best mule deer units in montana

James and his guides live in the woods, and would be happy to share one of these experiences with you. Colorado Corner Crossing Here We Go Again, 10 Most Common Big Game Violations Part 8 Hunter Trespassing, To Feed Or Not To Feed. Me and my buddies have ben putting in for that tag for 15-plus years and still havent drawn. 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. Dec 2, 2022. The rugged "breaks" along the Missouri contain dense stands of ponderosa pines and junipers. If you would like access to all of our research join today! 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 you do, remember this: Dont pass the first day what youd shoot the last. Tag holders can expect to see 20+ quality bucks per day. Idaho runs a close second to Colorado when it comes to mule deer hunting. MONTANA STATEWIDE MULE DEER HERD POPULATION ESTIMATES (2010-2018) 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 The more popular areas for whitetail are along the river systems and large agricultural areas throughout the eastern part of the state. 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. Units in the northwest corner of the state, 10, 201, and 2, are known for producing amazing trophies and offer plenty of public land to hunt, said Alcazar, who added it could take as many as 17 to 25 preference points to draw a rifle elk tag in these units. A type 1 BMA is walk-in access with sign up at designated entrances. The decline of mule deer populations in northeastern Nevada is reflected in this Department of Wildlife graph of hunter success over a 63-year period. Colorado. 20. If you have any questions about the mule deer hunting or how to apply feel free to contact us. The Region H hunt can be a very good hunt on the right year for really good bucks. She said it currently takes six preference points to be guaranteed a pronghorn tag in the draw in Area 73 but added the state allots 25 percent of the total quota in each area to a random drawing of all applicants who chose the area as their first choice. Best Montana . Over the last 25+ years, this trip has proven to be a favorite for WTA clients. A lot of large bucks stay nocturnal during the general rifle season, making them very hard to find. If 10% are allocated to the nonresident draw, that means four tags maximum (rounded down) go to nonresidents. All Rights Reserved. Each of these units is worth the wait and gives the hunter an amazing opportunity at Pope & Young and Boone & Crockett bulls, he said. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks website has a fairly easy HUNT PLANNER section that can guide applicants through finding zones and units best suited for their type of hunt as well as draw statistics. Using the OnX off-grid mode I was able to mount my I-pad on my dash and keep my GPS location up to speed in real-time. Complete trip planning materials are available on the Missouri River Country website. Since we pride our hunters and offer great quality hunting guides, we are 100% fair chase. 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. The deadline for nonresident applications for archery and rifle elk licenses is March 15. Elk are found in other areas, but most are located within a few miles of these prime locations. The average harvest fell from 3,000 to 500 in . All antelope hunting in Montana is conducted on a draw-only basis. No population reduction was observed higher in the Ruby watershed. What Nevada and Wyoming have in common is wild horses. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; WTF!! Phone: (435) 865-1020, Big Game Combination License (Elk & Deer), Bow and Arrow License (mandatory for all archery hunts), Preference Point Fee for Combination License (optional), Outfitter Preference Point Fee for Combination License (optional but must hunt with an outfitter). Our Mule deer are big bodied, heavy antlered and are deep forked. Wyoming offers large expanses of public land, mostly in the western part of the state, and produces lots of record-book bucks. 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. Edward Wright: This was 20 years ago when coyotes in my home state hit epidemic proportions. Hunters can expect to see 75-100 deer a day and as many as 10 bucks. 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. Thx Guy, No matter what quarry is pursued, modern-day hunters are sure to echo the sentiments of Meriwether Lewis who concluded Missouri River Country includes "one of the fairest portions of the globe." For many hunters, even those who dont live in the region, western big-game hunting is a passion that consumes them year-round. 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. This is an action packed hunt during the rut. Cedar City, UT 84721 Montanas general deer tags provide a great opportunity to harvest a mule deer or whitetail and provide plenty of time to get it done over generous season dates. It's pretty easy to figure out which units offer the best trophy potential and have limited tags (and corresponding tough draw odds). The answer is us pushing for more QDM out West, period! The deer in Unit 76 are extremely call shy - due to hunting pressure and predation - but this has made them more visual creatures. Statistically, the most coveted deer permit in Montana is just outside Darby in the southernmost portion of the Bitterroot Valley. PS I from Nevada. They open up for call-in registration at different times. 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. 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. Dream destinations include the Arizona Strip (units 13A and 13B) or Kaibab Plateau (units 12A East, 12A West, and 12B), but the drawing odds are long, sometimes in the low single digits, Ornoski said. The trophies are big. Please call us to match you up with the best hunt to fit your specific needs and budget! The French Creek hunt was turned from a general hunt into a limited quota hunt about ten years ago and the hunt here seems to be getting better and better each year. Writers Note: This Montana mule deer on the cover was taken at 502 yards. Dan Pickar ABOUT; OUR HUNTS. This is a very limited, late season hunt with hunt dates during most of the month of November. This long window should offer the option of hunting the pre, peak and post rut. 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. Mule Deer- Limited Entry Units 87 & 89 - Worldwide Trophy Adventures. This hunt is generally booked after the hunter has secured a permit. 16 years worth of buying points all for 1.5% better odds than someone with zero points. 