State with the most bang for your buck..

[Frequently Banned Troll]

My vote goes to Montana, since it was so good to me in 2009. I hunted black bear, elk, and mule deer on public land (USFS mostly) in areas open to any resident holding general MT licenses bought over the counter - no special permits required. I also hunted pronghorn antelope on both public land and private land (through written permission obtained over the phone for free). Draw odds for the antelope permit are essentially guaranteed for a resident.

I took my bear on my 2nd day hunting the spring season, the pronghorn on my 5th day of antelope hunting, the elk on my 6th day of elk hunting, and the mule deer on my 8th day of deer hunting.

It was a lot of hunting and I’m officially burned out (15 lbs lighter – with no extra to start with). Here’s some hero photos… a testament to what you can get in Montana for $104 worth of licenses, some good boots, and a backpack. It seems almost criminal.. I love living here.

 

[Oak]

You killed four animals in one year that are all better than most guys will kill in their lifetimes. Definitely an accomplishment to be proud of.

 

[----]

Yeah....
But there's no hogs.

Unbelievable season Kurt, Congrats.

*Off the top of my head, you've killed the biggest Bear, Elk and Antelope this season of any Montanan I personally know, pretty amazing.

 

[Nemont]

Greenhorn,


That is a great season. Tough to beat Montana for things to hunt and length of seasons, and I don't even concentrate on big game much any more because of my bird hunt habit. Congrats and hope you don't have take a second mortgage to pay off your taxidermist.

Nemont

 

[fowladdict]

You definitely ripped off Montana! Congrats on a hell of a year!

 

[elkkill2006]

What can you say but " Holy Crap". Great job on some amazing animals. Truely unbelievable!

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

My knees hurt and I'm looking for a private ranch to hunt next season - one where you can actually load them up whole in the back of the truck.

 

[Buschy]

Oak nailed it!! Most guys will never take animals that big in a lifetime.

Year in and year out you take huge animals. Very, very impressive. Congratulations on a stellar year. I think I will cut and paste this so I don't have to retype it next year at this time!!

 

[Oak]

What pack is that muley and pronghorn on, and why it over the Crewcab?

 

[mohunter]

All I can say is wow. You had a great season. Hard to vote against MT with that kind of success.

 

[mohunter]

Oak isn't that a long bow or something like that?

 

[RockyDog]

not bad for a wrinklebag with a bad haircut.

geesh dude the pics all stacked together show an incredible year for you. im a "little" envious. if you had also posted pics of your hot GF then the Envy Meter would be pegged. thanks for not doing that, some us cant take it.

 

[rosco]

Cant argue with that, that bear looks like a frikken Grizz! congrats on a great season.

 

[TheTone]

I think you're right on Montana. An Idaho sportsmans pack is about the same cost for residents as what you paid, but the quality of animals on general tags seems much better in MT. I saw more deer in three days near glacier in October than I have all year in east Idaho.

Heck of a season GH, how is the rebuilt rifle treating you?

 

[Big Fin]

Geez Greenie, MT FWP should send you a check for all the licenses you just sold on their behalf.

I would have a hard time voting for any other state, given what Montana offers in the General Tag Units. Some would probably give Alaska and Wyoming good votes, but much more of WY is on limited draw, making that more difficult for general units.

I think most know this, but you are definitely committed to work harder, hike further, and scout more than any guy in the woods. Combine that effort with great hunting skills, and your pictures show the possible results.

I like that photo essay, as it shows that in Montana we are blessed with a lot of travel restrictions that don't allow for hunters to drive to the deepest part of units and shoot animals near roads. More reasons why I would vote for MT.

Your extensive use of packs shows how hard you are working to take advantage of the hunting quality these travel restrictions provide. Without travel restrictions, I doubt we could have six weeks of general archery and five weeks of general rifle, and still have any animals left when season is over.

Just wish I had your commitment. Until then, I will look at your pictures and know that if I got off my butt, and went after it harder, at least the remote possibility exists that I could shoot a great critter. Not likely to happen, but remotely possible.

Congrats on a great season Greenie. All those trophies are wonderful, but that antelope is a rare specimen in Montana.

 

[Horn Seeker]

09' was good to you?? Give me a break Kurt... You've done that every year since I started idolizing you, I think that was 99 or 2000....

Good Job man....

 

[T Bone]

How do you restock the corn flipper so far back in there?


Really great animals. I hope to do a real back country hunt again next year. If anyone has a high paying part time job in MT, I'm available.

 

[Dinkshooter]

I think even for the NR MT is a great buy. 10 weeks of potential hunting. Deer and elk tags for a little over $600.

I tried to move there in 1993 and chickened out. Thanks a ton greenhorn

Seriously sick season you had. Time for pizza and beers.

 

[Grady]

Dude.........Wow.

Great animals as always.

Montana is a great value, but I think you'd go find the biggest animals regardless of the state- and take some of the best pictures around while at it. Thanks for posting them.

Give us a gear report. Was the rifle rebuild worth it? How's the Longbow working out? Is that a new tripod it the lopeskull pic?

Congrats on your season.

 

[Spitz]

Not bad, I'll give you props for the bear, but the rest of those animals were obviously a result of that gay 1/4 zip cardigan you were wearing.