Our goal is to provide the best fair chase Colorado Elk Hunting and Trophy Mule Deer Hunting available. The winter was very mild on these deer and the buck to doe ratio is very, very good right now. Skip B: Let the Flower Children howl. 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. The best opportunity to harvest a quality buck in New Mexico is in the northern Game Management Units (GMUs), according to Tristanna Bickford, communications director for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.GMUs 2B, 2C, 4, and 5A are quality hunting areas with large numbers of deer, many sporting antlers that will make the Boone & Crockett (B&C) book. Hunting these trophy bulls with a rifle requires a long-odds lottery permit, but those who do draw have the chance to take amazing animals. Subscriber Services. Hunting & Fishing - Eastern Montana Mule deer | Sniper's Hide Forum For example, fewer animals are found in the region around Fork Peck Dam as opposed to areas at the western end of the reservoir. Mule Deer Hunting Rates Get your hunt booked now! There are few secrets on premium LE units. There are a handful of good limited-entry units, and most of them give a hunter a good hunt for an average buck. They also tend to offer less public hunting ground. Silver Spur Outfitters Unit 22 is open for archery hunting late August to mid September and then December through the end of January. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Some of Lewis' most poetic lines were reserved for their surroundings in Montana where he wrote, "As we passed on it seemed as if those scenes of visionary enchantment would never have an end.". Post-season 2019 counts in the Pioneer Mountains elk . Its name is derived from having large ears that resemble that of a mule's. Guided elk hunts, with guaranteed tags on private land, are expensive; elk tags for public lands with limited access can be tough to draw; and competition from other hunters on public land with over-the-counter tags can be maddening, but elk hunting still is a passion that drives hunters from all over the country. Archery: Sept. 2 - Oct. 15 Youth, deer only: Oct. 19 - Oct. 20 General: Oct. 21 - Nov. 26 Shoulder seasons: Aug. 15 - Feb. 15, varying dates before and/or after the archery and general seasons Muzzleloader: Dec. 9 - 17 Anyone have input on Idaho unit 59a for mule deer? As a result of last year's chronic wasting disease management hunt for white-tailed deer in southwest Montana, biologists observed a 50-percent reduction in white-tailed deer numbers in the Ruby watershed between Sheridan and Twin Bridges, where CWD prevalence was highest. 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. A tough winter in 2016, followed by a drought that lasted more than a year and a half, cut that total by about 20,000 deer, but Utah still remains a top destination for mule deer hunters, according to Covy Jones, big-game coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Its now 4 years in a row of getting the annual rejection letter. Hike it often in the summer months and note where you see bucks. Wyomings Elk Area 7, south of Casper, is a large unit with lots of elk and is about half public land. Cedar City, UT 84721 Be ready to glass all day. Best Montana Mule Deer Hunts 2020 Galleries. If the weather hits just right this hunt can produce some very big bucks held up in the sagebrush waiting for the rut to begin. Area 141-1, 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. Then you have the nonresident landowners who get thrown into the nonresident pool but get guaranteed preference of at least 15% of the tags over the rest of the nonresidents. In 2017, three tags went to nonresidents. Mule Deer Hunts in Eastern Montana | Double Deuce Outfitters So unfair and biased. The average deer we take in this unit scores around 180 inches gross. Montana also offers Block Management (BMAs) which is private Ranches opening up their property for public Montana mule deer hunting. Ornoski said elk hunters with patience should consider looking at Arizona units 1, 3A/3C, 9, 10, 23N, and 27, which typically are extremely hard to draw. March 24, 2020 amzn_assoc_design = "enhanced_links"; Hopefully this change wont happen for nonresidents. The guys are , Bow hunt public land mule deer with Brian Barney on this episode of Beyond the . Kevin Steele from Petersen's HUNTING speaks to Jordan Egli of Burris Optics about the all-new Veracity PH Riflescope. Our Best Mule Deer Hunts | Montana Hunting Outfitter Hunters will experience a true western mule deer hunt and will spend a significant amount of time glassing in an effort to locate their trophy buck. Trophy Mule Deer Hunt - Alberta Hunt The recommended hotel also has a restaurant. 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. Beginners usually hunt mule deer after some guidance before going for any . Elk hunting is a tradition shared by thousands of hunters each fall. This area is mountainous and does contain about 25% wilderness at the very top of the unit. In 2019 there were 7,654 resident applicants for about 35 tags. MONTANA: 2020 big game hunting forecast - fairfieldsuntimes.com 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. Best Montana Moose Hunts 2020 Galleries. The downside is there are unlimited permission slips and limit to how many hunters have access each day. Top 125 Trophy Counties | Boone and Crockett Club Much of Montana is unposted even where public access lies. PO Box 250 The average success rate on our mule deer hunt is 95-100% with more than 100% . Eastmans Publishing, Inc. is a holding company engaged in publishing. 