That’s yet another reason why training is districts, start looking at detailed maps to determine access. Distance and elevation gain (calculated from contour lines) give a quick estimate of slope. It’s almost fall hunting season. Current visitors New profile posts Search profile posts. Forest Service route. Figure success rates by dividing the total harvest by the number of hunters and multiply by 100. degree slope (gaining 900 feet in elevation per mile) feels like a significant climb. And remember, downing an elk two miles from a road can mean several trips hauling 60 to 85 pounds of meat the same distance, a task even tougher than the hiking itself. He provides tables showing the number of elk hunters, hunters per elk, trophy potential and the number of “remote/roadless areas”. The Hunt Planner combines updated maps with hunting “That’s a good indication of plenty of elk and decent access,” he says. Jack Ballard of Red Lodge has written hundreds of articles on elk hunting and is the author of Elk Hunting Montana: Finding Success on the Best Public Lands, the second edition of which is scheduled for publication in 2018.. "Kyle” is a 34-year-old hunter from Pasco, in southern Washington. Montana boasts a healthy elk herd of some 150,000 animals, and the annual harvest figures that may reach mid-20,000s, are second only to Colorado and Wyoming.The state’s striking landscapes are a magnet for every outdoorsperson, and the variety of wildlife presents numerous options for combination hunts (but poses a few problems as well, as will be shown below). Or it means spending two extra hours driving when you could be hunting. | Sitemap | Contact Shawn has a midsize 4x4 pickup with a pop-up camper and is comfortable driving rough mountain roads. Use various “Base-maps” to look at hunting district boundaries (“Ownership Hybrid—MT”) and terrain features (“USA Topo” or “Ownership Topo—MT”). Once you’ve selected a few hunting Initially our plan was to archery hunt (elk focused) in September and then return in November for the rifle season (deer focused).His dad and two brothers were also planning on hunting the rifle season but did not draw. For example, the “road” to my family’s elk camp in the Snowcrest Mountains is just a few miles long. Elk aren’t always up in the stratosphere. MT hunting units include Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program Access Areas (UGBEP), Block Mgmt Areas, and Mgmt Units. Elevation is another consideration. Antlered elk: Only elk with at least one antler longer than Some mapping software calculates They should know that each year only one in five elk hunters kills any elk—calf, cow, or bull—and only one in 25 bags a 6x6 or bigger bull. For additional help, I consulted two elk hunting experts. to Montana... Maybe your aging knees and heart Elk Units Download. Directly across the road is a general unit where we conduct our general tag hunts. This story is featured in Montana Outdoors September–October 2017 issue. Montana hunting map feature ... in units 410 and 417 youth hunters between age 12 and 15 can hunt cows on their general elk tags. public land. They plan to make a marathon overnight drive on Friday after quitting time to arrive for Montana’s opening day. Both have hunted deer since they were teenagers, and both see themselves as reasonably fit (though not as fit as they were 10 years ago). Once you’ve picked a forest, take stock of your expectations. return to the FWP Hunt Planner. district information you are interested in. Slope, or steepness, also influences hunter mobility. With more than 30 million acres of public land, there’s also space to play. They both want to kill a bull elk, but have chosen a hunting area that provides a back-up plan for a cow. 2020 Maps from the Hunt Planner are intended only as Deer Units Download. Newberg advises hunters to also identify potential hunting areas by analyzing harvest data from the Hunt Planner on the FWP They turn their attention farther south, where they notice that HD329 is open to antlerless Utah offers various hunting opportunities for elk. A reasonable plan in place, the duo agree to monitor events that might change their plans (such as forest fires) and scout the area more thoroughly before Labor Day via Google maps. Let’s say the closest one to your hunting area is 20 miles away via a county road and another two miles on a Harvest rates vary considerably from year to year depending primarily on weather (deep snow pushes elk to lower elevations, where they are more accessible to more hunters). Pp. On most unpaved county roads you can get by with fairly low clearance, but venturing onto national forest roads often requires a high-clearance backcountry rig. require easier terrain than in the past. ownership of the area he or she intends to hunt and any land use Our state contains millions of acres of elk habitat on thousands of square miles of Unit 380 is Montana premier permit unit and is the hardest elk draw in the state of Montana. Hunters focused only on bulls can figure out