MT 447 Elk - Highwood Mountains

[Straight Arrow]

I would spend the summer looking at maps.

I would spend the summer looking at maps as I hiked the area.

 

[kw168504]

I would spend the summer looking at maps as I hiked the area.

I would spend the summer looking at maps as I hiked the area.

Ok thanks will do

If you are willing to hike you can get away from the crowd. I would spend the summer looking at maps.

sounds good thanks

 

[Hideandseekwinner]

I will reply as I hunted this area last year.

The Highwoods is really the only public land in all of unit 447. That and it being relatively close to Great Falls makes this a popular place. Some of the area is off limits to dirt bikes but everyone and their brother who doesn’t have a dirt bike concentrate on that area. The weekends were the worst, with up to 7 vehicles at each trailhead and several vehicles parked randomly on the side of the road between trailheads.

Talking with the biologists and game wardens they all confirm that the bulls typically don’t bugle. This was confirmed over a couple weeks of setting up on every bugle or cow call I heard only to have up to 4 hunters set up on me. Talking with locals they all swear that the elk have a calendar and migrate to private ground as soon as the woods get flooded with archery hunters.

I seen absolutely no elk sign down low. The best places were in steep, dark timber pockets. As soon as I thought I had climbed or hiked further than any other person, 2 other hunters will come walking over the mountain and tell me how easy it was for them to just drive their truck over there and meander into the same area.

With all that said I was able to get on elk several times but it was pure dumb luck. Slowly sneaking through the thick stuff and setting up on wallows or trails seemed to be the best strategy but the thick timber made shots longer than 20yds impossible. I was able to glass up a couple elk from the road just before last light but if you seen them so did 30 other hunters.

Good luck.

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

East side of public on the boundary of THE STRAND RANCH. MONSTER BULLS.

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

#HASHTAG
#MONSTER BULLS
#MONTANA
#400 BULL ELK HERDS
#STRAND RANCH
#GIANT BULLS
#SPOT BURNER

 

[Mountain Mule]

East side of public on the boundary of THE STRAND RANCH. MONSTER BULLS.

Heading over there now, thanks for the tip!

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

DID SOMEBODY SAY MONSTER BULLS ELK IN THE HIGHWOODS?
STRAND RANCH
HUNT THE BOUNDARY
SPOT BURNING

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MT BULL ELK UNIT 447
TROPHY BULLS
STRAND RANCH
STRAND RANCH
STRAND RANCH
STRAND RANCH
STRAND RANCH

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

When I burn spots I don’t do it for money - I do it for FUN!!!

 

[44hunter45]

I ‘accidentally’ applied for this hunt this year. I hadn’t realized I had 2 preference points(I thought i only had one)and it looks like I might draw this tag with my bonus points. Not sure if I should be excited or concerned because the lack of public land. If it turns out there are a bunch of folks on motor bikes archery hunting I’ll be disappointed. I just wanted a chill and relaxed hunt with a little room to breathe. I should have just applied for general…. We will see I guess

I had a tag last year where I had the unit to myself scouting in July and saw half a dozen shootable animals per day. October opener it was camper city and impossible to get away from the mechanized assault.

After a day pissed at the world I decided to just enjoy hunting the tag. I went into the thickest hell holes I could every day. In the evening I sat in camp waving at BTLD's and SxS until dark.

I ended up eating the tag, but I wasn't working and the stars were freakin' amazing.

 

[Bhoesl]

In the evening I sat in camp waving at BTLD's and SxS until dark.

Sorry, but I just have to ask, what the heck is a BTLD? Lol

 

[bigsky2]

FWP was trying to get the permits reduced this year but unfortunately the commission shot that down.

 

[Rogerdoger]

FWP was trying to get the permits reduced this year but unfortunately the commission shot that down.

They did take away all cow elk hunting on national forest this year in that unit.

 

[Gulf of America]

Sorry, but I just have to ask, what the heck is a BTLD? Lol

I wondered that too. My best guess was Big Truck Little .... But I'm looking forward to finding out what it actually is.

 

[kw168504]

I will reply as I hunted this area last year.

The Highwoods is really the only public land in all of unit 447. That and it being relatively close to Great Falls makes this a popular place. Some of the area is off limits to dirt bikes but everyone and their brother who doesn’t have a dirt bike concentrate on that area. The weekends were the worst, with up to 7 vehicles at each trailhead and several vehicles parked randomly on the side of the road between trailheads.

Talking with the biologists and game wardens they all confirm that the bulls typically don’t bugle. This was confirmed over a couple weeks of setting up on every bugle or cow call I heard only to have up to 4 hunters set up on me. Talking with locals they all swear that the elk have a calendar and migrate to private ground as soon as the woods get flooded with archery hunters.

I seen absolutely no elk sign down low. The best places were in steep, dark timber pockets. As soon as I thought I had climbed or hiked further than any other person, 2 other hunters will come walking over the mountain and tell me how easy it was for them to just drive their truck over there and meander into the same area.

With all that said I was able to get on elk several times but it was pure dumb luck. Slowly sneaking through the thick stuff and setting up on wallows or trails seemed to be the best strategy but the thick timber made shots longer than 20yds impossible. I was able to glass up a couple elk from the road just before last light but if you seen them so did 30 other

I drew the 447-21 tag for this season. Might spend the entire month of Aug/Sept out there fishing and hunting