Thought I would remind guys who are interested that the Montana elk and deer application deadline is coming up in two weeks. Here is the link to get your app in before the deadline.
http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/licenses/newDeadline/
I would argue that the Montana general archery tag is the best general archery tag in the country. Add up the facts that it can be had with pretty much 100% draw odds, super long seasons, lots of public land, and a lot of older age bulls taken, and you have a great hunting opportunity.
You can apply for the limited archery tags in eastern and central Montana and if you don't draw, have all of the general units that comprise most of the state. Add to that, the fact you get 6 weeks of archery, followed by 5 weeks of rifle, and you have a tag that provides the greatest amount of opportunity you can find in any elk tag.
I know the MT guys are going to hammer me for posting this, but part of my job is to help poeple find good public land hunting opportunities. Our archery tag falls into the category of really good, and sometimes, great. I hunt every western state, have had an elk tag in most all of them, and from my perspective, Montana has the best mix of easy to draw, long season, and elk quality.
In Montana, most the elk are higher during September. In the west, higher means more public ground. As weather and hunting pressure drive elk lower, the private land issues start to enter the equation, given western valleys and foothills have a higher percentage of private land.
I just did my app the other day and realized they changed some of the hunt codes. A lot of the archery hunt codes have changed.
A lot of people think Montana is just an opportunity state. With the ease of drawing the tag that provides 6 weeks of archery, followed by 5 weeks of rifle, that is an easy conclusion to draw.
Yet, if you look at the B&C record book entries for 2008 through 2013, you will see that Montana is a lot more than just an opportunity state. Look at the chart on the screen shot shown below.
Amazing that we provide so much opportunity, yet can still grow big bulls. A lot of guys will say those entries all came from private or limited entry units. Nope, the majority were from public land in general units. Because we have decided to limit motorized access in our areas where elk are most vulnerable, we can still have long seasons, ample tag numbers, and still grow older bulls.
I hope you all draw your limited entry tag and you come to Montana and shoot the bull of your dreams. They are out there. Just don't tell everyone, especially the guys who say the wolves ate them all. Someone forgot to tell a lot of the Hunt Talkers that the wolves at them, given how many big Montana bulls show up on this website every year.
Best of luck in your draws.
http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/licenses/newDeadline/
I would argue that the Montana general archery tag is the best general archery tag in the country. Add up the facts that it can be had with pretty much 100% draw odds, super long seasons, lots of public land, and a lot of older age bulls taken, and you have a great hunting opportunity.
You can apply for the limited archery tags in eastern and central Montana and if you don't draw, have all of the general units that comprise most of the state. Add to that, the fact you get 6 weeks of archery, followed by 5 weeks of rifle, and you have a tag that provides the greatest amount of opportunity you can find in any elk tag.
I know the MT guys are going to hammer me for posting this, but part of my job is to help poeple find good public land hunting opportunities. Our archery tag falls into the category of really good, and sometimes, great. I hunt every western state, have had an elk tag in most all of them, and from my perspective, Montana has the best mix of easy to draw, long season, and elk quality.
In Montana, most the elk are higher during September. In the west, higher means more public ground. As weather and hunting pressure drive elk lower, the private land issues start to enter the equation, given western valleys and foothills have a higher percentage of private land.
I just did my app the other day and realized they changed some of the hunt codes. A lot of the archery hunt codes have changed.
A lot of people think Montana is just an opportunity state. With the ease of drawing the tag that provides 6 weeks of archery, followed by 5 weeks of rifle, that is an easy conclusion to draw.
Yet, if you look at the B&C record book entries for 2008 through 2013, you will see that Montana is a lot more than just an opportunity state. Look at the chart on the screen shot shown below.
Amazing that we provide so much opportunity, yet can still grow big bulls. A lot of guys will say those entries all came from private or limited entry units. Nope, the majority were from public land in general units. Because we have decided to limit motorized access in our areas where elk are most vulnerable, we can still have long seasons, ample tag numbers, and still grow older bulls.
I hope you all draw your limited entry tag and you come to Montana and shoot the bull of your dreams. They are out there. Just don't tell everyone, especially the guys who say the wolves ate them all. Someone forgot to tell a lot of the Hunt Talkers that the wolves at them, given how many big Montana bulls show up on this website every year.
Best of luck in your draws.
