SE Montana- Cabin or Ranch lodging help

[ageewhy]

Hi Folks,

Been researching a DIY mule deer hunt for this fall, and pretty well settled on SE Montana. General tag, allows harvest of either WT or MD, either sex, BLM land, and rebounding deer numbers (generally speaking). Were not looking for monster bucks, just want to cut our teeth on our first Mule deer hunt while building points in other states.

I'd prefer a cabin rental, or house rental but to my surprise doesn't seem to be much in SE Montana that I can find. Anyone out there recommend a ranch that provides lodging? Or a website with Cabin rentals? Anything around Miles City, Broads, Baker, or Ekalaka...

If not, no biggie. We can always shack up at the Motel 6...

Cheers,
Adam

 

[Tim McCoy]

In many respects, there is not much in SE MT, but great country. Am sure you can throw a bunch of $ at it and get a cabin on a ranch. Know of one around Forsyth, about $3,500 for 5 days in some of Montana's better MD hunting, that was 4-5-6 years ago. If you want that info PM me. Some small town motels have a "cabin" option, have to call around and check and ask a bunch. Most in that area are very friendly and will offer ideas if asked respectively.

 

[johnsd16]

Lodging is really tough in that area. Lots of hotels in the area almost "cater" to hunters with early free breakfast and such. The one we stayed at last year was a member of some mule deer organization. Good luck finding a place with a kitchenette too.

I'd honestly say I'd be more apt to give up where I've found deer on specific BMAs or BLM than our odging. It kind of sucks. A member on this very forum has a cabin that he was looking at renting. He may chime in if he's still considering that.

 

[ageewhy]

Thanks for the quick replies. We are not against the hotel/motel method, just thought for sure there ought to be some Cabins around- I mean it is the West, right?

If anyone else has a point in the right direction it would be much appreciated. Tim- I sent you a PM.

 

[kesand72]

Might be running a lil late for a motel reservation....

 

[Tim McCoy]

Replied to PM

 

[rammont]

...just thought for sure there ought to be some Cabins around- I mean it is the West, right?

Oh there are cabins but most people have them as a year round home or they use them for their family for hunting. I'd rent you mine but I live there year round and it's on the other side of Montana.

Have you tried searching the Internet? I have no idea if these guys have something available (they seem to have only one cabin) but you might want to call them.

http://www.montanacabins.net/index/action/cabindetail/siteid/9421/title/R+Lazy+4++Ranch+%26+Retreat/

 

[meathunter]

Lodging is really tough in that area. Lots of hotels in the area almost "cater" to hunters with early free breakfast and such. The one we stayed at last year was a member of some mule deer organization. Good luck finding a place with a kitchenette too.

I'd honestly say I'd be more apt to give up where I've found deer on specific BMAs or BLM than our odging. It kind of sucks. A member on this very forum has a cabin that he was looking at renting. He may chime in if he's still considering that.

I posted about a cabin in Idaho I was thinking about renting near Salmon. Just putting finishing touches on it. River lot, lots of elk, deer, sheep, goats, bears, fishing, etc. Might be interested in renting, depending on time, as I'm hunting there during the fall.

 

[Swedishhunter]

It is very sparsely populated country over there. I have hunted it before and plan on going again this fall, but we will camp. I think there are some outfitters in the area, they may offer self-guided or lodging only, but their fully guided guests will always take priority. Good luck, wish I could be more helpful.

 

[Horsenhike]

Half the adventure is in the camping.

Buy a little equipment and go for it.

 

[mnhoundman]

There are some forestry cabins , I think they are anyways. Look them up on the web, it's camp needmore, it's called. Really cheap to, they have woodstoves in them for heat. Oh and it's by ekalaka.

 

[ageewhy]

Might be running a lil late for a motel reservation....

Really?! Dang...I figured since they haven't even held the drawing yet we could still wiggle in somewhere...thanks for the heads up.

