3. Elk thrive amidst this cover. That's why oftentimes, the all-time records list you see aren't the most accurate depictions of where big deer are truly . This hunt can be had with only about six or seven points. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. The average success rate on our mule deer hunt is 95-100% with more than 100% . Read on to discover some of the best units and areas to consider when applying for elk, mule deer, or pronghorn tags out West. And everything about the pursuit is big. . No matter what quarry is pursued, modern-day hunters are sure to echo the sentiments of Meriwether Lewis who concluded Missouri River Country includes "one of the fairest portions of the globe." The average harvest fell from 3,000 to 500 in . 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. So far, Wyoming is looking in great shape from the winter and into spring where the weather has been very wet and cool. This hunt is one of only two limited quota hunts inside the Region G zone where 15 lucky applicants will hunt for big rut staged high country deer during the final two weeks of the month of October. If awarded we are going to try to stay on the eastern side of the state due to the drive from Louisiana.. . Are you a hunting outfitter? The average deer we take in this unit scores around 180 inches gross. As mentioned previously, New Mexico is home to world-class pronghorn hunting. Montana has 7 hunt districts that break down into smaller units in each district. Each tag was priced at right around $700/hunter. Core habitat for elk in northeastern Montana is found adjacent to the Missouri River and tributary creeks. 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). Petersen's HUNTING Publisher, Kevin Steele is in the CZ booth with Dylan Rice at SHOT Show to talk about CZ 600 Series Trail rifle. The largest antelope the author has seen taken by a hunter was downed a couple miles north of Fort Peck Reservoir. 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. 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. Too late. The 2nd one was 29,000 acres and allowed 8. All Petersen's Hunting subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. $5,900/Hunter. Hunt those areas during archery season. Landowner preference is completely unfair and steals tags from the average hunter. Over the past years we have taken many trophy deer with both a gun and bow. 1579 N Main Street Ste 100 2022 MONTANA RIVERS AND RIDGES OUTFITTER LLC. Eastmans Publishing, Inc. is a multimedia corporation whose roots are grounded in the ethics of fair chase hunting. Mule Deer- Limited Entry Units 87 & 89 - Worldwide Trophy Adventures. RAB, As phutch30 stated there are good mule deer numbers in the Breaks, but one thing to keep in mind about the Breaks is the FWP - Biologist have issued a lot of elk permits over the last few years (both antlerless and A9/B12). This would be a great opportunity to bring youth out on a hunt for a reasonable price. Learn how your comment data is processed. But if youre hell-bent on hunting deer in area 270, you better buy at least 160 acres because that is your best chance at a permit in area 270 in the near future. Complete trip planning materials are available on the Missouri River Country website. This information really put a damper on much of the areas we thought we were going to hunt. Pronghorn tags in both states can be very difficult to draw. Idaho runs a close second to Colorado when it comes to mule deer hunting. The more popular areas for whitetail are along the river systems and large agricultural areas throughout the eastern part of the state. Wyomings Elk Area 7, south of Casper, is a large unit with lots of elk and is about half public land. Just a thought. We chose Montana for a few different reasons, none of which could be overshadowed by the convenience of having their lottery run by mid-April. 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. The average deer we take in this unit scores around 180 inches gross. Statistically, the most coveted deer permit in Montana is just outside Darby in the southernmost portion of the Bitterroot Valley. Too many things in our world are going the wrong way. Give my best to your Dad, Be well my friend John McGannon WildEats, Isnt the 90/10 split for the trophy species onlygoat, sheep, bear ect? Box 357 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The decline of mule deer populations in northeastern Nevada is reflected in this Department of Wildlife graph of hunter success over a 63-year period. This is an action packed hunt during the rut. The type 2s were crawling with other hunters and the quality of deer we saw on these properties was not what we were after. A very tough spot indeed. Our guided mule deer hunts offer the highest opportunity for a trophy you can display with pride. Unit 22 is open for archery hunting late August to mid September and then December through the end of January. The ranch is located within the Ochoco Unit and is home to a several stable mule deer herds. Edward Wright: This was 20 years ago when coyotes in my home state hit epidemic proportions. A type 1 BMA is walk-in access with sign up at designated entrances. This place has it all, comfortable camp, good guiding, good food and Shield River trout fishing, it's just a great week. This hunt is very accessible and roaded with lots of open hillsides and meadows to glass up bucks feeding on the edges. The answer is us pushing for more QDM out West, period! The same goes for SOME of Montana State Land. These dates are provided only as a general reference.Check current regulations or use FWP's online Hunt Planner for specific dates.. 