Hunting & Fishing Montana Antelope - Some Direction Appreciated

[Fisky]

As much as I cringe at "internet scouting" and the BS that can arise from it, here I am on the other side of the spectrum looking for help. I am interested in applying for archery antelope in Montana. I have ZERO experience hunting Montana. It looks like ND won't have a season for quite some time, so we need to look at other options. From what I've heard in Montana, the antelope took some beatings too. I'm looking to avoid them areas, if you know what I mean.

I really don't know the state, so I'm looking for general info on herd strenth and public land access in some of the more Eastern units. We plan on tenting it. Not afraid to knock on doors either, as most I've talked to said it's not too hard to get on land for goats. But in looking at MT Game and Fish website, I'm having a tough time finding success rates, draw odds and all that good stuff.

So, any help/info would be appreciated. We got about a month to apply, so I need to narrow down a couple "probable" units or areas and get some research done. Not sure how the Block Management works, so I need to look into that too, once I get an area narrowed down, and start making contacts..You can PM me if you'd like. Thanks in advance.

Adam

Also, if you have useful info on MT antelope, I would be happy to provide some info on ND waterfowl, if you're at all interested, via PM of course.

 

[omurnion]

Re: Montana Antelope - Some Direction Appreciated

I just applied online, region 7 is huge. That covers most of eastern MT. That will also be your best chance at drawing a permit. They are letting 11000 either sex permits for rifle season and 2000 doe/fawn permits for that region, which is way down. As it should be the antelope took a beating here last winter. There is also a bunch of block manage areas in this region, which is great if you are an archery hunter because there won't be to much pressure. It sucks for gun hunters, BMA usually turns into a war zone on opening day of rifle season. For a non resident that is probably your best bet, hope this helps.

 

[Fisky]

Re: Montana Antelope - Some Direction Appreciated

Sorry to hear about your herd. Mother Nature sure is a bitch. Western ND just got hammered with another blizzard yesterday, I'm sure that'll do wonders to our already hurting antelope and mulies. I saw pictures of 7+ ft drifts in peoples driveways. Looked like MT got some of that too.

Your honest opinion, would it be even worthwhile to put the time and effort into an archery MT goat hunt 2011? I'm trying to gauge just how bad your numbers are down.

Thanks.

 

[psinclair]

Re: Montana Antelope - Some Direction Appreciated

I took this picture on April 1st, exactly one month ago. We ended up with 108+" of snow this winter...the most ever recorded here, by over 38". Not many antelope made it through in this country..

 

[omurnion]

Re: Montana Antelope - Some Direction Appreciated

To be honest I'm still finding dead antelope, I think it would be scary to know just how many died. They are still around, but my guess would be that pretty much all of the old mature bucks in this area winter killed. However south of us didn't have near the winter we did. Rosebud and Custer county should be good places to hunt. I went to Bismark about a month ago and there was dead antelope from here to the border. I would say the antelope took it the worst from highway 200 to the Canadian border.

 

[Sendero_Man]

Re: Montana Antelope - Some Direction Appreciated

yup... was just in Glasgow over the weekend... dead critters everywhere !

hundreds seen... at least

 

[kraigWY]

Re: Montana Antelope - Some Direction Appreciated

Just courious, why Montana over Wyoming for antilope?

Our antilope are doing great. The main draw is over for non-residents but I bet if you chech the left over license list after the draws are released you'll find plenty.

If you deside to go this route and get a tag for Area 7, I can line you up on government and private walk in areas.

 

[Fisky]

Re: Montana Antelope - Some Direction Appreciated

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kraigWY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just courious, why Montana over Wyoming for antilope?

Our antilope are doing great. The main draw is over for non-residents but I bet if you chech the left over license list after the draws are released you'll find plenty.

If you deside to go this route and get a tag for Area 7, I can line you up on government and private walk in areas. </div></div>

I was considering Wyo actually, before MT. We have some distant relatives who have a small ranch out there and it just didn't work out to line up a hunt to our liking. So, knowing we'd be going into either state flying blind, we opted for the closer state I guess.

We're still debating the MT hunt this year too. All I hear is doom and gloom about the goats in MT. May save the time and money for a Wyo hunt next year, unless we decide to pursue Wyo once the leftover tags come out.... Appreciate the offer for help.