Looking for backcountry areas for mulie hunting in Units 704 and 705 in SE Montana

[akennedy]

My friends and I have general season deer rifle tags for Montana and are planning to hunt in Units 704 and 705 later in November, including the Custer National Forest. We have never hunted the region before. We called and spoke to the new biologist for the area, and, while he was very helpful, he is very new to the area and doesn't know the deer herd or terrain very well yet.

We are looking for areas where we can put on our day packs and hike several miles from the nearest roads, to get away from other hunters and spend the day glassing. We spoke to the biologist about the Custer National Forest, and BLM land and BMUs southwest of Broadus, southeast of Ridgeway, east and west of Moorehead, just west of Alzada, and around Wolf Point and Dead Horse Point.

Can you help me narrow down this lists of areas to one or two where we can hike in a few miles from the nearest road and use our binos and spotting scopes to glass large amounts of terrain? We'd like to get away from other hunters and hunt deer that haven't been pushed as hard.

Many thanks.

 

[ScottR]

Take a high lighter out and highlight in pink all of the trailheads and trails you are considering. Then take a yellow highlighter and color in all the mileage boxes that touch the trails.


Eastmans' Staff Digital Media Coordinator

 

[ScottR]

Pull out your pink highlighter again and color in all of the boxes that touch the yellow boxes. Anywhere that you have not colored will have significantly less traffic from hunters. Should be great starting points.


Eastmans' Staff Digital Media Coordinator

 

[jjenness]

My friends and I have general season deer rifle tags for Montana and are planning to hunt in Units 704 and 705 later in November, including the Custer National Forest. We have never hunted the region before. We called and spoke to the new biologist for the area, and, while he was very helpful, he is very new to the area and doesn't know the deer herd or terrain very well yet.

We are looking for areas where we can put on our day packs and hike several miles from the nearest roads, to get away from other hunters and spend the day glassing. We spoke to the biologist about the Custer National Forest, and BLM land and BMUs southwest of Broadus, southeast of Ridgeway, east and west of Moorehead, just west of Alzada, and around Wolf Point and Dead Horse Point.

Can you help me narrow down this lists of areas to one or two where we can hike in a few miles from the nearest road and use our binos and spotting scopes to glass large amounts of terrain? We'd like to get away from other hunters and hunt deer that haven't been pushed as hard.

Many thanks.

It sounds like you are looking for the same deer herd as a lot of the guys I have talked to that hunt that area. The advice from ScottR is probably the best info you are going to get on the forum this late into the game, as you probably won't find someone willing to give up their "secrets" now that the season has already started. The best thing I can suggest is to get on the Montana Cadastral mapping program on the internet and you can check out the parcels, along with the aerial views which will show you what areas have two track roads and which ones don't. Good luck.

 

[Againstthewind]

That is a pretty good techinique ScottR. From Alzada to Biddle, MT there is quite a bit of traffic on the Belle Creek Road, and some of those guys working there are probably hitting that area since the deer like to hang out on the private and along the road and tease people as you go by. There is some public right along the border like suggested, but it is sandwiched by private and the Wyoming border, so that area at least is somewhat limited in how far you go. I am sure there are places there, though. I have seen the deer start to bunch up and gather the harems around Biddle, but I was just on the highway and it looked like they were already moving into hayfields. That's about the only info. I have from that area, hopefully it was somewhat useful. I don't have any secrets to give up, lol.

 

[akennedy]

Thanks everyone for your helpful advice. I was able to use the techniques you suggested to identify some promising areas on the map. I am looking forward to putting some miles on my boots and putting my glass to work. If you have any remaining hunts this year, good luck getting a nice one!

 

[akennedy]

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice with my Montana deer hunt in 2014 with my 8-year old boy. We saw 37 bucks. We didn't shoot a big deer, but the father-son time was amazing, making it a trophy to us. We almost shot a big whitetail, so we are going to go back this fall to see if we can get him this time. Here is a photo of our little muley. My son's smile says it all.

 

[ScottR]

Glad you had a great hunt, and thanks for updating us on the outcome!

 

[Hoytfanatic]

Just curious how did Scott's advice pay off in finding the road less travelled?

 

[akennedy]

Hoytfanatic, Scott's advice helped me to narrow down the areas in which to hunt. It helped me to find area where the deer were receiving less pressure. I didn't encounter too many hunters on my hunt, but I shot my deer in an area with very few hunters, about a mile from the nearest road. Good luck on your 2015 hunts!

 

[akennedy]

Thanks ScottR--My son and I really appreciate your 2014 advice. We'll be back to SE Montana again this fall. I hope I can get the big whitetail that eluded us last year. Good luck with your 2015 hunts!