If you really want to help, help this jackass understand why Greenhorn's drainages are good spots and why my initial ideas are horseshit. And please don't be mistaken, Greenhorn, I certainly appreciate you steering me in the right direction, but I joined this board not hoping to be handed a fish and be fed for a day, but to learn how to fish for myself.
Phill
I've had time to read this thread. Greenhorn gave the best advice one could ask for, from a guy who not only does it, but does it with amazing regularity on big bulls.
Why is his advice better than the original idea of the Bridgers? A few thoughts.
> Bridgers are the backyard range for 13,000 MSU students who come here mostly for the outdoor lifestyle. Expect the majority of them who make a hike to do it in the Bridgers.
> Bridgers are the range where most the hikers, off-season ski nuts, and dog walkers decide is the best place to go.
> Bridgers have huge private land issues, especially on the entire west side and the southeast side, where after the first shots, the elk will seek refuge.
> Bridgers don't have grizzly bears to speak of and a lot of non-resident hunters want to hunt near Bozeman without having to deal with gbears. They tend to end up in the Bridgers.
> North end of the Bridgers are huge ranches with limited hunting. Elk have figured that out and move accordingly.
> So convenient to Bozeman that every local is tempted to go there for a hike versus drive to other less crowded places, with Hyalite being even more crowded.
As to why the other places are good:
> Elk don't like people. People don't like long hikes into rough country like the places Greenhorn mentioned. Elk go where people won't hike.
> Elk don't like people. People don't like sharing the woods with grizzly bears if other options exist. Elk go where people avoid.
> Elk will find sanctuary in thicker cover, even of temporary for hunting season. Hunters, myself included, like hunting more open slopes as found in the Bridgers. Elk know that and respond accordingly.
I could continue. It is not often that a Hunt Talk thread has someone, an experienced local, lay out the base strategy that includes starting locations, as Greenhorn has. Use the advanced search function and look at the bulls he posts from each season. That will get the attention of any public land elk hunter.
Unless some amazing luck allows me to draw a limited entry tag elsewhere in MT, I can assure you that opening morning of rifle season will find my incognito rig, Honda Pilot, parked at one of the trailheads Greenhorn has mentioned.
Good luck.
EDIT: Oops, I see Greenhorn was responding at the same time. See his advice.