28-Oct-08. A good friend with the same luck in the lottery as me decided we were tired of waiting, we need to go hunting. The Best Mule Deer Rifle Caliber - Arizona Strip Guides 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. It becomes part of that BMA. So that is 7 permits skimmed off the top immediately for residents. A fine hunter in his own right, Guy has taken several trophy animals and has become an expert in trophy hunting as well. 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. 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. Southeast Montana Rifle Mule Deer. Mule deer hunters should plan to go high in the mountains for the best opportunity at bigger bucks. Hunters stay at a comfortable, nice, and clean hotel of our recommendation and are picked up and dropped off every day. These statistics tell us that the bonus point system does not weigh enough in this squared bonus point system to select applicants in the higher point tiers. Eastmans Publishing, Inc. is a multimedia corporation whose roots are grounded in the ethics of fair chase hunting. The .300 Remington Ultra Mag. Max points are a must to apply for this hunt. Professional outfitters' and guides' services are also available throughout the region, providing expert services to out-of-state hunters. Abundant access to public land is one of the major attractions of elk hunting in Montana's Missouri River Country (there are more than a million acres of land open to public hunting in the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge alone). Why do they get this fantastic benefit too?!?!? This is also a decent application choice for a lower point holder, as the 400-tag quota does put enough tags into the random portion of the draw to be worth a shot at about 5%. The winter was very mild on these deer and the buck to doe ratio is very, very good right now. Montana Deer, Elk, and Mountain Lion Hunting Districts Maps I think if they cut the quota for nonresidents, maybe theres somebody out there who can put together a class action law suit to get are money back. Top 25 Montana General Elk Rifle Hunt Districts for 2019 Elk Hunt The rifle season dates allow hunters to hunt the rut. In early June a successful applicant can request a BMA guide that will be delivered around the end of July. Consult with Hunters Who Have Hunted in Your Unit, Join Now! Area 128-1, 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. More than 295 ranches are enrolled in the Block Management Program here, which provides licensed sportsmen with free access to about 1.3 million acres of mule and whitetail deer, antelope, and elk habitat. 5. Many of these concepts were decided long ago and can be easily modified. As you can imagine 270-50 has the highest number of landowner applicants for any deer permit and by far the highest for nonresidents. Holy smokes! We applied as a party and were successful in drawing our Either Species/Either Sex tags. 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. The decision nearly 20 years ago . So overall, the Montana mule deer population is up 36.9% the past seven years. There is some public land along the Milk River with deer hunting also available on Block Management Areas, a Montana program that facilitates public access to private land. Area 60-1, The Pole Mountain, on forest hunt, is probably the definition of a sleeper hunt unit. This hunt has been getting better and better each year and now seems to be producing some very consistent results as of the late. They also provide transportation to and from the airport if needed. Because nonresidents are in the same pool, there are 8,543 applicants in the total pool. As a reminder, Montana has a squared bonus point system. That Is The Question, Montana Region 7 Deer Populations Cut In Half, Hunting Big Bucks Deer Hunt with Ike and Guy Eastman, Wyoming Passes 90/10: The Worst Article Youll Read This Year, More Costs Headed Your Way in Wyoming-Maybe. Due to the vast quantity of applicants for this unit, the point system does very little for you in return. Montana's Best Hidden Gem for Elk and Deer Hunting 22. We put in for General tags as well as purchasing the extra preference point that is offered when applying. Western Hunt Company is a big game & upland hunting operation based in Montana & Idaho. Montana Rivers and Ridges Outfitter offers a late season 4 Day trophy Mule Deer hunt on the beautiful prairie of Eastern Montana. Kevin Steele from Petersen's HUNTING speaks to Jordan Egli of Burris Optics about the all-new Veracity PH Riflescope. The most likely areas to produce a record-book pronghorn are GMUs 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 46, 47, and 48. ARIZONA'S BEST OVER-THE-COUNTER MULE DEER UNITS - Montana Decoy The good news is many Western states have huge mule deer herds and produce phenomenal bucks. 15% of the 45 permits are guaranteed to resident and nonresident landowners alike. This is quite the impressive increase as to qualify to apply for a landowner tag, you have to own or be in contract to own at least 160 acres in that unit. 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. 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. *Illustration by Robert Neaves courtesy of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Characteristics of a mule deer CAUTION! Complete trip planning materials are available on the Missouri River Country website. There are a few 2023 dates left open. Mule deer are widely distributed throughout the region but most heavily concentrated in the Missouri Breaks and adjacent prairie habitat. Each tag was priced at right around $700/hunter. Hunters can expect to see 75-100 deer a day and as many as 10 bucks. Kevin Steele, Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING talks with JJ Reich of HEVI-Shot about the new offerings for 2023. Check em out! This hunt area is the other limited quota hunt unit inside the general Region G area. Although the region is not heralded as a trophy destination for pronghorn, lucky hunters may encounter outsized bucks. 