Non resident hunting advice

[Kydeerslayer64]

I'd have a real hard time paying for a land trust for elk hunting without having first hand or very trustworthy (not internet stranger) second hand knowledge of the area and how animals use it. Seems like a setup that is overwhelmingly more likely to be a bust for the $ paid than worth it. Flexibility is huge, especially if a guy is not physically capable of covering a lot of ground in rough country.

Great point , thanks for replying

 

[Bob-WY]

One thing i would add, as an easterner who went elk hunting, the term raghorn shouldnt stop you. I shot a 5x4 in ID on a guided bowhunt, yup a raghorn. Except when it strolled in, i shot and ehen i walked up to it, MASSIVE critter

 

[Kydeerslayer64]

One thing i would add, as an easterner who went elk hunting, the term raghorn shouldnt stop you. I shot a 5x4 in ID on a guided bowhunt, yup a raghorn. Except when it strolled in, i shot and ehen i walked up to it, MASSIVE critter

A unicorn would not stop me.
Thanks for your reply!

 

[Elky Welky]

Most people are friendlier in person than on HuntTalk, unfortunately.

This is very true, many local Montana elk hunters are friendly to a fault. I've made the mistake of telling other hunters where the elk were and gotten burned for it, so my advice would be if you do see elk and there are other hunters around, be ready to enter a footrace. Don't expect other hunters to respect your hunt or make ethical shots. The later the season, the further people think they can shoot at elk and ruin it for the rest of us. People get real weird about elk.

I'll also buck the newby trend of saying hike to one spot and sit there all day glassing. That's all fine and dandy if there aren't other hunters around, but since most public at this point is 2:1 hunters to elk, covering ground, burning boot leather, and going where other people aren't is a pretty effective strategy if your goal is to get meat on the ground.

If you're in it for the antlers and don't want to put in that kind of work, pay an outfitter.

 

[Kydeerslayer64]

This is very true, many local Montana elk hunters are friendly to a fault. I've made the mistake of telling other hunters where the elk were and gotten burned for it, so my advice would be if you do see elk and there are other hunters around, be ready to enter a footrace. Don't expect other hunters to respect your hunt or make ethical shots. The later the season, the further people think they can shoot at elk and ruin it for the rest of us. People get real weird about elk.

I'll also buck the newby trend of saying hike to one spot and sit there all day glassing. That's all fine and dandy if there aren't other hunters around, but since most public at this point is 2:1 hunters to elk, covering ground, burning boot leather, and going where other people aren't is a pretty effective strategy if your goal is to get meat on the ground.

If you're in it for the antlers and don't want to put in that kind of work, pay an outfitter.

Thanks for taking the time to reply!
Even though I have the means,
This won’t be the trip I drop $10k for a guided bull hunt and it might not even be the state that I do as well.
Getting in the draw is first and I what do after that I’m still figuring out. As much as a guided Cow hunt sounds intriguing, if I’m going to drop $4k on a Cow, I would much rather spend $10k on a bull.
What ever I do after I get drawn will be an experience regardless and if that entails walking around some beautiful countryside, sitting and glassing, and not seeing anything…I am fine with it on this hunt and I promise you I won’t be the only one that might not see anything.
Thanks again for your comment s!