North America, mule deer are found west of the 100th meridian from 23 degrees to 60 degrees N. Much larger than whitetail deer, a buck mule deer can weigh between 130 and 280 pounds. The rifle season dates allow hunters to hunt the rut. Hunter success here can be a bit spotty with an average of 57% success but if a hunter is in good shape and hunts hard, a big buck could be possible here. Over the last three years, all non-resident permits were drawn by non-resident landowners in unit 261, and 7 out of 12 tags for unit 270 were drawn by non-resident landowners. Due to the vast quantity of applicants for this unit, the point system does very little for you in return. Nebraska. BOOK YOUR 2022 MONTANA FLY FISHING TRIP TODAY! Here is the pair we use. Based purely on the data and uncertainty going into this years Wyoming mule deer draw this list should probably be blank, however, that does not work well for readers so I will give you the best list possible with the information I have at this time. From southwest deserts to coastal forests, mule deer hunting presents a variety of challenges. Tag holders can expect to see 20+ quality bucks per day. But if youre hell-bent on hunting deer in area 270, you better buy at least 160 acres because that is your best chance at a permit in area 270 in the near future. Writers Note: This Montana mule deer on the cover was taken at 502 yards. If you are looking to harvest the buck of a lifetime, this is your unit and we are your outfitter. 2022 MONTANA RIVERS AND RIDGES OUTFITTER LLC. 380 is a joke. Pronghorn Area 38, between Cheyenne and Laramie, is a mix of public and private land where landowners typically charge minimal trespass fees and hunters needed only two preference points to draw a tag in 2018, Decaria said. Desert Ghosts: Hunting the Elusive Coues Deer, Six Great Lever-Gun Hunts for North America, What To Do When Your Rifle Breaks While On a Hunt, Federal Terminal Ascent Hunting Bullet: Field Review, The Only Three Guns You Need to Go Hunting, Tested Tough - Modern Zeiss Sports Optics, Professional outfitters' and guides' services, trip planning materials are available on the Missouri River Country website. As a reminder, Montana has a squared bonus point system. Mule Deer Hunting Rates Get your hunt booked now! One of the region's prime whitetail grounds is the Milk River drainage, a tributary to the Missouri River. Southeast Montana Rifle Mule Deer. WTF!! 1. Copyright 2023 Eastmans' Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved, The Most Coveted Deer Permit in Montana that You Will Never Draw, Statistically, the most coveted deer permit in, So youre probably wondering, how is it possible that zero nonresidents drew this tag in 2018? This is a very solid hunt in my opinion for only one or two preference points. Learn how your comment data is processed. Its a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It's not the same question as asking what is the best Colorado OTC archery unit. The Courts have given the States the ownership to manage wildlife within their borders however this is not an absolute right and has been modified many times in the past. The key indicators of a rebound are all lining up for the future on this hunt. Along with exceptional big-game hunting the Montana's Missouri River Country boasts robust populations of sharp-tailed and sage grouse, and gray (Hungarian) partridges. All Petersen's Hunting subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Over the past years we have taken many trophy deer with both a gun and bow. With a mild winter and wet spring, I really think there could be some gems in these hills for those who hunt hard this fall. Resident applicants for this permit are increasing 300-1000 per year proving that the popularity hasnt waned. sitting, and still hunting can be effective, but the best way is to use a vehicle to cover as much country as possible in the mornings and evenings. Neither of us had ever hunted this area before or knew any landowners. This is isnt a review of gear we used on our hunt but rather a summary of how we planned our DIY hunt and some pointers that may help someone looking to do some mule deer hunting in Montana. This has been considered the holy grail of mule deer permits in the Big Sky State for the past couple decades. Like many others, I have 12 points for deer and elk. Much of Montana is unposted even where public access lies. Type 1 BMAs are far simpler and require each hunter to fill out an access permission slip at a designated parking area. 12,440 Views. The moral of the story is, the more applicants the more washed out the drawing is, and the less work your expensively purchased points do for you. Plus Ive been buying points for my family . 