In early June a successful applicant can request a BMA guide that will be delivered around the end of July. 5 Day/night Mule Deer Hunts - $4250 5 day 6 night Mule deer hunt - $4700 if available $1500 deposit to book your hunt Add antelope - $500 (drawing license required) ABOUT; OUR HUNTS. A fine hunter in his own right, Guy has taken several trophy animals and has become an expert in trophy hunting as well. One of the region's prime whitetail grounds is the Milk River drainage, a tributary to the Missouri River. Max points will be required for a chance at this hunt and nearly every hunter (89%) on this hunt walks away with a buck by the end of the season. He is vice president of Christian Hunters of America and is a Cabelas Pro Staffer. The up-and-coming units in Arizona are 6A, 8, and 5BS.. Kevin Steele stops by the Taurus booth to speak with Cody Osborn about the all new Raging Hunter platform from Taurus International. Introducing the Veracity PH from Burris, the perfect combination of reliability, quality, and technology delivering a simple aiming solutiona tool for the hunter that just works. The type 2s were crawling with other hunters and the quality of deer we saw on these properties was not what we were after. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; Area 141-1, The Green River Lakes hunt is a bit more of a long-shot for big bucks, but I just have a bit of a hunch that given the type of country in this area there could be some big bucks this fall to mine out of here for someone who hunts hard. Publisher, Kevin Steele is with Brett Marquardt from Streamlight Inc. discussing the new Streamlight Pro Tac 2.0, the latest edition in the Pro Tac series. Add to this bad news the fact that many nonresident applicants are getting very, very nervous, to say the least, given the possibility of the proposed 90/10 license allocation change becoming a reality. . This country is big, rugged and nothing comes easy here, but the bucks here are by far the largest in the state, historically speaking. During the rut large bucks appear in an effort to pass on their genes to receptive does. Bummer for sure, Thanks Guy, Hope all is well with you and the family. This hunt takes fewer points to draw, mostly because of the larger tag quota (600) and the larger portion of wilderness (21%) inside this region. Abundant access to public land is one of the major attractions of elk hunting in Montana's Missouri River Country (there are more than a million acres of land open to public hunting in the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge alone). This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. As a reminder, Montana has a squared bonus point system. I also recommend the cellphone adapter that makes taking photos a breeze. This can make finding a trophy buck something difficult to do on public land. I am currently applying for those myself. As you can imagine 270-50 has the highest number of landowner applicants for any deer permit and by far the highest for nonresidents. The average success rate on our mule deer hunt is 95-100% with more than 100% . This hunt area is the other limited quota hunt unit inside the general Region G area. *Illustration by Robert Neaves courtesy of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Characteristics of a mule deer CAUTION! The more popular areas for whitetail are along the river systems and large agricultural areas throughout the eastern part of the state. Our first ranch was 15,000 acres and allowed 15 hunters per day. All antelope hunting in Montana is conducted on a draw-only basis. Each party can sign up for, at most, 3 consecutive days of hunting on that property. Clark "Bart" Bartkowski's mule deer hunt of a lifetime happened this year after drawing one of the coveted mule deer permits for the East Fork of the Bitterroot. Best Montana . This hunt unit sits smack dab in the middle of the famed Carbon County, one of the best trophy producing buck counties in the entire country, and this area sits in the best big buck country in the second best big buck county in the state, what more could you ask for? Regions G and H are the most popular and talked about deer units in Wyoming; however, there are other good units as well. And it has been increasing every year. Tags #myhuntstory Archery backpack hunting big game hunting bow hunting deer hunting Eastmans Eastmans' Bowhunting Journals Eastmans' Hunting Journal Eastmans' Hunting Journals Guy Eastman Hunting Mule Deer Hunting Mule deer. Area 128 near Dubois has November hunt dates and limited tags, and units 101 and 102 of the Southwest Desert country have solid deer numbers and great vehicle access. Edward Wright: This was 20 years