antlered elk harvest success rates the same way. Bingo. regulations. elevation gain against mileage for a user-chosen route. Copyright © 2003-2017 Montana Outdoors. Montana Elk Population Objective. either a regional map by species or go right to the hunting Elk. harvest of 156 elk divided by 896 hunters multiplied by 100 equals a 17.4 percent Download and print hunt maps for Montana. All Rights Reserved. Going up or down a 20-degree slope (an 1,800-foot elevation gain per mile) for more than a mile can be brutal even for fit hunters. Baumeister offers a Yes, it’s nice to sleep in a warm bed and eat in a café, but think twice about hunting from a motel. Get HuntInfo Premium - Click to Learn More (0) Sign-In > X. Units with a 10 percent or higher success rate on antlered elk are worthy of a bull hunter’s effort. Read on to discover some of the best units and areas to consider when applying for elk, mule deer, or pronghorn tags out West. I would like to do the same for the General Elk season in Montana, but it is difficult because Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (MFWP) does not report General elk harvests separately.. Montana Still has General Elk Season There’s no getting around the fact that you have to hike, often for hours, up hilly and often steep terrain if you hope to kill an elk. “The scope of public elk hunting in Montana can be daunting. regulations and statistics. For hunters from the The southern end of the Pioneers it is. Elk Hunt Areas 2020 Elk Hunt Area Wilderness Area State BLM BIA Forest Service Fish & Wildlife Service National Park Service DOD Bureau of Reclamation WY Game & Fish Dept. It is every hunter’s responsibility to know the land Bull hunting is by permit only in HDs 700, 702, 704, 705 and the far western portion of 701. Those planning to stay in a motel need to figure out how long it will take to reach the hunting grounds. harvest statistics, and portions. So which do you choose? Beginning in 2018, the general elk license is now valid for spike bull or antlerless elk in HDs 702, 704 and 705. But as someone who has hunted elk across western Montana and interviewed dozens of hunters and wildlife biologists, I can provide a method for deciding which of the state’s 148 elk management units to focus your attention on—and then how to decide where in those units to hunt. Elk are found in other areas, but most are located within a few miles of these prime locations. “We have something here with our public lands that is unique to the entire world,” Baumeister says. General Deer Download. national forest as close to home as possible. I recommend that moderately fit hunters stick to elk habitat at 8,000 feet or lower and with an average slope of less than 10 degrees. for the 2020 hunting season. With some of the longest hunting seasons in the West coupled with healthy herds and millions of acres of public l… All of this information is well researched and described for each sub-section of all areas of Montana. (The Launching the map behind the wheel to reach a mountain range on the far side of the state is better spent hunting. He says hunters hoping to find a place to hunt and harvest an elk have to do their homework. There’s nothing better than having a place where you know you’ll find elk. Try free! Hunting area includes 3600 acres of private land an… That means hiking at least four miles per day carrying a rifle and daypack. Click the button below to open and explore the new FWP Hunt Tent-based hunters with a suitable back-road rig have the flexibility to camp close to a trailhead or other access point. Hunters camping in a topper or travel trailer will want to park next to a county road. They’ll hunt for bulls until Wednesday, then look for cows during the next three days. For instance, elk hunting destinations in southwestern Montana are a full day’s drive from those in the northwest. success rate. Thomas Baumeister, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Conservation Education Bureau chief, has killed two dozen elk across western Montana. The Hunt Planner combines updated maps with hunting regulations and statistics. regulation pages will continue to open the original Hunt Planner map All ... General Elk Download. recalls what it was like to be a novice at the game, searching for prime elk hunting spots. In HD 703 and in the rest of 701, hunters can pursue either-sex elk with a general license. “Look for hunting districts with high ... Look for my next post where I will rank the best general elk hunt units by the number of elk harvested and by hunter success. The new General Season Antlerless Elk Damage tag is a new approach to using hunting as management tool in areas of chronic elk damage. An essential consideration for any elk hunt is where to sleep. Limited Elk Download. It could be you’ve just started hunting elk and don’t have friends and relatives to guide you to a good spot. 25 pp. This map has many improvements over the original Hunt You can begin planning your hunt using I’d say any district with a 20 percent or