20. With plenty of deer, a good buck here can be a tough endeavor, but they are here if you know where to look. The deer in Unit 76 are extremely call shy - due to hunting pressure and predation - but this has made them more visual creatures. Temperatures can be quite warm in September and early October, rendering elk inactive during the day, however, hunters seeking a varied experience find plenty to do at midday. With only 50 tags on quota, a 20-day season in November and lots of public land to hunt, with a little help from the weather, this hunt should continue to excel well into the future. The biggest typical mule deer shot in Montana last year came from 270 and the unit produces 160-inch bucks for hunters who are patient and hunt the higher clearings and meadows. Montana estimates its whitetail population to be at 212,814. The hunting season for these species coincides with the archery season for big game. A lot of large bucks stay nocturnal during the general rifle season, making them very hard to find. Alcazar recommended units 7 and 8 in the north-central part of the state, near the Wyoming border, for hunters looking for areas with lots of public land and good potential for trophies. Western Hunt Company is a big game & upland hunting operation based in Montana & Idaho. Go on More Hunts with Better Information, Join Huntin' Fool Today! Get up above the ATV trails and leave the mule deer call in the pack. Be ready to glass all day. In 2019 there were 7,654 resident applicants for about 35 tags. Hunters stay at a comfortable, nice, and clean hotel of our recommendation and are picked up and dropped off every day. 16 years worth of buying points all for 1.5% better odds than someone with zero points. For many hunters, wrapping their hands around the thick bases of a tall, wide, heavy mule deer rack is a moment dreams are made of. Just a thought. Habitat stamps cost $10.00 and you must have one to hunt anything in Colorado. Each year we see and possibly harvest bucks that score 190+ B&C including some that score over 200 B&C inches. We've Ranked All Mule Deer Hunting States by Entries Per Square Mile of Total Land Mass. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; The up-and-coming units in Arizona are 6A, 8, and 5BS.. Kevin Steele stops by the Taurus booth to speak with Cody Osborn about the all new Raging Hunter platform from Taurus International. Each of these units is worth the wait and gives the hunter an amazing opportunity at Pope & Young and Boone & Crockett bulls, he said. can handle bullets up to 250 grains with great speed and accuracy which makes it ideal for the giant mule deer bucks that are found on the Arizona Strip and Kaibab Plateau. A very tough spot indeed. With 80 tags on quota and an October season, with a little help from some weather, this hunt could create a great opportunity for a big staged up high-country deer during the final five days of the hunt. Hike it often in the summer months and note where you see bucks. This is an action packed hunt during the rut. I lost count at 450 phone call attempts to register the morning the 2 we really wanted became available. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; By doing so, they have combined a number of units. I have been very hard on this hunt in the past, however the recent historical data here is very positive, particularly when compared to everything else currently going wrong in Wyoming. 1579 N Main Street Ste 100 Check em out! Montana made a lot of changes to the deer regulations, with goal being to simplify them. Eastmans Publishing, Inc. is a multimedia corporation whose roots are grounded in the ethics of fair chase hunting. Anyone have input on Idaho unit 59a for mule deer? This is an action packed hunt during the rut. This hunt unit sits smack dab in the middle of the famed Carbon County, one of the best trophy producing buck counties in the entire country, and this area sits in the best big buck country in the second best big buck county in the state, what more could you ask for? John Vore, game-management bureau chief for the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks department, reported some hunters tag huge mule deer bucks using boats to access the Missouri River Breaks area where the river separates regions 4 and 7 in the state. Edward Wright: This was 20 years ago when coyotes in my home state hit epidemic proportions. Although the numbers are down here from the objective by about 25%, the big buck potential here should be very, very good this year. The average success rate on our mule deer hunt is 95-100% with more than 100% . Publisher Kevin Steele is in the Beretta booth with Logan Killam, the Shotgun Product Manager, to discuss the all new Beretta A300 Ultima Turkey. We took a short trip at the end of October to do some scouting of where we planned to hunt and got familiar with the area we planned to be. Restrict a few more units to QDM, that is make a few units similar to how the Boyz East of the Mississippi did it, they know what a mature whitetail is and dont shoot 2 year olds. amzn_assoc_design = "enhanced_links"; Tags #myhuntstory backpack hunting Beyond The Grid big game hunting deer hunting Eastmans Eastmans' Bowhunting Journals Eastmans' Hunting Journals Featured Guy Eastman Hunting Mike Eastman Montana Draw Montana Hunting Montna Mule Deer Hunting Mule deer. Hours of looking at Google