MT Antelope questions

[AT Hiker]

I have been thinking about applying for a MT antelope tag, a "trophy" is not really on my radar as much as hunting in new country. I thought about the 700 districts but would really like to hunt them in a different type of terrain, so I thought about the Western side of the state, I have been to Boozeman via Yellowstone so other than that I know nothing of Western MT.

Could anyone recommend a district that has some cool scenery? By "cool" I mean; mountains in the background, a fun town to hang out in, or something close to Glacier or Yellowstone. Of course public land access/BMA's are important as this would be a DIY hunt. Ideally I would hope to draw no earlier than next year, so I could turn this into a vacation with my wife.

If I apply this year and draw I will be in sort of a pickle as it will be hard to get back out there before season ends because we are not going on our MT mule deer hunt until mid Nov...so anyone have a district they know of I could apply for that has 0 NR tags!!! Wishful thinking I know, haha.

 

[MSUcat61]

Using an antelope tag as an excuse to hunt new country is something I've done before and really enjoyed. My first antelope was in unit 510 on the foothills of the Crazy Mountains north of big timber; gorgeous setting. Not exactly Western MT but my next three bucks all came from different intermountain valleys in SW MT, including the Madison Valley (Unit 360), Centennial Valley (Unit 330), and the Big Hole (318). The last two bucks were both shot on Block Management land and there was plenty of public as well. The first two were on private. I had a difficult time finding many places to hunt in the Madison Valley.

 

[woodtick]

I'll second the Centennial Valley Unit 330 hunt, it was way fun and plenty of places to hunt and we had a chance at a really nice buck but blew it!

 

[woodtick]

Here is the goat we ended up shooting, my wife and kiddo are some troopers!

[URL=http://s1337.photobucket.com/user/bigwoodtick/media/66511_4726664053869_1489170040_n_zps80403d30.jpg.html][/URL]

 

[AT Hiker]

Very cool! Thanks guys, I just want something different and MT has the air about it that appeals to me. 330 is very close to West Yellowstone and no doubt would that earn me brownie points with my wife.

I just need to decided if Im going to apply this year or wait...If I do apply, logically I should apply for the 700's as I am more apt to be able to hunt them if I accidentally do draw.

woodtick, what time of year did you and the family hunt? Thats exactly what Im looking at doing, though my daughter is not even weaned yet!!!!

 

[woodtick]

We hunted opening weekend, I want to say it was around the 6th of Oct?? My daughter is only 2 in that pic!

 

[AT Hiker]

My daughter is only 2 in that pic!

Awesome, just plain awesome!

 

[woodtick]

Sad thing is she turns 4 in a couple months and I got hell from Mom and Grandma about buying her a Pink Camo Crickett!!

 

[MSUcat61]

I would say the 330 hunt would probably be my highest recommendation too. The tag is a good excuse to visit the largest uninhabited valley in the lower 48. Plus it's absolutely beautiful country. Plus this unit has a very high proportion of public/block mgmt land to hunt.

I ended up shooting my buck later in the season. The first trip down in the early portion of the season reveal very few antelope. A couple of weeks later it seemed like they all came out of the woodwork and I looked over many different groups of antelope. A cousin's cousin is a fwp biologist and he said later in the season more antelope seem to show up, which was what I saw.

Here are a few pics from my hunts:

 

[woodtick]

Nice goat and thanks for the pics!!

 

[Againstthewind]

i don't know much about Montana, but I would highly recommend Glacier for family vacations. We spent a week there a couple of years ago. We try to do a National Park for a week, hopefully more in the future. This will be the fifth year, and I think Glacier is right up in the top spot as far as favorites go. Kalispel and Helena are pretty cool towns, not sure what you are into, but we really liked the area. Just kindof drove through town. The fall is one of the better times to visit Yellowstone, IMO. The crowds don't seem as bad after school starts and the animals seem pretty active. Some of the facilities in both spots shut down early, but I am not sure when exactly. As far as antelope goes, I am not familiar with Montana, but it sounds like you have some good advise there already.