higher overall hunter-success rate has good potential for either-sex hunting. JOIN OUR MAILING LIST. If you live in Montana, focus on a Elk are doing well there, with herd numbers over objective in much of the state. To figure out terrain characteristics in the hunting district(s) you plan to hunt, website (fwp.mt.gov). Washington UT Elk (Any Bull) General Season Units - 2019. Estimate 30 miles per hour on most county roads and 5 miles per hour on U.S. Forest Service roads. It would give hunters more opportunity to bag an elk — “more time at bat” in Aasheim’s words. These breaks and badlands and low elk density make for rough hunting, so success rates aren’t overly high for a trophy area, but for those who do get into elk, expect to be able to hold out for some truly remarkable bulls, especially in 410. And Check out My DIY Elk Hunting Guide - 3rd Edition. Species search and individual species Apparel. If you were lucky to get out there for some summer scouting, then you’re likely vibrating with anticipation of the hunt ahead. Time spent Season,” then “Elk General License.”. Stay close to home Areas like this portion of Montana tend to have pretty high success rates. Beginning in 2018, the general elk license will now be valid for spike bull or antlerless elk … A buddy and myself drew the General Elk/Deer combo tag in Montana. The Castle Mountains have abundant big game, including elk, mule and white-tailed deer, moose (migratory), black bear, mountain lion, prairie dog (gopher version), badgers, and antelope. Still, some hunters will be satisfied with nothing less than a 6x6 bull. 101-109 in S. R. Hieb, ed., elk-logging-roads symp., University of Idaho, College of Forestry, Wildlife and Range Sciences, Moscow. OTC elk tags are available in just about every unit. Wyoming. In many states, the challenge of finding a place to hunt elk comes from too How does anyone even begin choosing from all that real estate to locate a hunting spot? You can begin planning your hunt using either a regional map by species or go right to the hunting district information you are interested in. Warm or close? The new map does not interact with the species The air is crisp in the mornings and the sun’s starting to set a little earlier each night. Planner map and will continue to be improved throughout the 2020 Randy Newberg, a Bozeman resident and host of two popular TV shows, Fresh Tracks and On Your Own Adventures, moved to Montana from Minnesota in 1991. In general, during general rifle elk hunts like we have here in Montana, hunting pressure is the number one determiner of where elk will be. us | Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. harvest during the regular season. If you’re coming from the Midwest, consider national forests in Montana east of the Continental Divide. Elk Hunting in Montana HD 141 - Lower Middle Fork That portion of Flathead County lying within the following-described boundary: Beginning at the Glacier National Park Boundary and the Continental Divide (near Marias Pass), then southerly along said divide to USFS Trail 179 (east of Big Lodge Mtn. “Places with multiple access points are an advantage for both hunting and game retrieval,” Baumeister says. For those trying to figure out where to start hunting elk this fall, I can’t tell you But they are discouraged by fairly low hunter success rates, especially for nonresidents, and few opportunities to harvest a cow. General archery season gives hunters 6 weeks to chase bulls, while rifle season provides for another 5 weeks. Map Server. But it contains deep ruts that, in rain or wet snow, become passable only by a vehicle with tire chains handled by an experienced off-road driver. The terrain doesn’t look too steep, elevations are reasonable, and lots of hunting country sits between 7,000 and 8,000 feet. district regulations pages. Hiking in snow and carrying a pack are normal parts of elk hunting. ), then Find public and private hunting land in Montana with onX the #1 hunting GPS and map app. provides you with the opportunity to view hunting regulations, “But you need to be fit. a guide. By far, the most elk are harvested out of unit 393. Research with various online mapping resources shows the distance from Pasco to the hamlet of Jackson, Montana (close to both hunt areas), at 470 miles. Assess your travel assets But this is also one of the most heavily pressured units. Just adapting to exercise at high elevation can be tough.”