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. Zero in 2018 and two nonresidents drew in 2019. 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. A couple of these units will close the mule deer season early on November 13th. The bowhunting here can be very lucrative. Only a limited number of tags are given out annually for this area. This year we would have limited time and left the idea of the Elk/Combo out of the equation. We've Ranked All Mule Deer Hunting States by Entries Per Square Mile of Total Land Mass. Western Hunt Company is a big game & upland hunting operation based in Montana & Idaho. The downside of hunting the rut is that most of the mature bucks are harvested every season while they are more vulnerable as they are out chasing does. 380 is a joke. I have applied for this tag almost every year for the 25 years I was a resident and a couple years as a nonresident. The permit is known as 270-50. In my humble opinion, Wyoming is lacking nearly half the mule deer that should be grazing on our spring landscape as we speak. Montanas Block Management Program opens more than 500,000 additional acres of private land to walk-in public hunting in the region, which is home to the highest concentrations of elk in the state, produces huge bulls, and is responsible for approximately 50 percent of the states elk harvest each year. This hunt is very accessible and roaded with lots of open hillsides and meadows to glass up bucks feeding on the edges. They also tend to offer less public hunting ground. We also a bad mule deer population. 1579 N Main Street Ste 100 These were usually posted as enrolled if there was no access. And it has been increasing every year. This fervent praise for the landscape occurred not in the mountains but on the eastern plains, along the banks of the Missouri River. Your honest assessment is greatly appreciated. If you find yourself in the burn my points now camp, here are what I feel are the best mule deer hunts Wyoming has to offer, at this point anyway. 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. Mule deer hunters should plan to go high in the mountains for the best opportunity at bigger bucks. Professional outfitters' and guides' services are also available throughout the region, providing expert services to out-of-state hunters. 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. So overall, the Montana mule deer population is up 36.9% the past seven years. This is a very solid hunt in my opinion for the meager three or four point spend. This area is mountainous and does contain about 25% wilderness at the very top of the unit. The deep, contorted coulees of the breaks provide superb cover, allowing some bucks to achieve trophy status. READY TO GO ON YOUR EASTERN MONTANA MULE DEER HUNT? We narrowed down 5-6 different type 2 BMAs to register for. With that said, I hope these choices help you out and this year is what it is. This general hunt region consists of a big, rugged region adjacent to the famed Region G area we spoke about above. The open country provides endless glassing opportunities and the gentle rolling hills allow for fairly easy hiking. The winter was very mild on these deer and the buck to doe ratio is very, very good right now. If you have max points (16), you have 256 chances in the drawing. As mentioned previously, New Mexico is home to world-class pronghorn hunting. 7 Comments The bowhunting here can be very lucrative. Each party can sign up for, at most, 3 consecutive days of hunting on that property. 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. The Interstate Commerce Clause, The Fairness Doctrine in the Constitution and other legal concepts can all be looked at again and Court Rulings Reversed. Eastmans Publishing, Inc. is a holding company engaged in publishing. Adamc55; Dec 2, 2022; Sniper's Hide Fieldcraft ; Replies 10 Views 236. We strive to help our audiences become more skilled and ethical hunters, while expanding their knowledge, appreciation, and awareness of the outdoors and wildlife through entertainment media. Toprut has always been the most reliable data that I use to make calculated moves for my hunt portfolio. In western areas, mule deer hunting has always been fun. Over the past years we have taken many trophy deer with both a gun and bow. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; In 2017, there were five nonresident landowners in area 270 and in 2019 there were eight! They are the Henry Mountains, Antelope Island, the Alton CWMU and the Paunsaugunt. Man with all yhe points I have for deer and elk I may be screwed. This hunt should take 12 to 14 points to draw this year. The winter was very mild on these deer and the buck to doe ratio is very, very good right now. This is a very solid hunt in my opinion for only one or two preference points. Unit 22 is open for archery hunting late August to mid September and then December through the end of January. Unit 22. They further broke that number down into each region as follows: region 1 with 6,055; region 2 with 9,551; region 3 with 43,025; region 4 with 58,082; region 5 with 32,103; region 6 with 67,994; and region 7 with 77,140. My advice is to pick a unit near where you will live, and learn it. We cover Units 240, 250, 261, 262, and 270 for Mule Deer Draw Tag Hunters! Hopefully this change wont happen for nonresidents. Again, pay close attention to the regulations to make sure you are properly licensed to hunt mule deer. Subscriber Services. 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. 2022 MONTANA RIVERS AND RIDGES OUTFITTER LLC. . The 2021 mule deer population estimate is the lowest since 2014. 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. Unit 102 has been a desirable hunter destination for trophy mule deer in Wyoming over the past two decades. Nebraska. Archery and muzzleloader tags in those units will require fewer points.. Region G, The first to die off and probably the first to rebound, or at least we hope. 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%. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; Colorado is widely regarded as the nation's top mule deer destination. Give my best to your Dad, Be well my friend John McGannon WildEats, Isnt the 90/10 split for the trophy species onlygoat, sheep, bear ect? The journals of Meriwether Lewis, co-captain of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, contain detailed descriptions of the country through which they passed new lands teaming with elk, deer and antelope. 