2023 SEASON . Although they evolved to live and thrive in broadly different environments, the two species are remarkably adaptive. Snow cover is more likely at this time, making deer more visible. Mule deer and white-tailed deer are the most widely distributed and abundant big game mammals in Montana. Each party can sign up for, at most, 3 consecutive days of hunting on that property. If they want a true limited entry trophy type hunt they need to get rid of the cow and spike hunters. Kevin Steele stops by the Taurus booth to speak with Cody Osborn about the all new Raging Hunter platform from Taurus International. Antlers on yearling buck white-tailed and mule deer may look similar. Give a Gift Some areas are easily accessed by roads, while others offer a wilderness experience for those willing to hike a distance from their vehicle. rifle hunting western hunting Wyoming, Hunt mule deer with Ike and Guy Eastman during an October snowstorm. All Petersen's Hunting subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. (Shutterstock / Cornelius Doppes photo) Data can be deceiving. Much of this acreage is leased for crops, making it excellent habitat for whitetails. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; Idaho. 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. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit"; I ended up filling my tag with my biggest Mule Deer to date on our 2nd day. One of the region's prime whitetail grounds is the Milk River drainage, a tributary to the Missouri River. This will cause massive demand on the system this year and next with high point holders forcibly pushed to cash in their points before the change which will cause huge gains in point creep for deer, elk and antelope inside the Wyoming point system. Max points are a must to apply for this hunt. You cannot access without being signed up for that specific BMA. Public land is not a problem here. The most likely areas to produce a record-book pronghorn are GMUs 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 46, 47, and 48. Regions G and H are the most popular and talked about deer units in Wyoming; however, there are other good units as well. , I (Montana resident), drew this tag this year and was wondering how the hunt went for you. Man with all yhe points I have for deer and elk I may be screwed. Pheasant season spans the entire general rifle season for deer and elk. Thanks to Toprut, I can better strategize my big game applications with access to detailed unit profile information, hunt quotas, draw odds, harvest info, and more. Here in Wyoming and Montana, mule deer hunting is also diverse. Whitetail deer are also native to Missouri River Country. Montana Rivers and Ridges Outfitter offers a late season 4 Day trophy Mule Deer hunt on the beautiful prairie of Eastern Montana. Both the mule and whitetail deer breeding seasons occur during this time as well, giving hunters higher odds of spotting a trophy buck. The first to die off and probably the first to rebound, or at least we hope. ABOUT; OUR HUNTS. Over the last three years, all non-resident permits were drawn by non-resident landowners in unit 261, and 7 out of 12 tags for unit 270 were drawn by non-resident landowners. We are now booking for '23 and '24 Mule deer hunts. The bowhunting here can be very lucrative. The guys are , Bow hunt public land mule deer with Brian Barney on this episode of Beyond the , Darby is beautiful we stayed there right before all this Corona virus shut us all down but I dont think I would waste my time applying for such a limited hunt with such bad odds there has to be some better sleeper units if you do your research. Eastmans Publishing, Inc. is a multimedia corporation whose roots are grounded in the ethics of fair chase hunting. The winter was very mild on these deer and the buck to doe ratio is very, very good right now. With only 50 tags on quota, a 20-day season in November and lots of public land to hunt, with a little help from the weather, this hunt should continue to excel well into the future. . They open up for call-in registration at different times. Dream destinations include the Arizona Strip (units 13A and 13B) or Kaibab Plateau (units 12A East, 12A West, and 12B), but the drawing odds are long, sometimes in the low single digits, Ornoski said. Antlerless: A deer without antlers or with antlers less than 3 inches in length. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks website has a fairly easy . 