 

[ageewhy]

There are some forestry cabins , I think they are anyways. Look them up on the web, it's camp needmore, it's called. Really cheap to, they have woodstoves in them for heat. Oh and it's by ekalaka.

Just looked them up, thank you! This is very helpful.

 

[Bearlodge10]

You might try Medicine Rocks Lodge in the Ekalaka area as well.

 

[Hilltop]

This is a pretty cool web site to find what you are looking for. Good luck.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiH_IaHpbHSAhUj9YMKHVbiCOYQFggnMAA&url=https://www.airbnb.com/&usg=AFQjCNHyq6qNr3ZpRPho0pQnJHNXu3ZWSQ

 

[Gr8bawana]

Perhaps you could try KOA. Some of them have cabin rentals and there is one in Miles City.
I prefer camping myself and I'm sure there sre some BLM, NFS or maybe state park campgrounds in the area.

 

[ageewhy]

Thanks again to everyone for the replies. To my surprise, websites like VRBO and AirBnB had virtually no listing in SE montana for a group of 4-6 (with the exception of a few in downtown miles city).

Still waiting to hear back on a few ranches but I did put a group reservation down for a house/cabin in BROADUS because everywhere is filling up quick!

I have read mixed reviews of Broadus- anyone care to chime in on this? Should we expect a zoo?? We are looking at hunting the opening week... seems to be plenty of public land within a few hour drive. Im also going to try and get our group added to a BMA property...and get away from the roads!

 

[Againstthewind]

Thanks again to everyone for the replies. To my surprise, websites like VRBO and AirBnB had virtually no listing in SE montana for a group of 4-6 (with the exception of a few in downtown miles city).

Still waiting to hear back on a few ranches but I did put a group reservation down for a house/cabin in BROADUS because everywhere is filling up quick!

I have read mixed reviews of Broadus- anyone care to chime in on this? Should we expect a zoo?? We are looking at hunting the opening week... seems to be plenty of public land within a few hour drive. Im also going to try and get our group added to a BMA property...and get away from the roads!

Not totally sure what you meant about reviews on Broadus. Things have slowed down quite a bit for oil and gas I think, might not be as much of a zoo now, unless prices go way up between now and then I guess. There was a lot of traffic between there and the Williston area for a while. It got a little crazy in that whole area I think. A lot of those guys probably saw the hunting around and tried it I am guessing. I like the town. Any cabin or hotel you get will be a little on the older side. No Holiday Inns around, but the hotel I stayed at was pretty clean. I think it might be the only one there, but not sure. If you have any specialty grocery or equipment needs, probably need to stop in Miles City. There is a grocery store with ice and everything, though. The pizza and ice cream shop is pretty good. People were super friendly when I stayed there for work a couple of weeks. Those gravel roads between Broadus and some of the other towns are pretty well kept up so you can go pretty fast to get to the hunting spots. Saw quite a few deer on private, but don't know much about the hunting.

 

[Tim McCoy]

Plan for a zoo and hope for just pressure is my advice. Guessing you are talking about the Custer NF between there and Ashland. There is a thread or two on that here someplace. I'd really try to get on a BMA that takes reservations.

 

[ageewhy]

Not totally sure what you meant about reviews on Broadus. Things have slowed down quite a bit for oil and gas I think, might not be as much of a zoo now, unless prices go way up between now and then I guess. There was a lot of traffic between there and the Williston area for a while. It got a little crazy in that whole area I think. A lot of those guys probably saw the hunting around and tried it I am guessing. I like the town. Any cabin or hotel you get will be a little on the older side. No Holiday Inns around, but the hotel I stayed at was pretty clean. I think it might be the only one there, but not sure. If you have any specialty grocery or equipment needs, probably need to stop in Miles City. There is a grocery store with ice and everything, though. The pizza and ice cream shop is pretty good. People were super friendly when I stayed there for work a couple of weeks. Those gravel roads between Broadus and some of the other towns are pretty well kept up so you can go pretty fast to get to the hunting spots. Saw quite a few deer on private, but don't know much about the hunting.

Good to know, thank you.