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.". I would not go back without it! There were 96 people with max points and four applicants drew. 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. Years of development and pushing the limits of what is possible in a rifle optic have led up to this moment. Learn how your comment data is processed. This information really put a damper on much of the areas we thought we were going to hunt. Public land is not a problem here. We publish book and magazines, along with producing videos, DVDs, and TV programs. Almost feels like a time share that well never get to use. We decided to try our hand at getting some tags in our neighboring state of Montana. Somebody please post up the best trophy mule deer hunting in Montana so anyone that is smart enough to work the google can pull up this thread! Go on More Hunts with Better Information, Join Huntin' Fool Today! A type 2 BMA has a limited number of hunters allowed on that property per day. 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. 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. Whitetail deer are also common in the cottonwood studded riparian areas along the river. Due to this fact, many of those folks hunting elk shot mule deer, as well. After months of kicking the idea around exactly what we would do, the real planning started in early March as applications are due March 15th for deer, elk and deer/elk combination tags. Hunting the last week of October tends to be the best bet for the biggest bucks. These two situations have placed many applicants between the proverbial rock and a hard place as they weigh out the beyond uncomfortable trade-off between a down year for deer hunting and the possibility of future draw odds quadrupling all while tag costs could more than double in the process. 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. 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. Due to the vast quantity of applicants for this unit, the point system does very little for you in return. One change that took place for 2022 is a handful of mule deer units that used to be unlimited went to general. Kevin Steele of Petersen's HUNTING is at the Streamlight booth at SHOT Show 2023 to go over the Bear Trap light from Streamlight. Kevin Steele of Petersen's HUNTING is at the Streamlight booth at SHOT Show 2023 to go over the Bear Trap light from Streamlight. Copyright 2023 Eastmans' Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Guys TOP 5 Picks for Wyoming Mule Deer 2022. Bummer for sure, Thanks Guy, Hope all is well with you and the family. Archers typically find the best success in the cool hours around daylight and sunset. This is a very solid hunt in my opinion for the meager three or four point spend. Guy Eastman, Editor-In-Chief So unfair and biased. 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. Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line in 2023. Our guided mule deer hunts offer the highest opportunity for a trophy you can display with pride. 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. If you are looking to harvest the buck of a lifetime, this is your unit and we are your outfitter. Harvest is generally limited to 180" bucks and larger, but our goal for each client is to get a 190 . BOOK YOUR 2022 MONTANA FLY FISHING TRIP TODAY! . 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%. Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line in 2023. This hunt area is the other limited quota hunt unit inside the general Region G area. Here in Wyoming and Montana, mule deer hunting is also diverse. However, by looking at all point levels from 1-16, multiple applicants drew permits in just about every point level from 0-16. 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Skip B: Let the Flower Children howl. Years of development and pushing the limits of what is possible in a rifle optic have led up to this moment. If you have zero points you have a .004% chance of drawing a tag. There are seven different hunting districts within our area; these include units 204, 240, 260, 261, 262, 250, and 270. Montana has a lot of country and lot of mule deer. Most all of the nonresident hunting is occurring on Federal Lands, National Forests, Bureau of Land Management, Federal Wilderness Areas and National Grasslands. Today, antelope are a perennial favorite among big-game hunters who stalk the prairie speedsters on the open plains on both the north and south sides of the Mighty Mo. Habitat stamps cost $10.00 and you must have one to hunt anything in Colorado. A good friend with the same luck in the lottery as me decided we were tired of waiting, we need to go hunting. Though relatively few in number, Missouri Breaks bucks can achieve notable size. These are considered the best moose hunting areas in the state. 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. Why do they get this fantastic benefit too?!?!? Statistically, the most coveted deer permit in Montana is just outside Darby in the southernmost portion of the Bitterroot Valley. 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. This hunt can be had with only about six or seven points. 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? Book your next hunt in Wyoming with expert hunting guides at R & K Hunting today. 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! Thank you, Jason. Give a Gift This will cause massive demand on the system this year and next with high point holders forcibly pushed to cash in their points before the change which will cause huge gains in point creep for deer, elk and antelope inside the Wyoming point system. Holy smokes! There are 45 tags total for 270-50. Muleys can be spotted from roads (very early morning is the best time to glass) and stalked, offering a relatively easy hunt. Drawing a long-awaited tagor lucking out with a lotto-like winin a coveted area can be the second biggest hunting thrill of the year for most hunters. I think it might be time for a class action law suit against the State of Wyoming on tag allocation. . Any info would be greatly appreciated. is the caliber that currently holds one of the long range distance records for . Reading the bill I took it that way unless I misunderstood it. Get our No-BS newsletter to your email box around twice a month. For example, fewer animals are found in the region around Fork Peck Dam as opposed to areas at the western end of the reservoir. The key indicators of a rebound are all lining up for the future on this hunt.

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