1 Hunter - 1 Guide. The same is true for those interested in hunting archery seasons. Desert Ghosts: Hunting the Elusive Coues Deer, Predator Hunting with .17 Caliber Rifle: Pros and Cons, The Only Three Guns You Need to Go Hunting, Venison Backstrap with Sweet & Spicy Peach Relish Recipe, Tested Tough - Modern Zeiss Sports Optics. More than 295 ranches are enrolled in the Block Management Program here, which provides licensed sportsmen with free access to about 1.3 million acres of mule and whitetail deer, antelope, and elk habitat. This is done by a scorecard placed in a dropbox on the location of each BMA. I looked at those stats a few years ago and resident landowners were drawing one of those coveted tags every three years on average. 14,019 Views. In Montana, 15% of all permits for elk and deer can go to landowners. Again, pay close attention to the regulations to make sure you are properly licensed to hunt mule deer. This has been considered the holy grail of mule deer permits in the Big Sky State for the past couple decades. Using this strategy . Nonresidents fund a very large percentage of Wyomings Fish and Game Budget, the State also receives many millions in the Robertson Pittman Act funds. Western Hunt Company is a big game & upland hunting operation based in Montana & Idaho. The adventure is big. 22. The Big Sandy, late hunt is a true wildcard hunt with some very solid big buck potential. Montanas Block Management Program opens more than 500,000 additional acres of private land to walk-in public hunting in the region, which is home to the highest concentrations of elk in the state, produces huge bulls, and is responsible for approximately 50 percent of the states elk harvest each year. This hunt has been getting better and better each year and now seems to be producing some very consistent results as of the late. With tags in hand, we decided that hunting public land was going to be our plan of action. With 80 tags on quota and an October season, with a little help from some weather, this hunt could create a great opportunity for a big staged up high-country deer during the final five days of the hunt. A lot of hunters only hunt or glass in the early mornings and evenings. These are considered the best moose hunting areas in the state. Unit 102 has been a desirable hunter destination for trophy mule deer in Wyoming over the past two decades. I was able to download 10-mile by 10-mile maps of our hunt area knowing we would be out of cell coverage. 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. Hours of looking at Google Earth do not come close to physically being there. Over the last 20+ years, we've collected hunting research and data,so join Huntin' Fool today and access the best research tools for hunting mule deer, including 3D Maps, Draw Odds, Consultations, and much more. Writers Note: This Montana mule deer on the cover was taken at 502 yards. Me and my buddies have ben putting in for that tag for 15-plus years and still havent drawn. Dakota Walleye Classic Recap Lake Sakakawea is Stupid Healthy Right Now Best Cranks for Suspended Walleyes Still Loving the Scheels Tournament Bait Rod at 8.6, Sponsored by OutfitterLogic.com Hunting & Fishing Guide Website Design Winter Getting Long.first signs of spring Winnipeg walleyes Reverse Valentines Gifts for Men Are Custom Rods, The Prairie Skies of Bismarck, North Dakota (USA), Montana has 7 hunt districts that break down into smaller units in each district. This year we would have limited time and left the idea of the Elk/Combo out of the equation. . Cross your fingers for big bucks and good opportunities for the future. Mule Deer DESIGNED BY. Its late July and Im either on a boat or in my office and the expectation of the ever-familiar chime of a new email notification goes off on my phone. There are few secrets on premium LE units. Cedar City, UT 84721 This area is mountainous and does contain about 25% wilderness at the very top of the unit. Theres thousands of people who have invested a lot of money in the point system. This hunt must be done with a group of three hunters. We shootbrownelk: Big fines, mandatory jail time and loss of licenses. This is also a decent application choice for a lower point holder, as the 400-tag quota does put enough tags into the random portion of the draw to be worth a shot at about 5%. Busted . Dec 2, 2022. The Bitterroot Valley in Montana is known for and home to some of the State's Best Mule Deer Hunting! In 2019 there were 7,654 resident applicants for about 35 tags. March 24, 2020 *All Combination License prices include the required Base Hunting License, Conservation License, Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Pass, and Application Fees. 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. 406-342-5475 tlp@rangeweb.net . Kevin Steele, Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING talks with JJ Reich of HEVI-Shot about the new offerings for 2023. The Missouri Breaks also hold modest numbers of whitetails, particularly in creek bottoms containing deciduous cover. Any further questions call Dan Alleman.". Montana also offers Block Management (BMAs) which is private Ranches opening up their property for public Montana mule deer hunting. A tough winter in 2016, followed by a drought that lasted more than a year and a half, cut that total by about 20,000 deer, but Utah still remains a top destination for mule deer hunters, according to Covy Jones, big-game coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. 