ago when coyotes in my home state hit epidemic proportions. Although a big buck here would be a very tall order, a fun hunt with limited pressure is what this hunt should offer up on a somewhat later season experience. READY TO GO ON YOUR EASTERN MONTANA MULE DEER HUNT? I ended up filling my tag with my biggest Mule Deer to date on our 2nd day. Like Utah, Arizona is famous for producing record-book mule deer. Guy Eastman, Editor-In-Chief We took a short trip at the end of October to do some scouting of where we planned to hunt and got familiar with the area we planned to be. Public land is not a problem here. This hunt unit sits smack dab in the middle of the famed Carbon County, one of the best trophy producing buck counties in the entire country, and this area sits in the best big buck country in the second best big buck county in the state, what more could you ask for? I know that is a lot of doom and gloom for area 270 especially if you are a nonresident. If they want a true limited entry trophy type hunt they need to get rid of the cow and spike hunters. What I thought I could accomplish in a day would have taken a solid week. Rifle or Archery Elk hunting, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Moose, MT Lion Montana Guided Hunts. Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING magazine, Kevin Steele is at the Steiner Optics booth with Alberto Corbetta to discuss the Predator 4 and Predator 8. And every other year at least one or two of the four tags go to landowners. So far, Wyoming is looking in great shape from the winter and into spring where the weather has been very wet and cool. Muleys can be spotted from roads (very early morning is the best time to glass) and stalked, offering a relatively easy hunt. Obviously these are the funds that are used to fund the States road system, educational system, law enforcement, health system and the like. Each of these units is worth the wait and gives the hunter an amazing opportunity at Pope & Young and Boone & Crockett bulls, he said. Statistically, the most coveted deer permit in Montana is just outside Darby in the southernmost portion of the Bitterroot Valley. Nonresidents fund a very large percentage of Wyomings Fish and Game Budget, the State also receives many millions in the Robertson Pittman Act funds. If you have max points (16), you have 256 chances in the drawing. This hunt area is the other limited quota hunt unit inside the general Region G area. If I could recommend one vital piece of gear that greatly helped us out on our hunt it would be the use of OnX Hunt! As a general rule, elk density also increases from east to west. Publisher, Kevin Steele is with Brett Marquardt from Streamlight Inc. discussing the new Streamlight Pro Tac 2.0, the latest edition in the Pro Tac series. Unfortunately, Montana has been giving out so many mule deer doe tags that they have put a hurt on the mule deer population. Max points will be required for a chance at this hunt and nearly every hunter (89%) on this hunt walks away with a buck by the end of the season. In Montana, Region 3 in the southwest corner of the state covers nearly 12 million acres, more than half of which is public land managed by the BLM or Forest Service. The journals of Meriwether Lewis, co-captain of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, contain detailed descriptions of the country through which they passed new lands teaming with elk, deer and antelope. 262-00-B: F ANY G 100% 0 ArchEquip, shotgun . The plants and soils of the region offer excellent nutrition, allowing mature bulls to grow exceptionally large antlers. THE BEST MULE DEER RIFLE CALIBER. Being small in size, they are easy to hunt. Box 357 And the data backs this statement up as according to the Game and Fish Department the mule deer herd in Wyoming, statewide, is nearly 30% below objective levels. The unit is overrun with hunters. The deer in Unit 76 are extremely call shy - due to hunting pressure and predation - but this has made them more visual creatures. Remember nonresidents are allocated up to 10% of the tags in an area. Montana This has already been seen in the recently completed Wyoming elk draw where many areas saw huge gains in point creep with possibly even more to come for next year. Our 2nd ranch sign in trailer ended up approximately 30 miles from the ranch and in the opposite direction of where we had lodged. Unit 22. Only a limited number of tags are given out annually for this area. By doing so, they have combined a number of units. You cannot access without being signed up for that specific BMA. Add to that the possibility of an additional 50% of what is left going into an outfitter only draw and nonresident point holders in Wyoming are extremely nervous to continue with Wyomings draw system much further into the future. This is a very limited, late season hunt with hunt dates during most of the month of November. Montana has 7 hunt districts that break down into smaller units in each district. The northeastern portion of Montana west of Scobey has copious amounts of state land open to public hunting. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit"; The 2nd one was 29,000 acres and allowed 8. Diamond Outfitters has secured quite literally, the most legendary properties in all of Sonora! March 24, 2020 This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line in 2023. The guys are , Bow hunt public land mule deer with Brian Barney on this episode of Beyond the . The most likely areas to produce a record-book pronghorn are GMUs 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 46, 47, and 48. Search our database forMT Mule Deer opportunities. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; Today, all of these species (except bison) are still found in robust numbers in Missouri River Country and provide modern-day hunters with the same challenges for making meat and memories as they did members of the famed expedition. The .300 Remington Ultra Mag. Hunters need to realize that . (Shutterstock / Cornelius Doppes photo) Data can be deceiving. The biggest typical mule deer shot in Montana last year came from 270 and the unit produces 160-inch bucks for hunters who are patient and hunt the higher clearings and meadows. If you have zero points you have a .004% chance of drawing a tag. Read on to discover some of the best units and areas to consider when applying for elk, mule deer, or pronghorn tags out West. 1579 N Main Street Ste 100 Since the draw odds are slim for this area we cant book a hunt for this unit specifically. Go on More Hunts with Better Information, Join Huntin' Fool Today! This fervent praise for the landscape occurred not in the mountains but on the eastern plains, along the banks of the Missouri River. Few places in the hunting world command the attention of mule deer enthusiasts like Eagle County, Colorado. Both state and federally managed public lands sprawl across thousands upon thousands of acres of prime habitat. So that is 7 permits skimmed off the top immediately for residents. I would not go back without it! Hunters have a legitimate chance at shooting a B&C pronghorn in all GMUs that have a huntable population. Utah has always been known for its top-end mule deer, but it also has many different limited entry deer opportunities that will satisfy just about anyone. Colorado Corner Crossing Here We Go Again, 10 Most Common Big Game Violations Part 8 Hunter Trespassing, To Feed Or Not To Feed. I think it might be time for a class action law suit against the State of Wyoming on tag allocation. Over the past years we have taken many trophy deer with both a gun and bow. Deer move throughout the day, typically to change beds as the shade transitions. These statistics tell us that the bonus point system does not weigh enough in this squared bonus point system to select applicants in the higher point tiers. (Clickable areas may appear inaccurately on mobile devices) Show Maps Return to Montana Maps Download BLM Map Index Download Forest Service Map Index This area is mountainous and does contain about 25% wilderness at the very top of the unit. ELK HUNTS; . Learn how your comment data is processed. This hunt can be had with only about six or seven points. Here in Wyoming and Montana, mule deer hunting is also diverse. This is with roughly 1000 nonresident applicants every year. All Petersen's Hunting subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. For the most part, hunters should be prepared to hunt at least a mile from vehicle access, as elk usually keep a buffer of about that distance from motorized activity. Montana. I think if they cut the quota for nonresidents, maybe theres somebody out there who can put together a class action law suit to get are money back. Located outside of Laramie this hunt is a bit rough, but nothing like the rugged hunts in the northwest portion of the state. Most all of the nonresident hunting is occurring on Federal Lands, National Forests, Bureau of Land Management, Federal Wilderness Areas and National Grasslands. We publish book and magazines, along with producing videos, DVDs, and TV programs. Mule deer hunters should plan to go high in the mountains for the best opportunity at bigger bucks. For more information when and how to apply call toll-free: 1-800-653-1319. Lodging, groceries and other services are found in towns such as Glasgow and Malta. The average