Earth do not come close to physically being there. There is a lot of private land, but there is plenty of Block Management and public land for anyone to have a good hunt. The answer is landowners. Its name is derived from having large ears that resemble that of a mule's. This hunt is very accessible and roaded with lots of open hillsides and meadows to glass up bucks feeding on the edges. PO Box 250 Our Best Mule Deer Hunts Hunting big mule deer bucks in the rut is a great hunt to consider. Dates: October 27-31, 2023. This place has it all, comfortable camp, good guiding, good food and Shield River trout fishing, it's just a great week. Region R, The West side of the Bighorns is a mule deer producing factory on a good year. Each hunter must also sign out upon completion of their hunt. My partner passed on a good deer the first day and we spent the majority of the rest of our hunt trying to find that deer. We put in for General tags as well as purchasing the extra preference point that is offered when applying. Book your next hunt in Wyoming with expert hunting guides at R & K Hunting today. Hunter success here can be a bit spotty with an average of 57% success but if a hunter is in good shape and hunts hard, a big buck could be possible here. Like Utah, Arizona is famous for producing record-book mule deer. This proposal would remove half of the nonresident licenses from every quota in every area in the state for the future. Although a big buck here would be a very tall order, a fun hunt with limited pressure is what this hunt should offer up on a somewhat later season experience. 5 Best States for Mule Deer Hunting. amzn_assoc_linkid = "34865c461e195e06ee3f8398a02f30c0"; I have much more to learn about what it takes to continue to have successful mule deer hunting in Montana or any other state that offers Non-residents access to Big Game. We shootbrownelk: Big fines, mandatory jail time and loss of licenses. , I (Montana resident), drew this tag this year and was wondering how the hunt went for you. The deep, contorted coulees of the breaks provide superb cover, allowing some bucks to achieve trophy status. Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING magazine, Kevin Steele is at the Steiner Optics booth with Alberto Corbetta to discuss the Predator 4 and Predator 8. Wyoming Residents hate Nonresident hunters when they are hunting in Wyoming, these Nonresidents are the source of all the problems with landowner issues, Poaching, poor herd populations and the like But boy do Wyoming People love Nonresidents when they are fighting next to their sons and daughters in the mountains of Afghanistan and when that Minnesota Mayo Clinic Surgeon saves their fathers life because no Doctor in Wyoming has the skill set to do the operation. Mule deer are widely distributed throughout the region but most heavily concentrated in the Missouri Breaks and adjacent prairie habitat. We offer many different types of Montana Mule Deer Rut Hunts on several private ranches. The outstanding success rates and superb trophy quality keep this hunt in high demand. Jones said the famous Paunsaugunt unit on the southern border with Arizona and the Fillmore/Oak Creek and Vernon units, both in the central part of the state, all produced incredible bucks for hunters in 2018. Mule deer can also be found on more open prairie and agricultural areas, especially in places offering patches of bedding cover. $5,900/Hunter. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Max points are a must to apply for this hunt. A fine hunter in his own right, Guy has taken several trophy animals and has become an expert in trophy hunting as well. We decided to apply for deer only as we had done a combo tag 2 years prior on a bow hunt. Mule deer hunters should plan to go high in the mountains for the best opportunity at bigger bucks. Our editors have hand-picked these essential pieces of gear to make you a more successful hunter when you hit the game trails this season. It's pretty easy to figure out which units offer the best trophy potential and have limited tags (and corresponding tough draw odds). They open up for call-in registration at different times. . These are high country bucks that migrate to lower country to rut low country does which can make for a great hunt if you hunt hard and give yourself plenty of time to cover lots and lots of country. Mule deer hunters should plan to go high in the mountains for the best opportunity at bigger bucks. An objective level that was recently adjusted downward possibly in an effort to make the situation look not quite so bad. Skip B: Let the Flower Children howl. Eastmans Publishing, Inc. is a holding company engaged in publishing. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "bennordquist-20"; Cross your fingers for big bucks and good opportunities for the future. The Tendoy elk management unit (HDs 300, 302 and 328) continued to exceed management objectives after the 2019 hunting season, and long-term data trends indicate a stable population. Hunters can expect to see 75-100 deer a day and as many as 10 bucks. If you have any questions about the mule deer hunting or how to apply feel free to contact us. