I botched getting a general deer tag in the leftover sale; 500 sold in 6 hours today and I didn't know they came out today and by the time I did my daily check they were gone.
Now I'm contemplating biting the bullet and buying a big game combo, or just buying a region 7 whitetail doe tag and going with my buddy who actually put in the draw for his deer tag. We hunt 704 and 702. Last year was our first year and we both shot bucks on BMAs in the first four days. Nothing huge but we were happy. We were hoping to try for both getting mule deer bucks this year (I shot a 100-110" 4x4 WT last year) in the 130"-150" range. Now, with considering the combo, we are kicking around the idea of saving a couple of days at the end of the 8-9 day trip to try and fill a general elk tag with an antlerless or spike elk. The focus would still be on getting bucks in region 7, and if we were on some and it was taking time, or hunting was tough, we would stick it out there to get it done.
I'm reeling with messing up and not just putting in for the draw, but this is what I looked into so far. Any input from anyone willing to share anything about these units on this thread or pm is welcome.
Will there be elk there when we are hunting?
Likelihood of access to a cow/calf or spike?
Deer in the area?
We are hunting November 12-20, and I picked these areas based on geographic proximity to our deer hunting area, and also by public land on the hunt planner and general elk being open. We have no problem putting on miles with packs on (did avg of 7mi/day last year, with high of 15 miles), but have not done it in the mountains or nor have we killed an elk, hence the easy acceptance for cow/calf or spike. The Montana regs make my head hurt, so correct me if I missed anything.
*all on a general big game combo
510 - spike or antlerless elk and WT only, no mule deer
520 - any elk (north and west of W. fork of Rock Creek) and WT or MD buck
502 - spike or antlerless elk, either sex WT or buck MD
530 - spike or antlerless elk and WT only, no mule deer
316 - any antlered elk, WT or MD bucks
317 - brow tine bull elk, MD bucks, WT either sex
Any advice on these units/hunts as far as animals, access, terrain, etc is appreciated. If this is silly to think we can knock down two bucks in 4-5 days and a cow/calf or even a spike in another 2-3 days, just tell me.
Now I'm contemplating biting the bullet and buying a big game combo, or just buying a region 7 whitetail doe tag and going with my buddy who actually put in the draw for his deer tag. We hunt 704 and 702. Last year was our first year and we both shot bucks on BMAs in the first four days. Nothing huge but we were happy. We were hoping to try for both getting mule deer bucks this year (I shot a 100-110" 4x4 WT last year) in the 130"-150" range. Now, with considering the combo, we are kicking around the idea of saving a couple of days at the end of the 8-9 day trip to try and fill a general elk tag with an antlerless or spike elk. The focus would still be on getting bucks in region 7, and if we were on some and it was taking time, or hunting was tough, we would stick it out there to get it done.
I'm reeling with messing up and not just putting in for the draw, but this is what I looked into so far. Any input from anyone willing to share anything about these units on this thread or pm is welcome.
Will there be elk there when we are hunting?
Likelihood of access to a cow/calf or spike?
Deer in the area?
We are hunting November 12-20, and I picked these areas based on geographic proximity to our deer hunting area, and also by public land on the hunt planner and general elk being open. We have no problem putting on miles with packs on (did avg of 7mi/day last year, with high of 15 miles), but have not done it in the mountains or nor have we killed an elk, hence the easy acceptance for cow/calf or spike. The Montana regs make my head hurt, so correct me if I missed anything.
*all on a general big game combo
510 - spike or antlerless elk and WT only, no mule deer
520 - any elk (north and west of W. fork of Rock Creek) and WT or MD buck
502 - spike or antlerless elk, either sex WT or buck MD
530 - spike or antlerless elk and WT only, no mule deer
316 - any antlered elk, WT or MD bucks
317 - brow tine bull elk, MD bucks, WT either sex
Any advice on these units/hunts as far as animals, access, terrain, etc is appreciated. If this is silly to think we can knock down two bucks in 4-5 days and a cow/calf or even a spike in another 2-3 days, just tell me.