 

[AT Hiker]

We visit Yellowstone a lot, mainly in the fall and it is spectacular. Less people, some facilities closed but that has not bothered us yet. We are going in August this year, so we can check out more but I hate that I want catch the elk in full bugle. Glacier is on my radar o visit soon, reason I am trying to plan for MT...I always like to tag a hunt on my Western vacations if I can because I usually drive out and my wife, and now baby, fly out. Glacier would be a heck of a drive though, so I may have to fly and rent something on that trip.

 

[medtech10]

I have lived just about an hour east of glacier for the better part of a decade now and would 2nd the glacier greatness. Pre kiddos I spent about 20-30 days a year in the park fishing, camping, and backpacking. It has been discovered in recent years but it is still an amazing place that you will not be disappointed in. It still blows me away that there are people that live in my town that haven't even been in the park, just amazes me that people don't take advantage of such a treasure being so close.

Antelope hunting in MT is not what it used to be, but still can be very enjoyable if not expecting a trophy (because very very few exist anymore in the state). I would say that the Centennial valley is one of the better western MT lope hunts. Lots of permits but after the deer and elk rifle seasons open there literally will be nobody chasing antelope. If the glacier thing peaks your interest check into unit 401 (I think that's right as I archery hunt antelope and with the 900 permit can hunt entire state). It includes the sweet grass hills country and is pretty unique country, that has farmland, rolling hills and countless draws/canyons for lopes to hide in. It is quite a bit tougher draw odds, but there is a ton of BMAs and some public stuff as well.

 

[tmitch]

i've hunted 330 once, and 300 twice. I think there are bigger bucks in 300, but the October season in MT always hurts me. Pretty much guaranteed, the continental divide between Idaho and MT will get smashed with a snow storm before the antelope season starts, and all the antelope will move. In 300, the Big Sheep Cr basin is gorgeous, but there is a lot of private land, and the antelope know where it is. I enjoyed my hunt in 330, but i'd stay away from the opening weekend in MT. No offense to anybody in MT, but it gets a little crazier than I can handle on the opener. Fun to be huntin though!!!

 

[woodtick]

i've hunted 330 once, and 300 twice. I think there are bigger bucks in 300, but the October season in MT always hurts me. Pretty much guaranteed, the continental divide between Idaho and MT will get smashed with a snow storm before the antelope season starts, and all the antelope will move. In 300, the Big Sheep Cr basin is gorgeous, but there is a lot of private land, and the antelope know where it is. I enjoyed my hunt in 330, but i'd stay away from the opening weekend in MT. No offense to anybody in MT, but it gets a little crazier than I can handle on the opener. Fun to be huntin though!!!

Amen TMitch, I'd definitely stay away from opening weekend, that's when we went and what a zoo!!

 

[AT Hiker]

Well I applied for 215 this year, mainly due to the fact of the low odds of a NR drawing the tag ( I think there have been only a couple NR tags given over the last few years) and if I do draw I will consider myself lucky and figure it out. Plus it is not all that far from Missoula, so I can make a trip over to Big Sky Brewery!!!!

Given I do not draw I will likely put in for either 215 again next year or a unit closer to Glacier or 330 so I can plan another Yellowstone Trip.

 

[Againstthewind]

Well I applied for 215 this year, mainly due to the fact of the low odds of a NR drawing the tag ( I think there have been only a couple NR tags given over the last few years) and if I do draw I will consider myself lucky and figure it out. Plus it is not all that far from Missoula, so I can make a trip over to Big Sky Brewery!!!!

Given I do not draw I will likely put in for either 215 again next year or a unit closer to Glacier or 330 so I can plan another Yellowstone Trip.

I love Moose Drool! One of my favorite beers. I am kindof a beer snob, but that is a good one.

 

[6mm Remington]

If you are planning on applying this year, antelope permits have to be in by June 1.

 

[AT Hiker]

I already applied, nothing like waiting till the last minute!

 

[woodtick]

Good luck in the draw, you'll have to keep us posted!!