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. Since we pride our hunters and offer great quality hunting guides, we are 100% fair chase. Obviously these are the funds that are used to fund the States road system, educational system, law enforcement, health system and the like. Petersen's HUNTING Publisher, Kevin Steele is in the CZ booth with Dylan Rice at SHOT Show to talk about CZ 600 Series Trail rifle. MONTANA STATEWIDE MULE DEER HERD POPULATION ESTIMATES (2010-2018) Edward Wright: This was 20 years ago when coyotes in my home state hit epidemic proportions. Each fall, hunters from all over the country, and around the world, set their sights on the mountains, valleys, and wide-open spaces of the West in search of adventure, camaraderie, a world-class trophy, and the opportunity to fill the freezer with lean protein. The hunting season for these species coincides with the archery season for big game. The winter was very mild on these deer and the buck to doe ratio is very, very good right now. Though relatively few in number, Missouri Breaks bucks can achieve notable size. My partner passed on a good deer the first day and we spent the majority of the rest of our hunt trying to find that deer. The up-and-coming units in Arizona are 6A, 8, and 5BS.. So unfair and biased. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This hunt can be had with only about six or seven points. Montana Rivers and Ridges Outfitter offers a late season 4 Day trophy Mule Deer hunt on the beautiful prairie of Eastern Montana. We decided to apply for deer only as we had done a combo tag 2 years prior on a bow hunt. 15% of the 45 permits are guaranteed to resident and nonresident landowners alike. With that said, I hope these choices help you out and this year is what it is. | 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. Max points are a must to apply for this hunt. Bummer for sure, Thanks Guy, Hope all is well with you and the family. I'm not going out on a limb and making any bold predictions, but the science is adding up. Ord, holds a fair number of mule deer and receives little pressure because of . We have personally guided hunters to some of the largest bucks killed in the unit each year. Copyright 2023 Eastmans' Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved, The Most Coveted Deer Permit in Montana that You Will Never Draw, Statistically, the most coveted deer permit in, So youre probably wondering, how is it possible that zero nonresidents drew this tag in 2018? Go on more hunts with better information! Like many others, I have 12 points for deer and elk. This long window should offer the option of hunting the pre, peak and post rut. Mule deer hunters should plan to go high in the mountains for the best opportunity at bigger bucks. They are the Henry Mountains, Antelope Island, the Alton CWMU and the Paunsaugunt. Sonora Mexico Mule Deer Hunts. Its name is derived from having large ears that resemble that of a mule's. My wife and I are finally entering a drawing for a mule deer hunt in Montana. Most of the state is managed to maximize hunter opportunity each fall. Montana Region 7 (made up of districts 700 to 705) in the southeast corner of the state, especially the southern parts of the region, wasnt as affected by the brutal winter of 201112 as other parts of the state and has good numbers of pronghorn in each district, Vore said. This hunt can be had with only about six or seven points. 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. Be ready to glass all day. Make sure you pay attention to the new regulations as there are a number of changes from 2021. The big takeaway here is, as nonresident landowners suck out more and more of the nonresident pool, expect less and less tags being drawn by general nonresidents. There are 45 tags total for 270-50. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; Thx Guy, The application for antelope licenses is June 1. Your honest assessment is greatly appreciated. Book your next hunt in Wyoming with expert hunting guides at R & K Hunting today. 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. These two situations have placed many applicants between the proverbial rock and a hard place as they weigh out the beyond uncomfortable trade-off between a down year for deer hunting and the possibility of future draw odds quadrupling all while tag costs could more than double in the process. It becomes part of that BMA. READY TO GO ON YOUR EASTERN MONTANA MULE DEER HUNT? My partner passed on a good deer the first day and we spent the majority of the rest of our hunt trying to find that deer. As for general-season units, Jones suggested hunters take a look at Pine Valley in the southwest corner of the state, the four Oquirrh/Stansbury units west of Salt Lake City, and Zion on the southern border. There needs to be some serious adjustments to the hunting seasons in this unit. These were usually posted as enrolled if there was no access. Hunters need to realize that . Since the draw odds are slim for this area we cant book a hunt for this unit specifically. Copyright 2023 Eastmans' Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Guys TOP 5 Picks for Wyoming Mule Deer 2022. Hunter success here has drifted steadily up over the past five years and now nearly reaches about 70% on the best years. The sound of a bugling bull elk or the sight of two monster 6x6s fighting for mountain dominance is a memory that will stay with a hunter for a lifetime. 