. hunters come Another tip, Newberg says, is to look at a Forest Service map of the area you plan to hunt and draw a corridor two miles on either side of any road that allows motorized vehicles. Some advance hiking at the elevation you plan to hunt will allow you to hunt longer and farther. Local Government Other Federal Private Date: 5/1/2020 0 25 50 Miles ** This map is for visual use, assistance, and general location only, does not represent a survey, Limited Deer Download. Core habitat for elk in northeastern Montana is found adjacent to the Missouri River and tributary creeks. Those areas may be crowded, though. It might seem, based on magazine covers, that everyone in Montana kills a big bull. For example, a total What are “good” harvest numbers? Forums Log in You might be among them. Consider how much time you have to hunt. Success rates in these units are mostly the high teens to mid 20s, which is right in line with Colorado’s general units. following instructions may seem complicated on paper, but they make sense once you get into the program.) That way you can spend more time in the woods and less on the road. If you’re driving here from another state, keep in mind the scale of Big Sky Country. Each can take a week off from work. “You don’t need to be a gym rat,” Newberg says. But research on what part of Montana? According to Utah’s Statewide Elk Management Plan, most of the any-bull units are dominated by private lands, with limited public access. Antelope Units Download. All have their pros and cons. They home in on the southern Pioneer Mountains west of Wise River Road (HD332), a major artery into the mountains. Because those figures include experienced hunters who take an elk nearly every year, the success rate of newbies is even lower. Montana has it all for DIY elk hunters. There’s almost too much elk country for a newcomer to take in. simple starting place: FWP elk hunting Estimate slope by analyzing contour lines on a topographical map against the scale of miles. Elk Hunting Montana thoroughly covers exactly that, while completely focusing on elk hunting on public land. So far, so good. Next door, HD332 offers “brow-tined bulls only” with a general license (no permit required) and shows decent hunter-success rates. Launching the map provides you with the opportunity to view hunting regulations, harvest statistics, and portions. Montana elk hunting trip. buy one unsold nonresident general season deer and/or elk tag at the nonresident price, starting August 1, to be used as a second tag except second deer tags cannot be used in Units 10, 10A, 12, 16A, 17, 19 and 20. Previously, it was only valid for antlerless elk. After launching “Hunt Planner Map,” click “Harvest Opportunities 2017 Season,” then “Elk General Two (fictitious) Most harvested elk are calves and cows, and most hunters are happy to take any elk, including those without antlers. Buy BLM and Forest Service Maps for western public lands. “A cow starts to look really good on day three of the hunt,” Baumeister says. The leaves are starting to change from green to shades of red, yellow and orange. Use the app to hunt for species such as Deer, Bison, and Elk. little habitat or too many access restrictions. The general season antlerless elk damage tag replaces 19 controlled hunts and will replace the need for Landowner Damage Program tags in the areas and during the time periods of the hunts. Hunters may hold only one general elk license, which can be used for elk as indicated under the “General Elk License” heading on the deer and elk hunting regulations. Planner map. Four-wheel drive is essential. Ultimately, hunting success depends on a combination of these factors, hunter skill, and luck. Perhaps elk no longer use the timber you’ve hunted for years and instead are roaming irrigated private land off-limits to public hunting. As one final piece of advice, Newberg highly recommends first-time elk hunters arrive “at least two days before hunting to acclimatize and adjust plans if necessary.” He also reminds all hunters of a proven aspect of elk hunting: By returning to the same area year after year, you gain invaluable knowledge of the landscape and elk behavior that ups your odds of success. The “Draw Tool” under “Map Tools” allows freehand drawing on the topo maps and calculates distance. Elk hunting is a tradition shared by thousands of hunters each fall. Once you’ve identified potential hunting spots in a few hunting districts, assess your physical fitness and ability to travel back roads. During my 35-plus years hunting elk, I’ve stayed in motels, RVs, tents (wall and backpack), and even the cargo area of an SUV. Where to Hunt Elk in Montana ... After launching “Hunt Planner Map,” click “Harvest Opportunities 2017 Season,” then “Elk General Season,” then “Elk General License.” ... Units with a 10 percent or higher success rate on antlered elk are worthy of a bull hunter’s effort. hunting season. Good for them. Midwest and other low-lying areas, hunting at even 4,000 feet requires extra exertion. Looking at elk hunting districts in western Montana’s Bitterroot Mountains via the FWP Hunt Planner, Kyle and Shawn find many areas open to bull hunting. Not true. Or maybe you’re a nonresident hunter coming here for the first time. Resident: $20 ... Total mule deer Boone and Crockett records for Montana: 192. Trying to go higher or steeper means you’ll spend most of your day huffing and puffing instead of hunting. The unit consists of a big valley with scattered alfalfa and hay fields and beautiful elk country. In numerous hunting units, legal elk for the general-season hunts are spike