Montana has two main regions to hunt. From the rocky, heavily timbered, steep country in the west, to the rolling, open prairie, and farmland country of the east.

THE WEST

In the west, the amount of public ground is hard to imagine. Most of the mountainous country has been logged over the last century, so there are roads that allow access to the heart of elk and deer country. The logging has actually helped the elk and deer populations over the years, providing succulent forage that produces healthier offspring and trophy antlers. There are more deer and elk than ever to fill the freezer.

Elk hunting can be an exercise in frustration. Despite their large size, elk can hide in some of the most open country. Wiley old bulls with the kind of racks we all have dreamt of since we were kids exist, but they know the drill. They have PhD’s in hunter behavior, and will exploit this knowledge daily. They can ghost through the trees with nary a snapped twig. They’ll watch you walk by them only to explode through the timber after you are safely by.  They obviously find great sport in shattering one’s nerves and ego in a brief, explosive instant.  With high numbers and access, however, harvesting a legal elk is easier than ever; just don’t expect a six-point around every tree.  Montana is like other elk-rich states, if you’re after a trophy bull, apply for special permits with limited pressure, or enlist the help of an outfitter.  They often have private access to land that harbors a larger percentage of mature bulls, less competition, and knowledgeable guides.

Western Montana offers superb hunting for both whitetail and mule deer. Mulies had a rough go of things in the 80’s and 90’s, with lower populations and poor trophy quality, however, new, more restrictive regulations have allowed the populations to recover, with better age-class diversity. Trophy bucks are now being harvested with wonderfully alarming regularity.

Whitetails maintain the cagey nature that they show nationwide. With huge tracts of heavily forested land mixed with succulent fields of alfalfa, these deer are multiplying like rabbits. They probably provide the most consistently high quality hunting opportunity that Montana has to offer. An average buck here  would make the local paper in many parts of the country, and most locals have a buck or two that would drop jaws nationwide. The biggest bucks often live close to humanity, so access and opportunity abound.

Along with the elk and deer, Western Montana has healthy populations of Shiras moose, mountain goats and bighorn sheep. All of these are hunted only by drawing a tag, usually with marginal to poor odds, but if you draw, plan on taking the fall off to spend some time.  Not because they’re hard to find, but because with time and research the chance of getting a record book animal is excellent. Montana has been the holy grail of bighorn sheep hunting for the last couple of decades, with the record books being rewritten every year. And a majority of the rams taken are within a day-hike of the pickup.
 

THE EAST

Eastern Montana is beautiful in it’s own way. While the big, timbered mountains are scarce, the open flatness is deceptive. There are more nooks and crannies than can be imagined, and it doesn’t take much to hide a trophy buck. This region is home to mule deer, whitetails, elk, pronghorn antelope, and even bighorn sheep.

The mulies are more of an open country critter. The rougher the country, the bigger the bucks, but for sheer numbers, the agricultural areas are hard to beat. It’s not unusual to see a couple hundred mulies out in a field munching away. Though big bucks are rarely seen with these herds, they are seldom far away. Montana’s general season includes the legendary mule deer rut, where formerly nocturnal monsters lollygag around out in the open, smitten with a group of willing does.

Whitetails are typically found in the river bottoms in Eastern Montana. While the mule deer use these areas as well, they usually filter up into the breaks to nap during the day. Whitetails tend to hang by the food and hit the heavy river bottom brush. Because the mule deer is a unique species, and often more visible, the whitetails are often ignored in these areas. Many pheasant hunters have stumble upon shed antlers or skulls of whitetail bucks that have died of old age. The amount of bone some of these bucks pack around would make some of the mulies blush.

Pronghorn antelope are arguably one of the most unique big-game critters that can be hunted in North America. They are the only horned animal in the world with forked horns, and who shed their horns every year. This coupled with their blazing 60mph speed and beautifully patterned coat makes them a trophy to most hunters despite their small size. “Prairie goats” as they are sometimes called, have incredible eyesight suited for living in the wide-open prairie. When they spot danger, their white rump hair flairs and afterburner kicks in. Pack a lunch if you get sloppy while stalking ‘lopes. You’ll be at it a while.

There is some incredible elk and sheep hunting in Eastern Montana. It is all on a limited permit basis, but drawing a tag gives one the opportunity to hunt pretty open country for some of the largest examples of these species. Drawing these tags is the hard part. If you draw, it’s the best opportunity you’ll ever have to harvest a truly huge specimen without a guide. That being said, hiring an outfitter in these areas ensures that you’ll be hunting productive country, and they usually have a particular ram or bull that they know and it will be carefully kept track of. That’s where you come in……

BIRDS

The entire state has healthy upland bird and waterfowl populations. In the west, blue, spruce and ruffed grouse with some pheasant and Hungarian partridge thrown in for good measure. The east has primarily sage and sharptail grouse with excellent pheasant and hun hunting as well. Be prepared to pay an access fee on some of the prime pheasant real estate. Typically the fees are worth every dime.

Waterfowl hunting is generally very good. Huge flights of birds move down from Canada periodically throughout the fall and winter adding to the good populations of local birds. Mallards and greenwing teal make up the lions share of ducks, while migrant snow geese and canadas add to the healthy local Canada goose population. With a big decoy spread some of the big eastern rivers and reservoirs can provide incredible goose hunting.

Since the bird seasons typically coincide with big game, these feathered friends often add a little flair and pleasant diversion to big game hunts. Eastern Montana is especially conducive to this. It’s not unusual to run into a flock of some sort of upland bird while on the way to a new spot. Not only are they fun, but can add greatly to camp table fare.

No matter what kind of hunting you desire, the state block management program, public land, or a quality outfitter will offer a hunt to suit your needs and expectations. With nonresidents drawing a hunting license every other year, and some guaranteed outfitter licenses, Montana is a realistic, affordable, and rewarding goal for the sportsman.