deer we take in this unit scores around 180 inches gross. Whether the tag in your pocket leads you to a comfortable lodge for a guided hunt on private land, a DIY spike camp deep in backcountry wilderness, or somewhere in between, hunting the West will grab you by the soul and easily can become a year-round obsession. Sergio Alcazar, owner of ALC Global Adventures, has lived in and hunted Colorado for 24 years. Introducing the Veracity PH from Burris, the perfect combination of reliability, quality, and technology delivering a simple aiming solutiona tool for the hunter that just works. Historically, the bucks are actually larger in this region than they are in Region G, however they are harder to get to and there are less of them. Kevin Steele, Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING talks with JJ Reich of HEVI-Shot about the new offerings for 2023. The key indicators of a rebound are all lining up for the future on this hunt. This area is mountainous and does contain about 25% wilderness at the very top of the unit. Using the OnX off-grid mode I was able to mount my I-pad on my dash and keep my GPS location up to speed in real-time. Bring your good quality optics and you stand a very good chance at a 150-170 class deer with the possibility of finding up to a 200 class deer. Our Best Mule Deer Hunts Hunting big mule deer bucks in the rut is a great hunt to consider. Although they evolved to live and thrive in broadly different environments, the two species are remarkably adaptive. The answer is landowners. Be ready to glass all day. This general hunt region consists of a big, rugged region adjacent to the famed Region G area we spoke about above. This has been considered the holy grail of mule deer permits in the Big Sky State for the past couple decades. Being able to hunt these deer during the rut with a rifle gives our clients and amazing edge to harvest a nice mature Mule deer buck. Good bucks in the 150-170 range are the norm for most of MT. Elk thrive amidst this cover. This hunt can be had with only about six or seven points. The rugged "breaks" along the Missouri contain dense stands of ponderosa pines and junipers. By Bethany Grace September 17, 2022 Updated on February 14, 2023. The hunting season for these species coincides with the archery season for big game. Kali Parmley, Editor-in-chief of Bakccountry Hunter speaks with Bret Maffet of Franchi Firearms to discuss the all new Momentum All Terrain Elite. Drawing a long-awaited tagor lucking out with a lotto-like winin a coveted area can be the second biggest hunting thrill of the year for most hunters. For example, in 2019 there were over 1400 applicants with zero points, and one person drew. Based purely on the data and uncertainty going into this years Wyoming mule deer draw this list should probably be blank, however, that does not work well for readers so I will give you the best list possible with the information I have at this time. The 2021 mule deer population estimate is the lowest since 2014. The northeastern portion of the state has the highest number of pronghorn and provides an opportunity to see a large number of animals during the hunt, while still providing an opportunity at a trophy buck. We also develop and sell products such as apparel, hats and artwork. Public land is not a problem here. Some large bucks also have been taken in GMU 45 in recent years. Applicants with 10 and 12 points also drew four tags respectively. The Eastern Montana prairie is open country with rolling hills of grass and sagebrush broken up by coulees and deep ravines; carved from thousands of years of flash floods. Looking at maps sent to us by the state we found what looked to be really large areas of BLM land (Bureau of Land Management) that were accessible by vehicle. Lewis and Clark noted the presence of huge herds of antelope mingled with the bison, elk and deer they saw along the Missouri River. If you are looking to harvest the buck of a lifetime, this is your unit and we are your outfitter. Hunters will experience a true western mule deer hunt and will spend a significant amount of time glassing in an effort to locate their trophy buck. I looked at those stats a few years ago and resident landowners were drawing one of those coveted tags every three years on average. Area 78-1, The French Creek hunt was turned from a general hunt into a limited quota hunt about ten years ago and the hunt here seems to be getting better and better each year. . Busted . Statistically, the most coveted deer permit in Montana is just outside Darby in the southernmost portion of the Bitterroot Valley. 2. 