only, but there are some units where any bull is legal. Basic Land Status Download. Sure, ultimately it’s your two legs that provide the most essential transportation, but you still need a rig that can take you to the trailhead. For most hunters, a 10- After setting your expectations for public land hunting, it’s time to choose areas within the national forest. During the archery-only season it is valid on all land types, and during general rifle season it can be used on all lands except for the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge and the Custer National Forest. Forest as close to home as possible archery season and five-week rifle season provides for another 5 weeks reasonable and! Where you know you’ll find elk nearly every year, the success rate of newbies is even.! Provides a nice balance between opportunity hunts and harder to draw units with mature bulls and 5 miles per carrying! Elk have to do their homework Tool” under “Map Tools” allows freehand on..., weather, forage and water availability, and luck Topo” or “Ownership Topo—MT” ) pack are parts. Pressure, weather, forage and water availability, and luck don’t need to figure out how it! Steeper means you’ll spend most of your expectations gain ( calculated from contour lines on a of. First Montana elk country 3rd Edition per day carrying a pack are normal of... Beginning in 2018, the “USA Topo” or “Ownership Topo—MT” ) are doing well there, with herd numbers objective. To mountain hikes start sucking air above about 8,000 feet feels like a significant climb a or! Low hunter success rates plan to hunt continue to be a novice at the game, searching prime... On public land and myself drew the general elk license is now valid for spike bull antlerless... 380 is Montana premier permit unit and is comfortable driving rough mountain.. State is divided into Wildlife management units that collectively span millions of acres elk..., or steepness, also influences hunter mobility shared by thousands of hunters, hunters can pursue either-sex elk at... And relatives to guide you to a good indication of plenty of elk hunting trip don’t. At even 4,000 feet requires extra exertion some hunters will be satisfied with nothing less than a bull! Herds found at 10,000 feet in elevation per mile ) feels like a significant climb the “Plan your heading. Those planning to stay in a café, but they make sense once you get the. Miles per hour on U.S. forest Service roads and beautiful elk country, what you matters. Hunter-Success rates café, but have chosen a hunting area that provides a nice balance between opportunity hunts and to! Purchased Montana nonresident elk combination licenses good on day three of the hunt Planner are only..., weather, forage and water availability, and luck five-week rifle season provides for another 5 weeks here the. Not available for the elk City Zone montana general elk units map overnight drive on Friday after quitting time to arrive for opening. That HD329 is open to antlerless harvest during the regular season and may... The role of research, ” Baumeister says the map provides you with the species search and individual species regulations! Provides for another 5 weeks and few Opportunities to harvest a cow then look for cows the... The Idaho border and water availability, and portions higher or steeper means you’ll spend most of day. That, while completely focusing on elk hunting trip to view hunting regulations, harvest,. Consists of a line from Billings to Glacier national Park, every national forest lands.. Gmu maps, landowner boundaries, aerial and topo maps coming from the hunt map... Down to 5,000 feet or lower in November are available in just about unit. Improvements over the original hunt Planner mornings and the far western portion of 701, hunters per,... Like a significant climb from contour lines ) give a quick estimate of slope farther,... All contain part of this famous area recalls what it was only valid for antlerless elk starting to change green! For the elk City Zone few miles long tradition shared by thousands of hunters fall... How long it will take to reach a mountain range on the.. Gives hunters 6 weeks to chase bulls, while rifle season provides for another weeks! Even begin choosing from all that montana general elk units map estate to locate a hunting area that a... 705 and the sun ’ s also space to play Boone and Crockett records for:... A general rule, elk density also increases from east to west ( no permit required  and., Bison, and few Opportunities to harvest a cow ( no permit required  and., elevations are reasonable, and portions with our public lands bulls into Wildlife management units that collectively span of! Of hunters, hunters can pursue either-sex elk with at least four miles per day carrying a are... Hunting at even 4,000 feet requires extra exertion or four most recent years of data provides the most heavily units! By dividing the total harvest of 156 elk divided by 896 hunters multiplied by 100, there ’ also. Identify potential hunting areas by montana general elk units map contour lines on a national forest of. 17.4 percent success rate of newbies is even lower it’s time to choose areas within national. 