First DIY mule deer hunt eastern Montana

[Earman]

Hi,
I am planning my first DIY Mule deer hunt in Eastern Montana. Been hunting Indiana Whitetail for 20 years and killed plenty. Also hunted and killed a couple Muley bucks on private land near Broadus years ago always on opening weekend of Montana rifle. It was always an easy hunt. I am in great physical condition and would hope to be able to target 140" or better buck on a week long hunt. Can anybody give me some ideas on General areas or strategies I might begin with to accomplish this DIY hunt?

 

[johnsd16]

The area you were in before is as good a place as any to start. Study BLM maps and access to find some pockets away from the road. When the BMA info comes out pick out some that look good and limit hunter numbers. Lots of time on Google earth, the BMA site and the montana cadastral and hit the ground. From what we saw last year a 140" is possible but will take some work. Quality on private was noticibly better than on public but they move around.

 

[Earman]

do you have any recommendation on the timeframe to target?

 

[Tim McCoy]

There is a bunch of info on this in other threads. Have you looked at them? I've had good hunting all season. The rut is generally the easiest time to find the better bucks, unless you can pre-scout. I've seen them rut from early Nov to the end of the season most years. Have seen a buck on the does in late Oct at times too. Generally, by the end of the first week in Nov, they are rutting, second, third & fourth weeks are often peak rut activity.

The rut activity we see as far as the most activity, varies year to year, which is why you hear about rut timing varying. Usually it is just commentary on when we see rutting activity. I've seen it nuts 11/9, and zippo apparent activity 21-26, as well as the reverse. I always had great luck from about the 7-9th till I have to be home for Turkey day, anywhere in there. Many years the week of Thanksgiving is when my MT buddies do best, 2-3 days before and after, but I'm not there then as I want to stay married.

 

[Earman]

Thanks Tim. I am just starting to read some of the other threads and studying some of the public ground where I want to plan my hunt. To me, it always make sense to hunt as close to rut as possible for better quality bucks. In Indiana, where I am from, you don't want to hunt public land after opening weekend as it always gets hunted really hard and all of the deer flee to private ground.

 

[Tim McCoy]

You'll also want to research BMA's in your area of focus. New years guide usually comes out in Aug. Sign up for it on the MT FWP web site if you want a paper copy, at least last year you could get one. It's online too I believe. Like anything else, some are good, some not, but they do allow private land access. Some control numbers and take reservations, some don't. MT is an expensive deer tag, but a fun rut hunt. Good luck!

 

[jschaffer]

I have hunted that country off and on for a couple of decades. Most of my hunting has been on the CMR north and west of Fort Peck. Honestly, we really try to shoot to start our hunting around November 11th. That seems to be just about the point where things start to heat up for the rut. It also typically gives you a few days and the last weekend that the CMR is open to mule deer hunting. If we don't fill, then we move to the BLM around the CMR or even some of the BMA and BLM land south and east of Fort Peck. We have always tagged out, but the last few times we hunted it was harder and harder to find four year old bucks. They are coming back some now. Just too bad the darn deer tag is so expensive for the quality of bucks you find (unless you are on good private ground). But hey, you get to hunt them in the rut!