1 Hunter - 1 Guide. Registration for each BMA is different. Montana made a lot of changes to the deer regulations, with goal being to simplify them. May 25, 2022 In 2019 there were 7,654 resident applicants for about 35 tags. Archery: Sept. 2 - Oct. 15 Youth, deer only: Oct. 19 - Oct. 20 General: Oct. 21 - Nov. 26 Shoulder seasons: Aug. 15 - Feb. 15, varying dates before and/or after the archery and general seasons Muzzleloader: Dec. 9 - 17 mtmuley Sep 25, 2013 #6 That Is The Question, Montana Region 7 Deer Populations Cut In Half, Hunting Big Bucks Deer Hunt with Ike and Guy Eastman, Wyoming Passes 90/10: The Worst Article Youll Read This Year, More Costs Headed Your Way in Wyoming-Maybe. Deer hunting can be good at any time during the season, but the last half of November is favored by many resident hunters. Harvest is generally limited to 180" bucks and larger, but our goal for each client is to get a 190 . Wyoming. All Rights Reserved. In the end we are all in this together, I do not think it is unreasonable for Nonresidents to be afforded 20% of all the hunting licenses in Wyoming.. The best opportunity to harvest a quality buck in New Mexico is in the northern Game Management Units (GMUs), according to Tristanna Bickford, communications director for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.GMUs 2B, 2C, 4, and 5A are quality hunting areas with large numbers of deer, many sporting antlers that will make the Boone & Crockett (B&C) book. Mule deer hunters should plan to go high in the mountains for the best opportunity at bigger bucks. . The terrain where you'll find mule deer ranges from dry, high-desert foothills to the rugged, mountainous, alpine zone. 2 Hunters - 1 Guide. The Bitterroot Valley in Montana is known for and home to some of the State's Best Mule Deer Hunting! Nevada, Washoe County114 pronghorn in B&C records 14. Long season dates and hunting deer in the rut will always make for a fun hunt, but dont expect to see many mature mule deer bucks on the landscape in the general units. 12,440 Views. Mule deer and white-tailed deer are the most widely distributed and abundant big game mammals in Montana. Resident applicants for this permit are increasing 300-1000 per year proving that the popularity hasnt waned. The Courts have given the States the ownership to manage wildlife within their borders however this is not an absolute right and has been modified many times in the past. The area consistently produces exceptional trophy mule deer, which are the priority on this hunt. This hunt is very accessible and roaded with lots of open hillsides and meadows to glass up bucks feeding on the edges. John Vore, game-management bureau chief for the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks department, reported some hunters tag huge mule deer bucks using boats to access the Missouri River Breaks area where the river separates regions 4 and 7 in the state. This is a very limited, late season hunt with hunt dates during most of the month of November. Then you have the nonresident landowners who get thrown into the nonresident pool but get guaranteed preference of at least 15% of the tags over the rest of the nonresidents. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Ord, holds a fair number of mule deer and receives little pressure because of . Montana estimates its whitetail population to be at 212,814. This hunt is very accessible and roaded with lots of open hillsides and meadows to glass up bucks feeding on the edges. However, by looking at all point levels from 1-16, multiple applicants drew permits in just about every point level from 0-16. 28. NO SPAM! These are considered the best moose hunting areas in the state. New Mexico, Rio Arriba County113 typical mule deer in B&C records 15. Arizona, Coconino County128 pronghorn in B&C records 12. Montana's 2022 mule deer breakdown 2021 was a fairly quiet season in Montana with very few notable bucks being taken. The eastern side of the state provides good mule deer hunting. The average deer we take in this unit scores around 180 inches gross. This is a very solid hunt in my opinion for the meager three or four point spend. Hunt those areas during archery season. If it borders the BMA it becomes part of the BMA. What Nevada and Wyoming have in common is wild horses. 5. Arizona Game and Fish mentions that Edwards Park, just south of Mt. Get unlimited access to over ten years of historical drawing and harvest data for over 1,700+ hunt units. Warm weather was more to blame than anything else; however, this could point to a potential bumper crop of sorts for mature bucks this year. Its name is derived from having large ears that resemble that of a mule's. Complete trip planning materials are available on the Missouri River Country website.