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12 states join Utah
I suspect he'd be run out of Helena on a rail if he proposed it during an election year. I can't imagine such a proposal would go well in areas of the state like region 1 which are overwhelmingly public land. Let's hope I'm correct!- RuralMT
- Post #8
- Forum: Public Land Issues
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Montana Tree-Stand Hunting
This has been my experience as well. With so much public land it's not hard to get away from the crowds, even with minimal effort. I've been chasing grouse in the thick stuff since I tagged out a few weeks ago and its evident the animals are there. Don't give up! -
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Montana Tree-Stand Hunting
This would seem to imply a more mobile approach to search out does, as Buzz discussed above. So many options... -
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Montana Tree-Stand Hunting
In your opinion, what is the ideal tree, as far as species, diameter, etc.? I'm running through my options in my head and am curious how the trees up here would hold up, namely their bark. Ponderosa, for instance, has thick, scale-like bark that you can peel off in chunks. The bark of... -
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December Upland Hunting in Montana
I'm embarrassed to admit, but I hadn't given blues much thought, predominately because of the snow, haha. The upper elevations surrounding town are snowed in; although I do own a pair of snowshoes...- RuralMT
- Post #9
- Forum: Feathers and Wings
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December Upland Hunting in Montana
I wish I had that problem, haha. The closest huns for me involve a several-hour drive, which is hard to justify for birds alone. But man are they fun to chase.- RuralMT
- Post #8
- Forum: Feathers and Wings
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December Upland Hunting in Montana
Therein lies the rub. My options, as far as vegetation is concerned, consist of mixed-conifer forests, predominantly comprised of doug-fir and rather lacking in deciduous trees, with the exception of tamarack. I went cruising through an older cut that was dominated by the latter and didn't...- RuralMT
- Post #7
- Forum: Feathers and Wings
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Montana Tree-Stand Hunting
Are you climbing up into your tree before daylight? Also, do you practice that shot angle during the off-season? -
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Montana Tree-Stand Hunting
Well I sincerely appreciate your willingness to share. You mentioned 39 years of WT experience up here; any advice is appreciated, as I'm on the exact opposite end of the spectrum with only 4 successful seasons under my belt in my new home. It's gratifying to see that I'm doing some things... -
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Montana on the Upswing?
Agreed; my apologies for derailing the thread. How do those numbers fare with what you've experienced in the past? I find it interesting that the Highway 2 check station (presumably the one between Kalispell and Kila?) checked twice the hunters as Olney, yet the Olney station saw the same... -
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Montana Tree-Stand Hunting
That in and of itself is enough to convince me on the method! -
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Montana Tree-Stand Hunting
Thanks again fellas. You've definitely given me a good place to start, as far as confirming the sit-and-wait in thick timber idea. I believe I'll be using my December stretching out my upland tag and scouting out more territory. Mitchmo, do you have any safety concerns with climbing stands... -
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December Upland Hunting in Montana
Doug fir stands...copy that. I reckon I can find a few of those around here, haha. Thanks for the confirmation. My buddies think I'm crazy for spending December hunting them without a dog, rather than chasing safe/early ice! I like the thought of having the woods mostly to myself.- RuralMT
- Post #3
- Forum: Feathers and Wings
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Montana Tree-Stand Hunting
Excellent to hear, thanks Ben. It makes perfect sense, as countless whitetail are taken from stands across the country. Do you build multiple blinds during the scouting season and if so, are you placing them along travel corridors or over water/food sources? -
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Montana on the Upswing?
Oh no doubt. There are simply too many variables for an accurate comparison. But until a similar study is done in a similar area (or until I'm shown such a study), it's about all I have to go off of, other than opinion. And I agree with the uncertainty of what that little buck might grow up... -
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December Upland Hunting in Montana
Good morning folks. As our big-game season winds down, I'm trying to find ways to stretch out my other tags and time spent in the field, and man do I love chasing grouse. I'm curious if anyone continues to pursue them through the month of December? I intend to, but noticed while chasing deer...- RuralMT
- Thread
- Replies: 8
- Forum: Feathers and Wings
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Montana Tree-Stand Hunting
Good morning one and all. Having moved to the NW corner of the state several years ago, I've come to the realization that the tactics that worked so well down in the rest of Montana's mountainous regions don't work as well up here, namely spot-and-stalk tactics. For those of you who haven't... -
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Montana on the Upswing?
I completely agree. This validates my decision to pull the trigger. After successfully stalking to within range of a group of does, a trophy was the last thing on my mind; big or not, completing the hunt on whatever buck was dogging them, was. Given the number of scrapes and rubs I came across... -
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Montana on the Upswing?
I've been reading through this post and I've noticed a handful of things. First, there's hostility to shooting younger bucks. Second, shooting does (I'm assuming they're being legally taken?) seems to aggravate people. Third, shooting a mid-range buck, that could survive to become a big buck... -
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Northwest MT Whitetail Question
The crux of my inquiry. Has the decline in logging benefited the whitetail? Much of the U.S. might associate whitetails with farmland. Yet, they seem to be dominating the thick, steep forests of the Northern Rockies, which fascinates me. Were they up here when Lewis and Clark rolled through?