6 Best Hunting Habitats in Wyoming - The R&K Hunting Company The adventure is big. Unit 22. Some of our hunting areas include vast open ridges with . Guy's TOP 5 Picks for Wyoming Mule Deer 2022 NO SPAM! 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. Montana has 7 hunt districts that break down into smaller units in each district. We are now booking for '23 and '24 Mule deer hunts. Both state and federally managed public lands sprawl across thousands upon thousands of acres of prime habitat. Eastern Montana Mule Deer Hunts | Montana Rivers & Ridges 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? If you would like access to all of our research join today! In Montana, unit 270 is considered one of the top trophy mule deer units in the state. Colorado. Area 128 near Dubois has November hunt dates and limited tags, and units 101 and 102 of the Southwest Desert country have solid deer numbers and great vehicle access. Montana Mule Deer Draw There are a handful of good limited-entry units, and most of them give a hunter a good hunt for an average buck. Best States to Hunt Mule Deer | onX Hunt Poor Man'S Guide: Diy Over-the-counter Mule Deer Hunts He said it might take only one point to draw a tag in the first rifle season, and some might draw with zero points. Mule Deer, Elk and Western Big Game Hunting Articles and Stories Following in the footsteps of his father, Guy has taken up the reins and is now at the helm of the Eastmans Hunting Journal and the Eastmans Bowhunting Journal. Again, pay close attention to the regulations to make sure you are properly licensed to hunt mule deer. This has been considered the holy grail of mule deer permits in the Big Sky State for the past couple decades. The Bitterroot Valley has long been known as the best place to take a trophy buck, and it is no secret as the draw odds have been horrible for units 261, 262, and 270. 7 Comments Give a Gift However the Task Force is heading down the 90/10 for all species. No population reduction was observed higher in the Ruby watershed. RAB, As phutch30 stated there are good mule deer numbers in the Breaks, but one thing to keep in mind about the Breaks is the FWP - Biologist have issued a lot of elk permits over the last few years (both antlerless and A9/B12). Our 2nd ranch sign in trailer ended up approximately 30 miles from the ranch and in the opposite direction of where we had lodged. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit"; Here is the pair we use. 380 is a joke. 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. The terrain where you'll find mule deer ranges from dry, high-desert foothills to the rugged, mountainous, alpine zone. It sported horns measuring more than 17 inches. Mule deer and white-tailed deer are the most widely distributed and abundant big game mammals in Montana. This hunt has been getting better and better each year and now seems to be producing some very consistent results as of the late. 2. Deer | Montana FWP One change that took place for 2022 is a handful of mule deer units that used to be unlimited went to general. amzn_assoc_design = "enhanced_links"; Good bucks in the 150-170 range are the norm for most of MT. This hunt is very accessible and roaded with lots of open hillsides and meadows to glass up bucks feeding on the edges. The answer is landowners. Region G, The first to die off and probably the first to rebound, or at least we hope. The 2021 state estimate was 293,950, which is down 34,363 from 2020. Located outside of Laramie this hunt is a bit rough, but nothing like the rugged hunts in the northwest portion of the state. The Bitterroot Valley in Montana is known for and home to some of the State's Best Mule Deer Hunting! Our first ranch was 15,000 acres and allowed 15 hunters per day. The Courts can and do go back and modify rulings from the bench when situations change. Writers Note: This Montana mule deer on the cover was taken at 502 yards. I ended up filling my tag with my biggest Mule Deer to date on our 2. day. Too late. Elk may be the marquee quarry in the mind of many visiting hunters, but northeastern Montana also boasts outstanding opportunities for mule and whitetail deer. Our area has a very impressive Mule Deer population, which leads to a very high success rate of 4 X 4 bucks. Montana's 2022 mule deer breakdown 2021 was a fairly quiet season in Montana with very few notable bucks being taken. Wyoming's Top Deer and Antelope Units - MonsterMuleys.com In Montana, unit 270 is considered one of the top trophy mule deer units in the state. 28. Remember nonresidents are allocated up to 10% of the tags in an area. 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. Both the mule and whitetail deer breeding seasons occur during this time as well, giving hunters higher odds of spotting a trophy buck. Hunter success here has drifted steadily up over the past five years and now nearly reaches about 70% on the best years. Statistically, the most coveted deer permit in Montana is just outside Darby in the southernmost portion of the Bitterroot Valley. No other state comes close to Wyoming's endless harvesting options and ecosystems. Colorado is king of the mule deer, and Eagle County is the king of Colorado mule deer. Montana's historical mule deer population and harvest breakdown - goHUNT The Interstate Commerce Clause, The Fairness Doctrine in the Constitution and other legal concepts can all be looked at again and Court Rulings Reversed. This place has it all, comfortable camp, good guiding, good food and Shield River trout fishing, it's just a great week. Our parent company, Flyway Media, offers hunting guide website design options. Since the draw odds are slim for this area we cant book a hunt for this unit specifically. Utah has four premium areas for deer. As for general-season units, Jones suggested hunters take a look at Pine Valley in the southwest corner of the state, the four Oquirrh/Stansbury units west of Salt Lake City, and Zion on the southern border. 