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. The guys are , Bow hunt public land mule deer with Brian Barney on this episode of Beyond the . During the rut large bucks appear in an effort to pass on their genes to receptive does. Subscriber Services. The Eastern Montana prairie is open country with rolling hills of grass and sagebrush broken up by coulees and deep ravines; carved from thousands of years of flash floods. The big takeaway here is, as nonresident landowners suck out more and more of the nonresident pool, expect less and less tags being drawn by general nonresidents. Area 60-1, The Pole Mountain, on forest hunt, is probably the definition of a sleeper hunt unit. I was able to download 10-mile by 10-mile maps of our hunt area knowing we would be out of cell coverage. They also tend to offer less public hunting ground. Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING magazine, Kevin Steele is at the Steiner Optics booth with Alberto Corbetta to discuss the Predator 4 and Predator 8. This hunt is generally booked after the hunter has secured a permit. Its late July and Im either on a boat or in my office and the expectation of the ever-familiar chime of a new email notification goes off on my phone. Though relatively few in number, Missouri Breaks bucks can achieve notable size. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Kali Parmley, Editor-in-chief of Bakccountry Hunter speaks with Bret Maffet of Franchi Firearms to discuss the all new Momentum All Terrain Elite. 2. This hunt can be had with only about six or seven points. The best mule deer numbers are found southeast of the Panhandle region of Idaho. . This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Colorado. We have an extremely limited number of very high-demand mule deer tags available for hunters during the January rut. Max points will be required for a chance at this hunt and nearly every hunter (89%) on this hunt walks away with a buck by the end of the season. Each fall, hunters from all over the country, and around the world, set their sights on the mountains, valleys, and wide-open spaces of the West in search of adventure, camaraderie, a world-class trophy, and the opportunity to fill the freezer with lean protein. Tags #myhuntstory Archery backpack hunting big game hunting bow hunting deer hunting Eastmans Eastmans' Bowhunting Journals Eastmans' Hunting Journal Eastmans' Hunting Journals Guy Eastman Hunting Mule Deer Hunting Mule deer. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Best Montana Moose Hunts 2020 Galleries. This hunt is one of only two limited quota hunts inside the Region G zone where 15 lucky applicants will hunt for big rut staged high country deer during the final two weeks of the month of October. Utah took advantage of a combination of favorable weather, aggressive habitat management, and strict regulations to increase its mule deer population by as much as 100,000 from 2008 to 2016, pushing the size of the herd past 380,000 animals. In 2021, three of the five total non-resident deer permits available in units 261-50 and 270-50 were drawn by non-resident landowners. Wyoming likely is the first state that comes to mind when hunters think of pronghorn hunting. Nevada, Washoe County114 pronghorn in B&C records 14. Montana Rivers and Ridges Outfitter offers a late season 4 Day trophy Mule Deer hunt on the beautiful prairie of Eastern Montana. There were 96 people with max points and four applicants drew. Colorado is king of the mule deer, and Eagle County is the king of Colorado mule deer. The same goes for SOME of Montana State Land. Deer hunting can be good at any time during the season, but the last half of November is favored by many resident hunters. is the caliber that currently holds one of the long range distance records for . Area 130-1, The Big Sandy, late hunt is a true wildcard hunt with some very solid big buck potential. The Green River Lakes hunt is a bit more of a long-shot for big bucks, but I just have a bit of a hunch that given the type of country in this area there could be some big bucks this fall to mine out of here for someone who hunts hard. For example, in 2019 there were over 1400 applicants with zero points, and one person drew. Any further questions call Dan Alleman.". This hunt should take 12 to 14 points to draw this year. Box 357 Whitetail deer are also common in the cottonwood studded riparian areas along the river. Dakota Walleye Classic Recap Lake Sakakawea is Stupid Healthy Right Now Best Cranks for Suspended Walleyes Still Loving the Scheels Tournament Bait Rod at 8.6, Sponsored by OutfitterLogic.com Hunting & Fishing Guide Website Design Winter Getting Long.first signs of spring Winnipeg walleyes Reverse Valentines Gifts for Men Are Custom Rods, The Prairie Skies of Bismarck, North Dakota (USA), Montana has 7 hunt districts that break down into smaller units in each district. Each year we see and possibly harvest bucks that score 190+ B&C including some that score over 200 B&C inches. DESIGNED BY: ROCKY RIDGE DIGITAL ADVERTISING. What I thought I could accomplish in a day would have taken a solid week. Skip B: Let the Flower Children howl. So unfair and biased. Sand Hill country GMUs 31, 32, and 33 in the southeast corner of the state also are capable of producing B&C bucks. Desert Ghosts: Hunting the Elusive Coues Deer, Predator Hunting with .17 Caliber Rifle: Pros and Cons, The Only Three Guns You Need to Go Hunting, Venison Backstrap with Sweet & Spicy Peach Relish Recipe, Tested Tough - Modern Zeiss Sports Optics. Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line in 2023. These are the good old days of hunting mule deer in Utah, said Jones, who added that all of the 29 general-season units in the state are capable of producing 200-inch bucks. If you have max points (16) you have a 2% chance at drawing. These are considered the best moose hunting areas in the state. Although the numbers are down here from the objective by about 25%, the big buck potential here should be very, very good this year. Its now 4 years in a row of getting the annual rejection letter. With such a variety in habitat and easy access to abundant public land, a mule deer hunt can be as challenging as you want to make it. In Montana, Region 3 in the southwest corner of the state covers nearly 12 million acres, more than half of which is public land managed by the BLM or Forest Service. So that is 7 permits skimmed off the top immediately for residents. If I could recommend one vital piece of gear that greatly helped us out on our hunt it would be the use of OnX Hunt! This fervent praise for the landscape occurred not in the mountains but on the eastern plains, along the banks of the Missouri River. The winter was very mild on these deer and the buck to doe ratio is very, very good right now. Search our database forMT Mule Deer opportunities. 5 Comments Best Montana . A type 2 BMA has a limited number of hunters allowed on that property per day. 4. Any special permit that a non-resident landowner draws will count against the 10% non-resident quota for that unit. Kevin Steele of Petersen's HUNTING is at the Streamlight booth at SHOT Show 2023 to go over the Bear Trap light from Streamlight. Elk are found in other areas, but most are located within a few miles of these prime locations. Both the mule and whitetail deer breeding seasons occur during this time as well, giving hunters higher odds of spotting a trophy buck. The average deer we take in this unit scores around 180 inches gross. Archers typically find the best success in the cool hours around daylight and sunset. Montana also offers Block Management (BMAs) which is private Ranches opening up their property for public Montana mule deer hunting. The landscape is big. Introducing the Veracity PH from Burris, the perfect combination of reliability, quality, and technology delivering a simple aiming solutiona tool for the hunter that just works. $100/Day. Our trophy mule deer hunts are only for those who have already drawn a 270 Mule deer permit in Montana, if you have questions about how to apply feel free to contact us through the button below and we can help you out there. Colorado Corner Crossing Here We Go Again, 10 Most Common Big Game Violations Part 8 Hunter Trespassing, To Feed Or Not To Feed. Sep 25, 2013 #5 M mtmuley Well-known member Joined Jan 11, 2009 Messages 11,557 Location montana Magazines, TV shows and pics of big bucks with the unit displayed don't help either. So put on your sweatband and grab your stress ball, were going to take a look at the hard numbers. If they want a true limited entry trophy type hunt they need to get rid of the cow and spike hunters. Busted . Pronghorn tags in both states can be very difficult to draw. You cannot access without being signed up for that specific BMA. Unlock the secrets of limited license lotteries and discover drawing and harvest trends to create a better hunt planning strategy. This country is big, rugged and nothing comes easy here, but the bucks here are by far the largest in the state, historically speaking. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit"; Consult with Hunters Who Have Hunted in Your Unit, Join Now! New Mexico, Socorro County117 pronghorn in B&C records 13. The rugged "breaks" along the Missouri contain dense stands of ponderosa pines and junipers. Unit 22. Ord, holds a fair number of mule deer and receives little pressure because of . May 25, 2022 The .300 Remington Ultra Mag. Kevin Steele from Petersen's HUNTING speaks to Jordan Egli of Burris Optics about the all-new Veracity PH Riflescope. This is a very solid hunt in my opinion for only one or two preference points. Historically, a hunter with some gumption has a legitimate chance at a 180 buck here and many bigger have been harvested. The eastern side of the state provides good mule deer hunting. I think we also found that the squared bonus point system is not that effective because there are just too many applicants nowadays.