Coming to Eastern Montana to hunt deer? Bring snowshoes!

[OntarioHunter]

Looks like you have the essentials. Enjoy the hi-line. Some good beer can be had in those small towns.

I enjoyed some suds at the Malta brewery last year. Not bad. But I stayed clear of all establishments this year. People there were way too careless for my comfort zone. Went into a coffee shop for a decaf and wifi. None of the staff were masked up and the owner coughed on me as I walked in the door. No kidding. She saw my back in a hurry. Albertson's across the street was no better. Staff unmasked handling everyone's groceries.

Havre has three breweries (or they did last year). The one in the ghost town mall has something to do with hunting dogs so I gave it a try. Once was enough.

 

[OntarioHunter]

This thread sounds like a Phoenician up on the rim in a snow flurry on a late elk hunt, not a Canuck in the L48.

I have hunted moose in -30 C with snow half way to my knees. But no wind, no crust, and no drifts. About sixty miles from town and hunting alone. I had access to a trapper's cabin a few miles away if something went wrong. Choose your footing carefully in those conditions. A torn ligament could be fatal. Fortunately I didn't shoot anything but it was a lovely clear day, excellent tracking, and no competition. Just dress right and keep moving. Another time I skied in to my old campsite 18 kilometers and hunted a clear day in -20s. Someone's snow machine had packed the light knee deep snow so my skinny skis would stay on top. I listened to two bulls fighting over a cow with yearling calf less than fifty yards away but couldn't see any of them in the thick tag alders. Skiing out in the moonlight is a cherished memory.

We get minus fifty days here occasionally and -40s just about every year (keep in mind the two thermometers cross paths at -42). Same snow here on Halloween is usually still here at Easter (well, in the old days anyway ... I'm headed out to rake leaves shortly ... Dec 11!). And though not born in Montana (first week of my life was in Idaho), I lived there until 1989 (37 years). So yes, I know a thing or two about winter and how to hunt it. But this past month in Montana was the worst conditions I've experienced ... FOR HUNTING. And I have a lot of experience. Not the coldest, windiest, or snowiest, not by a long shot. But drifted and terrible crunchy with cover for birds either stripped or flattened. Not impossible to hunt but damn near.

Don't worry. I take criticism from the immature and inexperienced peanut gallery with a grain of salt. Like snowymountain said, children abound on the internet.

 

[Refugeguy]

I enjoyed some suds at the Malta brewery last year. Not bad. But I stayed clear of all establishments this year. People there were way too careless for my comfort zone. Went into a coffee shop for a decaf and wifi. None of the staff were masked up and the owner coughed on me as I walked in the door. No kidding. She saw my back in a hurry. Albertson's across the street was no better. Staff unmasked handling everyone's groceries.

Havre has three breweries (or they did last year). The one in the ghost town mall has something to do with hunting dogs so I gave it a try. Once was enough.

Free country stay home if u don’t like it

 

[MTGomer]

I have hunted moose in -30 C with snow half way to my knees. But no wind, no crust, and no drifts. About sixty miles from town and hunting alone. I had access to a trapper's cabin a few miles away if something went wrong. Choose your footing carefully in those conditions. A torn ligament could be fatal. Fortunately I didn't shoot anything but it was a lovely clear day, excellent tracking, and no competition. Just dress right and keep moving. Another time I skied in to my old campsite 18 kilometers and hunted a clear day in -20s. Someone's snow machine had packed the light knee deep snow so my skinny skis would stay on top. I listened to two bulls fighting over a cow with yearling calf less than fifty yards away but couldn't see any of them in the thick tag alders. Skiing out in the moonlight is a cherished memory.

We get minus fifty days here occasionally and -40s just about every year (keep in mind the two thermometers cross paths at -42). Same snow here on Halloween is usually still here at Easter (well, in the old days anyway ... I'm headed out to rake leaves shortly ... Dec 11!). And though not born in Montana (first week of my life was in Idaho), I lived there until 1989 (37 years). So yes, I know a thing or two about winter and how to hunt it. But this past month in Montana was the worst conditions I've experienced ... FOR HUNTING. And I have a lot of experience. Not the coldest, windiest, or snowiest, not by a long shot. But drifted and terrible crunchy with cover for birds either stripped or flattened. Not impossible to hunt but damn near.

Don't worry. I take criticism from the immature and inexperienced peanut gallery with a grain of salt. Like snowymountain said, children abound on the internet.

Good story

 

[sharpshooter97]

This might be one of the funniest running threads on here in a while. Who knew pheasant hunting in snow was so hazardous?

 

[tjones]

I have hunted moose in -30 C with snow half way to my knees.

A quick check with a tape measure finds snow depths 1/2 way to my knees would be a crippling 11".

If'n you are taller than 5' 10" or wear boots with high heels YMMV.

 

[OntarioHunter]

A quick check with a tape measure finds snow depths 1/2 way to my knees would be a crippling 11".

If'n you are taller than 5' 10" or wear boots with high heels YMMV.

Not crippling but a workout if hunting all day. Knee deep and you'll be sweating your ass off while constantly on the move tracking moose. Not good if temp is -30. But of course you have enough experience to know that, right?

 

[El Jason]

Not crippling but a workout if hunting all day. Knee deep and you'll be sweating your ass off while constantly on the move tracking moose. Not good if temp is -30. But of course you have enough experience to know that, right?

My guess is Tony has enough experience to layer accordingly so he doesn’t sweat his ass off.

 

[OntarioHunter]

My guess is Tony has enough experience to layer accordingly so he doesn’t sweat his ass off.

Yeah, I'm sure he gets in a lot of days -30C.

 

[madtom]

Yeah, I'm sure he gets in a lot of days -30C.

You’re the tuffest guy around.

 

[El Jason]

Yeah, I'm sure he gets in a lot of days -30C.

That’s -20F. Not that big of a deal.

 

[mtmuley]

Jones knows stuff. mtmuley

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

 

[MTLabrador]

View attachment 165862

Now that’s what adequate pheasant hunting beer supplies look like.

 

[Deleted member 16014]

Alright I’m back in
Gomer and Tjones = inexperienced
It just won’t stop.

 

[cahunter805]

View attachment 165862

“The essentials to a great hunt”!! I like the keg is tapped and strapped in and ready!

 

[OntarioHunter]

That’s -20F. Not that big of a deal.

-22 F to be exact. And that is very cold. As a kid in the Flathead I hunted ducks a couple of times in January when it was -22 and -24 F. So cold it was tricky getting a shot through the fog coming off the creek's open water. Listen for whistling wings and get ready to shoot ... fast! As soon as the dog was wet we had to run for my car ('53 Chev Bel Air). I only recall once when it got that cold during big game season.

 

[Hunting Wife]

That’s -20F. Not that big of a deal.

Shhh. When he says it, I feel like some Extreme athlete/super human endurance being. I never knew I was so badass!

 

[mtmuley]

Shhh. When he says it, I feel like some Extreme athlete/super human endurance being. I never knew I was so badass!

I remember lots of days at my family's place way North of Shelby when -20 was the high temperature of the day. Brrr..mtmuley

 

[Hunting Wife]

I remember lots of days at my family's place way North of Shelby when -20 was the high temperature of the day. Brrr..mtmuley

Was thinking the same. A good number of days come to mind hunting ducks, pheasants, elk and coyotes where -20 would have been an improvement.