Montana Moose

[mdhunter]

Ok, so I apply in a bunch of states. I have been fortunate enough to draw some terrific tags.

After a season of applications with a shoot for the moon strategy I didnt draw any OIL tags or the equilivant for elk or deer. That’s fine, my plan was to fish and hunt a bunch in Maryland which is unlimited with the only reststraint being time.

Today I get a call from the Montana Game and Fish saying someone turned in a tag for moose in unit 105-50. I am next on the list if I want it.

I mean, you can’t say no to that, right?

Long time member here so please save me the “Welcome to Hunt Talk”, lol. I will be happy with any general information on the unit. I plan to call the biologist tomorrow and start doing my homework. I have a buddy who is a good hunter and MT resident, but he lives about eight hours away. I jokingly asked him “isn’t that the nearest grocery store in some places”?

I am not a hunting rookie and have harvested a sheep, moose, elk, pronghorn etc. I stay in shape just in case the phone ever rings like today. Mentally I am just working thru the logistics of traveling from Maryland to unit and the possible meat and back. Maybe this is the trip to drive out and back?

The states I have hunted in include WY, AZ, NM, CO, and NV. I have never stepped foot in MT (which is odd as I dreamed of that state in western hunting when I was young).

Please feel free to PM me any thoughts or ideas. Convenient camping areas, smart travel ideas, anything.

My western hunts have been both OYO and outfitted due to logistics, time, etc. This hunt might be the one to do OYO as my work schedule is now pretty much anything I want. And yes, I have packed a moose out once. I mistakenly shot it in a canyon and hope to not make that decision again, lol.

 

[mtmuley]

Ok, so I apply in a bunch of states. I have been fortunate enough to draw some terrific tags.

After a season of applications with a shoot for the moon strategy I didnt draw any OIL tags or the equilivant for elk or deer. That’s fine, my plan was to fish and hunt a bunch in Maryland which is unlimited with the only reststraint being time.

Today I get a call from the Montana Game and Fish saying someone turned in a tag for moose in unit 105-50. I am next on the list if I want it.

I mean, you can’t say no to that, right?

Long time member here so please save me the “Welcome to Hunt Talk”, lol. I will be happy with any general information on the unit. I plan to call the biologist tomorrow and start doing my homework. I have a buddy who is a good hunter and MT resident, but he lives about eight hours away. I jokingly asked him “isn’t that the nearest grocery store in some places”?

I am not a hunting rookie and have harvested a sheep, moose, elk, pronghorn etc. I stay in shape just in case the phone ever rings like today. Mentally I am just working thru the logistics of traveling from Maryland to unit and the possible meat and back. Maybe this is the trip to drive out and back?

The states I have hunted in include WY, AZ, NM, CO, and NV. I have never stepped foot in MT (which is odd as I dreamed of that state in western hunting when I was young).

Please feel free to PM me any thoughts or ideas. Convenient camping areas, smart travel ideas, anything.

My western hunts have been both OYO and outfitted due to logistics, time, etc. This hunt might be the one to do OYO as my work schedule is now pretty much anything I want. And yes, I have packed a moose out once. I mistakenly shot it in a canyon and hope to not make that decision again, lol.

You sure about this? First I have ever heard of it. mtmuley

 

[mdhunter]

You sure about this? First I have ever heard of it. mtmuley

I mean, I got the call from Helena MT this afternoon. Certainly was not pressured for my credit card and he said I have until Friday to decide. I plan to speak with him tomorrow to get the local biologists number…seemed pretty legit so far.

 

[Forkyfinder]

You sure about this? First I have ever heard of it. mtmuley

Hoping they call you.

But yeah. Its a thing.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Good luck. Im no help. Thats rough country.

 

[BAKPAKR]

Good luck. Im no help. Thats rough country.

So, you are saying there is still a chance I will be hunting a ram in the Breaks this fall?

 

[mtmuley]

I mean, I got the call from Helena MT this afternoon. Certainly was not pressured for my credit card and he said I have until Friday to decide. I plan to speak with him tomorrow to get the local biologists number…seemed pretty legit so far.

I had no idea. And I am from here. Good for you. mtmuley

 

[Forkyfinder]

So, you are saying there is still a chance I will be hunting a ram in the Breaks this fall?

Yes.

The odds of someone turning that back in, and you being next in line.... comparable to treecarp buying a landowner tag and then not talking about them.

 

[mtmuley]

So, you are saying there is still a chance I will be hunting a ram in the Breaks this fall?

No. mtmuley

 

[mtmuley]

No. mtmuley

I'm going out there. No sheep will be harmed. mtmuley

 

[brownbear932008]

Congrats, I had one of those calls twice in my life Maine moose and Alaska moose. It makes for a good day. Never been to that part of the state.

 

[Rack Daniels]

Nowhere near those districts but I really hope you make a lifetime of memories, meet a ton of great new people and of course, conclude with a bountiful harvest.

 

[mdhunter]

Well, I purchased the tag today. Apparently there just over 30 NR tags and I am replacing some NR who drew, but never paid for the tag. To that person…thank you very much!

I came to the conclusion that I would never likely draw (and technically did not this year). MT gave me the opportunity and we will see what happens.

I will post regardless of the outcome. Stay tuned.

 

[mtmuley]

Well, I purchased the tag today. Apparently there just over 30 NR tags and I am replacing some NR who drew, but never paid for the tag. To that person…thank you very much!

I came to the conclusion that I would never likely draw (and technically did not this year). MT gave me the opportunity and we will see what happens.

I will post regardless of the outcome. Stay tuned.

Like I said I've never heard of this and don't believe it is an option for residents. While I don't agree with it, good luck. Hope you have a good hunt. mtmuley

 

[mdhunter]

My contact said there were actually three tags that were drawn but not paid for. I only got one to replace the other NR tag holder. The other two were residents that didn't pay the $125 fee for one reason or another (please don’t slaughter me if he resident fee is wrong, I didn't pay enough attention to what he was explaining about residents fees).

 

[mdhunter]

Thats about 1% of the tags this year.

 

[golfer]

Like I said I've never heard of this and don't believe it is an option for residents. While I don't agree with it, good luck. Hope you have a good hunt. mtmuley

It is an option for residents.

 

[406 Wildlife pilot]

Good luck and a good tag! It used to be one of the best Moose tags in Montana, I know, because I used to do the surveys for moose there. I used to put in there. I am the pilot who conducts the wildlife surveys here in Montana. That area is thick and the moose live in the high country, more like elk hunting than moose hunting. The NW Montana moose, as of recently, are way down in numbers up there, but there are some tremendous bulls there.

 

[Griztrax]

Congrats on the tag. I would pack up the truck and drive if it were me. Exceptionally difficult area to hunt because logging essentially ended in the early 2000's and all those clearcuts are grown over. The district is crawling with wolves and grizzly bears as well so be prepared for grizzly encounters. One of the least rewarding but often successful ways of "hunting" is by driving the old logging roads and getting lucky to catch one on the road. If it were me, I would hike into the Cabinet Mtn Wilderness and look for moose at the head end of the basins - you can actually glass some of that terrain once you are in there. Avalanche shoots are favorite places for the moose to hang out but the alder shrub fields will humble you. Exceptionally hard to walk/crawl through. Lodging in Libby is plentiful and that community has everything you need. Be aware that massive floods in the winter/spring of 2026 resulted in several main forest road bridges being washed out and I don't believe all have been replaced yet.

If you'd like some specifics on drainages, etc. just shoot me a DM. Good luck!