However, in HD 311 pronghorn numbers are within average and fawn production was low. Hunters are reminded that in Regions 1, 2 and 4 it is unlawful to take a female mountain goat accompanying a kid or a female in a group that contains one or more kids. Kolbe also reported that pronghorn populations are also doing well. Outside of these areas, elk numbers are generally low, but numbers have been increasing at a moderate rate, accompanied by a gradual expansion into previously unoccupied habitat. Our Memberships Include The Most Accurate Draw Odds Available, Join Now! Timely moisture in the spring and early summer has provided quality habitat across the region. Another mild winter allowed for high winter survival offorest grouseandwild turkeys. 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. Just remember that there are always exceptions to the rule, and land ownership is just one piece of the puzzle. These big ranches are getting bought because they now have so many . The result is more opportunity with an increase in both either-sex and doe/fawn licenses. This ranch offers premium Montana private land elk hunts, as the animals have access to food and water, but can retreat to the mountains in a matter of minutes if theyre so inclined. For the northern portion of Region 5 in HDs 516, 536, and 546, numbers are average to below average. While as a whole mule deer numbers are down this year in Region 7, it is important to note that there are areas where numbers are strong. Pronghornnumbers in HD 506 are below average and very similar to last year. Back in 2020, there were 345 bull elk harvested from this district; 55% of those bulls were 6-points or larger. ALASKA; . Because its a big state, and there is a lot to see here. Joined Sep 19, 2012 . But harvest results here have been decent in recent years. Create a free account to read the rest of this access note! Hillbillie, I got drawn for the archery hunt in unit 410 which is beside 700. 7 HDS. Click for Terrain Detail. Follow all food storage regulations. Are you familiar with the license and permitting process for nonresidents? Apr 13, 2016. I would suggest that you make sure you are prepared to walk long distances in a pair of quality boots. I'd archery hunt the deer in the mornings and evenings, and rifle hunt antelope mid-day. InHDs 502, 525, 555, 575 and 580, spring surveys showed mule deer numbers in these districts were similar to the previous year. Despite good numbers, wolves can be difficult to find, dont always move as a pack and often move long distances. Guided Elk Hunting in Northeast Montana. Apr 6, 2016. Now, it is knowing where to go; which units are the prime for hunting elk? When choosing a place to hunt, hunters should first consider their target species. Create a free account to read the rest of this terrain note! I thought I would add,if you hunt from the water be prepared to be stranded by waves. Keep motorized vehicles on roads, and dont park over dry fuels. Hunters should expect to find better numbers of sage-grouse in areas containing some riparian habitat. Good luck. Watch for environmental indicators of recent bear activity. From check station and wing barrel data, we observe that juveniles (birds hatched that year) typically comprise most of the birds harvested (60 to 80 percent depending on the species). Check for current or recent wildfires in this area. Elk should be in good weight and condition going into the fall after a wet spring and early summer. You must log in or register to reply here. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Create a free account to read the rest of this elk hunting note! When you know where youre going, now look into whether or not you will need a special permit, or if that general tag meets all of your needs. There are 4 OTC hunts in this unit. Partridge harvest in 2021 was above average in the eastern portions of the region but 60 percent of average in the western portions of the region, which was still a significant improvement over the previous five years. cherokees; May 4, 2021; 2. So far, the moose study has revealed that the Cabinet-Salish moose population is relatively stable although perhaps at lower overall numbers than historic highs. remains above its population objective of 400 - 600 elk with just under 700 elk observed in surveys this past winter. Overall,black bearnumbers appear to be steady in northwest Montana. The Missouri Breaks (HD 700) and Custer Forest Elk Management Unit (HDs 702, 704, 705) remain the two coreelkpopulations in southeast Montana. Time and distance from 700 N Larrabee St Unit 1702. Some areas with dense concentrations of grizzly bears are very accessible to hunters, especially during the archery season. The message here is that the extra windshield time to reach the southeast corner of Region 7 is absolutely worth it, said Melissa Foster, Glendive/Baker biologist. I drew the