Elk around Dillon and Bozeman

Ikeepitcold

Administrator
Staff member
Feb 22, 2011
10,026
1,612
Reno Nv
Hey all

I?m doing some research for my step son, his father and brother. They are wanting to hunt elk for the first time in Montana. They have been hunting deer in Mt for a few years with success but want to add elk to the mix. They have hunted some ranches that do not hold elk so they are looking in the Dillon and Bozeman areas.

Any general info I can give them to help with their continued success is very appreciated. They are looking to fill the freezer but like anyone a good bull is always on their minds.

Thanks all
 

BrettKoenecke

Member
Jun 28, 2013
137
5
I hunted the Snowcrests back in 16. We didn't do any damage to the population due to the unseasonably warm weather but I would surely go back. Its a trip for people who are in decent shape and grizzly aware but I think it would be very hard to find elk on public land in MT without grizzlies in the mix. One thing I would say is that the country felt challenging but manageable.
 

MTHusker

Member
Apr 22, 2013
136
15
I hunted the Snowcrests back in 16. We didn't do any damage to the population due to the unseasonably warm weather but I would surely go back. Its a trip for people who are in decent shape and grizzly aware but I think it would be very hard to find elk on public land in MT without grizzlies in the mix. One thing I would say is that the country felt challenging but manageable.
HUH? Lot's of elk hunting on public land in Montana WITHOUT a grizz for miles and miles...LOL.
 

MTHusker

Member
Apr 22, 2013
136
15
I hunted the Snowcrests back in 16. We didn't do any damage to the population due to the unseasonably warm weather but I would surely go back. Its a trip for people who are in decent shape and grizzly aware but I think it would be very hard to find elk on public land in MT without grizzlies in the mix. One thing I would say is that the country felt challenging but manageable.
To say "it would be very hard to find elk on public land in MT without grizzlies in the mix." , just shows you do not know Montana very well....I can think of numerous areas without grizzlies and plenty of elk here, hell, I live a half hour from the Missouri breaks. Now if your talking public land around Bozeman, that might be true to some extent, but even around there, there are Mt ranges without grizzlies within a cpl hours at the most.
 

Montana

Veteran member
Nov 3, 2011
1,104
400
Bitterroot Valley, MT.
Hey all

I?m doing some research for my step son, his father and brother. They are wanting to hunt elk for the first time in Montana. They have been hunting deer in Mt for a few years with success but want to add elk to the mix. They have hunted some ranches that do not hold elk so they are looking in the Dillon and Bozeman areas.

Any general info I can give them to help with their continued success is very appreciated. They are looking to fill the freezer but like anyone a good bull is always on their minds.

Thanks all
Are you still on this? Are you thinking archery or rifle? Elk numbers are WAY up and both are quality spots. Closer to Bozeman you will find bigger elk but fewer numbers, towards Dillon more elk but smaller bulls.


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Ikeepitcold

Administrator
Staff member
Feb 22, 2011
10,026
1,612
Reno Nv
Are you still on this? Are you thinking archery or rifle? Elk numbers are WAY up and both are quality spots. Closer to Bozeman you will find bigger elk but fewer numbers, towards Dillon more elk but smaller bulls.


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They will be rifle hunting
 

jvonbank

Member
May 30, 2017
50
1
46
Lake St Louis, MO
Will they have horses or are they going on foot? I went on a pack-in rifle hunt a few years back in the Madison Range east of Ennis Lake and my dad and I both shot 5 pt bulls. It would be a very tough hunt by foot though. We also had grizzly encounters too if that is a big concern to them.

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