New to Montana Billings area

[G5flinger]

My wifes work transfered us out to Billings, Mt this year and as a non-resident I was able to get 2 white tail doe tags. Does anyone have any good info on where or how to find them? I've only found muleys while out scouting around the river.

Thanks!

 

[Deez Nutz]

Welcome to hunt talk.

 

[pabearhunter]

Welcome aboard.

 

[Rack Daniels]

Many of us have been bantering with each other on here for years. Some of us really have a bead on each other and some of us can be very mysterious…

Getting any of us to just give you a polka dot on a map and say, “here go pick one” isn’t really practical and part of hunting is being the hunter….

You’re on the right track. Keep around the river, or find public that is near a river or some ag and watch that sun come up. Hopefully see where they go to bed, at least…

Tell us about yourself before asking everyone to point you to game..
How old are you? Where’d you move from? What do either of you do for work? How long have you been hunting? Do you only bowhunt or 6.5Flinger too?
Previous hunting accomplishments?
Good luck this fall.

 

[G5flinger]

Many of us have been bantering with each other on here for years. Some of us really have a bead on each other and some of us can be very mysterious…

Getting any of us to just give you a polka dot on a map and say, “here go pick one” isn’t really practical and part of hunting is being the hunter….

You’re on the right track. Keep around the river, or find public that is near a river or some ag and watch that sun come up. Hopefully see where they go to bed, at least…

Tell us about yourself before asking everyone to point you to game..
How old are you? Where’d you move from? What do either of you do for work? How long have you been hunting? Do you only bowhunt or 6.5Flinger too?
Previous hunting accomplishments?
Good luck this fall.

Sorry about that wasn't too sure how personal yall got on here.

I'm 28, USAF veteran of 8 years, been around the world and back more times than I can count. Have hunted Colorado, California, and soon to hunt montana. Grew up in the Northern CA mountains hunting black tail and bass fishing. And if I dont get one with an arrow im not against throwing some lead out of my 30-06 or 7prc. I'm not looking for an exact pin point, but maybe a mentor or someone with experience i can shoot some ideas off of.

Thanks for the reply!
Travis

 

[Hams42]

Sorry about that wasn't too sure how personal yall got on here.

I'm 28, USAF veteran of 8 years, been around the world and back more times than I can count. Have hunted Colorado, California, and soon to hunt montana. Grew up in the Northern CA mountains hunting black tail and bass fishing. And if I dont get one with an arrow im not against throwing some lead out of my 30-06 or 7prc. I'm not looking for an exact pin point, but maybe a mentor or someone with experience i can shoot some ideas off of.

Thanks for the reply!
Travis

Best advise I can give you is put some miles on your tires. I personally try to stay as far away from Billings as I can. Billings is the "big" city of MT. The influx of population in the last 15 years has caused the close hunting areas to get slammed.

 

[SAJ-99]

Start here.

Block Management | Montana FWP

The agency is currently updating BMA maps. Maps will be available here later in 2021.

fwp.mt.gov

 

[Mule Kick]

Like Rack said, find a river bottom with ag- alfalfa is the biggest magnet early season. Most people are hunting elk etc. in September. It should be fairly easy to find public/Bma where deer bed and set up on a trail. And a lot of ranchers are happy to get rid of of deer- especially does. So I wouldn’t be afraid to knock on a few doors as well. I can confirm there are lots of huntable whitetails within an hr or 2 on Billings

 

[G5flinger]

Start here.

Block Management | Montana FWP

The agency is currently updating BMA maps. Maps will be available here later in 2021.

fwp.mt.gov

Got the 2026 BMA book on my desk and have a few onx pins to check out.

Quick question, can you scout BMA spots before the opener or is the land access only allowed during hunting season

 

[G5flinger]

Like Rack said, find a river bottom with ag- alfalfa is the biggest magnet early season. Most people are hunting elk etc. in September. It should be fairly easy to find public/Bma where deer bed and set up on a trail. And a lot of ranchers are happy to get rid of of deer- especially does. So I wouldn’t be afraid to knock on a few doors as well. I can confirm there are lots of huntable whitetails within an hr or 2 on Billings

Awesome thank you for the reply.

 

[SAJ-99]

Got the 2026 BMA book on my desk and have a few onx pins to check out.

Quick question, can you scout BMA spots before the opener or is the land access only allowed during hunting season

They typically only open on the start date listed in the book.

 

[Rack Daniels]

Got the 2026 BMA book on my desk and have a few onx pins to check out.

Quick question, can you scout BMA spots before the opener or is the land access only allowed during hunting season

In the book, or on your OnX, you can find the open/closed dates, weapon/animal restrictions, and specific rules about the BMA like where to leave gut piles or maybe closed dates and all kinds of different, generally quite specific rules.

PM me I’d be happy to help answer some questions

 

[SAJ-99]

Got the 2026 BMA book on my desk and have a few onx pins to check out.

Quick question, can you scout BMA spots before the opener or is the land access only allowed during hunting season

A quick look at OnX it seems like there is a lack of BM around Billings now versus what I remember. Probably indicative of hunter/landowner relations. Given you are just looking to fill a doe tag in archery, I would focus scouting on the Beartooths. Find trees/cover and running water. The elk hunters will be doing the same.

When you get enough posts to PM I will give more detailed info on what I can. I don't want to put anything here due to AI search engines finding and spreading.