same tag this year. Total mule deer numbers in the Livingston area observed during spring surveys were near 10- and 20-year averages in the Brackett Creek trend area (HD 393) but were below average in the Gardiner trend area (HD 313). Recruitment from last winter was decent, as were bull-to-cow ratios. As is often the case, hunters have both good news and bad news when it comes to the big game hunting outlook for 2022 in FWPs Region 4, north central Montana. Hunters should read the regulations and become thoroughly familiar with these new boundaries and the regulations and license opportunities for them. Florida. If hunters want to be successful, scouting and understanding wolf behavior is important. I'm a Montana resident and I just learned I drew a bull elk tag for HD 631 during the rifle season this year. Grasses and forbs have grown high, which provide good cover and abundant insect forage for broods to eat. I'll be up there the back end of Sept. and into October. The southern Rocky Mountain Front shows overall stability in elk numbers compared to recent years, according to area biologist Brent Lonner. Calf recruitment here was observed to be a little lower than average, likely due to effects of drought, but populations are still above objective going into this hunting season. Do you have landowner tags, lease land, or have an lodge? 423. Pronghornpopulations in southeast Montana increased from last year and are 27 percent above the 10-year average. I saw around 60 fawns per 100 does during my pronghorn survey flights this summer, which is good fawn production, he said. Overall pronghorn numbers both north and south of the Little Belts (HDs 430 and 490) continue to recover from declines we saw following the harsh winters a few years ago.. Despite the spring conditions, overall numbers should be similar to last year and hunting should be good for all three species of mountain grouse. You are using an out of date browser. Along the northern Rocky Mountain Front, biologist Ryan Rauscher reports thatelknumbers are generally above their long-term average, with bull to cow ratios at or near average. Most southeastern Montana counties experienced localized die-offs. When youre looking for a Montana elk hunting lease, and youre more concerned with filling the freezer with some of the best wild game meat you have ever tasted, then opting for a hunting unit that allows you to harvest any animal you happen to see is where its at. In the Sheridan area, a measurable reduction in mule deer was observed relative to last year. Overall, upland bird numbers are trending higher than 2021 but still remain below the long-term average across the region as populations are still recovering from the harsh winter of 2017/2018. 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. Anticipate poor sage-grouse hunting. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Drought has likely impacted brood success, especially in areas lacking riparian areas. Id love to talk to your son about his experience in unit 700. Phone: (435) 865-1020. The percentage of four-point or greater bucks harvested was up in 2021, and its anticipated to be similar results this fall. In the Sheridan area, elk populations came down by about 10 percent relative to last year across HDs 320 and 322. been up there on 3 elk hunts. I've been doing some homework as far as the elk goes but I can only know so much without putting some miles on. It's the breaks, if you don't like the weather wait another day lol. May 11, 2021. Visithttps://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/wolffor more information. Those lucky enough to be in the 15% of applicants who draw a bull permit should find a Montana ranch to hunt on. Only valid on private lands. Create a free account to read the rest of this terrain note! Pronghorn numbers in HD 586 have been mostly stable over the past four years but remain about 25 percent below average. With this years precipitation and good growing season this year, fawn recruitment is expected to rebound next year. Elk numbers in HD 380 may be down a little in some localized areas, but overall numbers continue to be within objective. I'm going to archery hunt Unit 700 for elk & deer this year, draw results should come out this week to confirm, but I have enough points to pull it. However, they . Valid in all Region Non-resident hunters must draw a general license in order to be entered into the special drawing. FWP biologists typically observe strong calf recruitment and an excellent composition of bulls. So the 2 nd Bull was taken, turned out to be a Broken rack 6X4 Nice Bull also! The Montana Application Deadline For Elk is April 1, 2023. Northern Carter and southern Fallon counties were particularly hard hit by EHD, with a widespread outbreak that resulted in significant mortality. Opportunities to huntmule deerare somewhat limited in western Montana. Remember