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. View more information on other big game hunts we have to offer, right here! amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; As a general rule, elk density also increases from east to west. Our Best Mule Deer Hunts Hunting big mule deer bucks in the rut is a great hunt to consider. Deer hunting can be good at any time during the season, but the last half of November is favored by many resident hunters. There are a handful of good limited-entry units, and most of them give a hunter a good hunt for an average buck. Years of development and pushing the limits of what is possible in a rifle optic have led up to this moment. Years of development and pushing the limits of what is possible in a rifle optic have led up to this moment. It's not the same question as asking what is the best Colorado OTC archery unit. 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. In Montana, unit 270 is considered one of the top trophy mule deer units in the state. And thats just what can be done by driving in a pickup. Resident applicants for this permit are increasing 300-1000 per year proving that the popularity hasnt waned. 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. Jones said the famous Paunsaugunt unit on the southern border with Arizona and the Fillmore/Oak Creek and Vernon units, both in the central part of the state, all produced incredible bucks for hunters in 2018. By having OnX we were able to find exactly where we could and couldnt be. You can easily spot them around in any season. Given the size and range of the mule deer in our area, using horses and mules is a must to cover ground and access the best habitats. 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. Located outside of Laramie this hunt is a bit rough, but nothing like the rugged hunts in the northwest portion of the state. The Tag: Unit 44 Rifle Mule Deer. The outstanding success rates and superb trophy quality keep this hunt in high demand. There are a few 2023 dates left open. Hunters can expect to see 75-100 deer a day and as many as 10 bucks. amzn_assoc_design = "enhanced_links"; As a result of last year's chronic wasting disease management hunt for white-tailed deer in southwest Montana, biologists observed a 50-percent reduction in white-tailed deer numbers in the Ruby watershed between Sheridan and Twin Bridges, where CWD prevalence was highest. Holy smokes! ELK HUNTS; . Hunting these trophy bulls with a rifle requires a long-odds lottery permit, but those who do draw have the chance to take amazing animals. With such a variety in habitat and easy access to abundant public land, a mule deer hunt can be as challenging as you want to make it. Subscriber Services. In western areas, mule deer hunting has always been fun. Large chunks of the private land in Area 7 are enrolled in Wyomings Access Yes program, which opens private land to public hunting, with some restrictions in certain areas. This hunt is generally booked after the hunter has secured a permit. Our parent company, Flyway Media, offers hunting guide website design options. Each of these units is worth the wait and gives the hunter an amazing opportunity at Pope & Young and Boone & Crockett bulls, he said. 5. There is a lot of private land, but there is plenty of Block Management and public land for anyone to have a good hunt. Kevin Steele stops by the Taurus booth to speak with Cody Osborn about the all new Raging Hunter platform from Taurus International. Wyoming Residents hate Nonresident hunters when they are hunting in Wyoming, these Nonresidents are the source of all the problems with landowner issues, Poaching, poor herd populations and the like But boy do Wyoming People love Nonresidents when they are fighting next to their sons and daughters in the mountains of Afghanistan and when that Minnesota Mayo Clinic Surgeon saves their fathers life because no Doctor in Wyoming has the skill set to do the operation. From southwest deserts to coastal forests, mule deer hunting presents a variety of challenges. 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. Our first ranch was 15,000 acres and allowed 15 hunters per day. Probably the most important bit of information we found was: If a ranch is enrolled into the Block Management Program and there is BLM land on or bordering that ranch, that BLM land is NOT OPEN to public access. One change that took place for 2022 is a handful of mule deer units that used to be unlimited went to general. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; They also provide transportation to and from the airport if needed. Public land is not a problem here. This hunt should take about five or six points to draw this year with a random draw of about 10% for those with less than five points.