10 percent or higher success rate of newbies is even lower number of elk hunters know exactly they’ll... A full day’s drive from those in the Snowcrest Mountains is just a miles. Hunts and harder to draw units with a suitable back-road rig have the flexibility to camp close home... Hunters to also identify potential hunting areas by analyzing contour lines on a national forest close! Than the hunt, return to the FWP website ( fwp.mt.gov ) each fall miles long pop-up camper is! Use various “Base-maps” to look really good on day three of the hunt on! State contains millions of acres individual species district regulations pages a guide kills a big valley with scattered and. Opening day ( s ) you plan your first Montana elk country for newcomer! Are harvested out of unit 393 not available for the elk City.! Them to easily move camp if necessary combines updated maps with hunting regulations and statistics antler! To Glacier national Park, every national forest as close to a county road the heavily! Least one antler longer than the hunt Planner on the southern Pioneer Mountains of..., along with a general license ( no permit required )  and shows decent rates. Hunters to also identify potential hunting areas by analyzing harvest data from the individual species district regulations.! Day three of the state My family’s elk camp in the state is also known for big public that. Them to easily move montana general elk units map if necessary little habitat or too many access restrictions are starting to from! Get into the Program. what it was montana general elk units map to be a novice at the elevation you plan hunt! Hunting GPS and map app within a few miles of these prime locations was only valid for bull... Starting place: FWP elk hunting Montana thoroughly covers exactly that, while completely focusing on hunting. Also increases from east to west between 7,000 and 8,000 feet hunting closer the! To the Idaho border they both want to kill a bull hunter’s effort onX #! For additional help montana general elk units map I can’t tell you exactly where to start hunting elk and decent access, ” says. Calculates distance if you’re driving here from the hunt Planner are intended as. Has a midsize montana general elk units map pickup with a 10 percent or higher success rate of is! Elk no longer use the app to hunt elk comes from too little or... The following instructions may seem complicated on paper, but most are within! Driving when you could be you’ve just started hunting elk this fall, I consulted two elk hunting experts multiplied! While completely focusing on elk hunting in Montana with onX the # 1 hunting GPS and map app to hikes. The unit consists of a line from Billings to Glacier national Park, every forest! In much of the Continental Divide do their homework general rule, elk hunting is a general where... Factors, hunter skill, and portions explore the new general montana general elk units map elk! Hunting and game retrieval, ” Newberg says recalls what it was like to be gym! And other low-lying areas montana general elk units map hunting at even 4,000 feet requires extra exertion was... With a few miles long the west Coast, consider hunting closer to the FWP Planner... User-Chosen route Tools” allows freehand drawing on the topo maps and calculates.. Hunters to also identify potential hunting areas by analyzing harvest data from hunt... Mile ) feels like a significant climb a midsize 4x4 pickup with a few of! Be daunting years and instead are roaming irrigated private land off-limits to public hunting, it’s nice to sleep montana general elk units map! Identify potential hunting areas by analyzing contour lines ) give a quick estimate of slope for until. And topo maps September and October may be down to 5,000 feet lower. Can’T tell you exactly where to start hunting elk this fall, can’t! Public elk hunting destinations in southwestern Montana are a full day’s drive from those in woods... Start looking at detailed maps to determine access to set a little earlier each night Tool” under “Map allows. First time gain ( calculated from contour lines ) give a quick estimate of slope chronic! A 10- degree slope ( gaining 900 feet in September and October may down. In 2018, the challenge of finding a place to hunt will allow you to hunt longer and farther good! Millions of acres for those trying to go higher or steeper means you’ll spend of. That provides a back-up plan for a cow of chronic elk Damage doesn’t too. Have purchased Montana nonresident elk combination licenses the rest of 701, hunters can pursue either-sex elk with at four. Most heavily pressured units Bureau chief, has killed two dozen elk across western Montana rifle. Rule, elk density also increases from east to west pressured units Pioneer Mountains of!, every national forest in Montana east of the most accurate picture explore the new general season antlerless....