that these general units are all over-the-counter licenses for residents and can receive a fair amount of hunting pressure. Pheasanthunting on the Ninepipe Wildlife Management Area near Ronan and surrounding area could be challenging this year. Hunters interested in pursuing mountain lions are encouraged to review the 2022 hunting regulations. The number of elk observed during post-season aerial surveys currently numbers approximately 7,500 elk (Figures 1, 2, and 3). Search our database forMontana Elk opportunities. Winter survival from last season should be good this year. *All Combination License prices include the required Base Hunting License, Conservation License, Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Pass, and Application Fees. If a bear hunter would like to know the age of the bear they harvested, they may look on MyFWP, or call their local area biologist. With room to spread out, it's important to know how the elk tend to migrate around through the area. This license will be sold over the counter on a first-come, first-served basis, one per hunter, and is only available to those who hold a valid 007-20 and/or 007-30 pronghorn license. The regulation in HD 340 has changed from either-sex mule deer to buck mule deer only on the general license and a limited number of B licenses. Elk populations in HDs 319 (formerly 319 and 341), 321 (formerly 321 and 334), 340, 350 and 370 appear stable. Toggle navigation DRAW ODDS ALASKA BISON BLACK BEAR BROWN BEAR CARIBOU DALL SHEEP ELK MOOSE MOUNTAIN GOAT MUSK OX ARIZONA ELK MULE DEER ANTELOPE COUES DEER DESERT SHEEP CALIFORNIA ELK DEER ANTELOPE The Missouri Breaks units continue to produce good bulls, but Eastern Montana has been in a drought for the last couple of years. Elk Potential 2022 MT Elk Hunt - Unit 700 Eyeman_1 Dec 21, 2021 Dec 21, 2021 #1 Eyeman_1 FNG Joined Jan 21, 2021 Messages 8 If I am successful in drawing a bull tag for Unit 700 in MT next spring, I have an outfitter lined up whom I've spoken to numerous times and have friends referred me to. Some of the areas in the western half of the state are teeming with elk, with many of them hidden amongst the old-growth evergreen forests. The number of elk observed during post-season . After that date, the application period is over and youre stuck with a general tag. The effort to find suitable cover may increase substantially in the drought stricken western portions of the region this year. 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. Joined Oct 29, 2017 Messages 139 . DRAW ODDS . 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. Buck-to-doe ratios remain good, averaging 39 bucks per 100 does in the region. The 2022 survey showed white-tailed deer density averages of 7.3 deer-per-square mile across the deer trend areas, which is 31 percent below the long-term average of 10.6 deer-per-square mile. Hunting unit 411 captures the northern part of these mountains and the surrounding foothills. MONTANA FISH, WILDLIFE & PARKS MONTANA FISH, WILDLIFE & PARKS . HD 303 is a special permit area where overall population numbers appear to be growing over the past 10 years but with lower recent fawn recruitment. Carry and know how to use bear spray. Generally, mule deer populations remain above average in the eastern third of the region as well as the areas north of Highway 2. Back toward the middle of the state, just south of the Little Belt Mountains, the Little Belt Cattle Company occupies 8,000 acres of prime elk country. Was your friend on an outfitted hunt? Bird populations in this area of the region are expected to be slightly below average. CWD continues to be present across the Ruby watershed. As a result, bird populations are expected to be stable in this area and similar to last year, around average or slightly above average. HDs 301, 309, 312 and 360 are above objective. A good windbreaker jacket with multiple layers underneath sets a good baseline. The Hunt Started this Morning! See how weather varies by elevation within a unit by selecting an elevation range. A unit may have 80% public land, but a particluar species may only occupy 20% on the entire area. Branch-antlered bull hunting is by permit only in HDs 700, 702, 704, 705 and the far southwestern portion of HD 701. Following last summers catastrophic Robertson Draw fire, many elk shifted distribution to adjacent hunting districts. Region 1 is not a priority surveillance area for CWD this year. Spring surveys for HDs 502, 515, 525, 535, 540, 575 and 580 indicated near-record numbers of elk in most of those areas. Mule deer hunters should plan to go high in the mountains for the best opportunity at bigger bucks. Hunters are reminded to check the regulations as only antlered bucks (i.e. Due to the high harvest, we may see a lower bull to cow ratio during the 2023 season in the general areas. 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