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. May 25, 2022 Today, all of these species (except bison) are still found in robust numbers in Missouri River Country and provide modern-day hunters with the same challenges for making meat and memories as they did members of the famed expedition. Book your next hunt in Wyoming with expert hunting guides at R & K Hunting today. 2 Hunters - 1 Guide. The answer is landowners. The Region H hunt can be a very good hunt on the right year for really good bucks. The up-and-coming units in Arizona are 6A, 8, and 5BS.. Antlered: A deer with an antler or antlers at least 3 inches in length. Access is getting harder to come by as many landowners in the area have grown tired of being asked for permission to hunt their land. Guy Eastman, Editor-In-Chief amzn_assoc_linkid = "3d18066eea5f32622cb88644951f608f"; With absolutely no doubt in my mind I can honestly say that Wyomings mule deer are currently at the absolute lowest point in my nearly 30-year career in this business. The deadline for nonresident applications for archery and rifle elk licenses is March 15. Montana Releases 2020 Big Game Hunting Forecast If I could recommend one vital piece of gear that greatly helped us out on our hunt it would be the use of, 4-8 We Talk Walleyes and Walleye Tournaments and Gear for Days. One of the region's prime whitetail grounds is the Milk River drainage, a tributary to the Missouri River. This is with roughly 1000 nonresident applicants every year. Muleys can be spotted from roads (very early morning is the best time to glass) and stalked, offering a relatively easy hunt. For many hunters, even those who dont live in the region, western big-game hunting is a passion that consumes them year-round. Archery and muzzleloader tags in those units will require fewer points.. Warm weather was more to blame than anything else; however, this could point to a potential bumper crop of sorts for mature bucks this year. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks website has a fairly easy . Maps for Montana Deer, Elk, and Mountain Lion Hunting Districts Select a hunting unit from the dropdown menu or click a unit on the map below. 7 Core Tips For A Successful Mule Deer Hunt | KUIU With plenty of deer, a good buck here can be a tough endeavor, but they are here if you know where to look. The mule deer grow quite large, and it is not uncommon for a deer to exceed 325 pounds in weight fully dressed out. Montana estimates its whitetail population to be at 212,814. Too many things in our world are going the wrong way. 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. Theres thousands of people who have invested a lot of money in the point system. And in the evening, glass until it's too dark to see, you'll understand and appreciate the term "coming out of the woodwork". 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. Kevin Steele of Petersen's HUNTING is at the Streamlight booth at SHOT Show 2023 to go over the Bear Trap light from Streamlight. We ended up hunting the type 1 BMAs for 6 of the 7 days hunted. We shootbrownelk: Big fines, mandatory jail time and loss of licenses. The highly anticipated North Dakota Deer Lottery has been run; NOT SUCCESSFUL! Probably the most important bit of information we found was: If a ranch is enrolled into the Block Management Program and there is BLM land on or bordering that ranch, that BLM land is NOT OPEN to public access. 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! Nevada's disappearing deer $5,900/Hunter. A lot of hunters only hunt or glass in the early mornings and evenings. You cannot access without being signed up for that specific BMA. The prairie deer hunts consist of four four-day seasons, which take place Wednesdays through Saturdays in November. . Zero in 2018 and two nonresidents drew in 2019. I fully expect 10 preference points to be a requirement to hunt here with 100% surety. Montana Elk & Deer Hunts | Montana Rivers & Ridges Statistically, the most coveted deer permit in Montana is just outside Darby in the southernmost portion of the Bitterroot Valley. Edward Wright: This was 20 years ago when coyotes in my home state hit epidemic proportions. Montana has 7 hunt districts that break down into smaller units in each district. Over the past years we have taken many trophy deer with both a gun and bow. Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line in 2023. We publish book and magazines, along with producing videos, DVDs, and TV programs. Bring your good quality optics and you stand a very good chance at a 150-170 class deer with the possibility of finding up to a 200 class deer. A couple of these units will close the mule deer season early on November 13th. We cover Units 240, 250, 261, 262, and 270 for Mule Deer Draw Tag Hunters! I know that is a lot of doom and gloom for area 270 especially if you are a nonresident. New Mexico, Rio Arriba County113 typical mule deer in B&C records 15. In 2017, there were five nonresident landowners in area 270 and in 2019 there were eight! Region R, The West side of the Bighorns is a mule deer producing factory on a good year.