Colorado Mule Deer Hunting: Tips, Gear, Locations & Regulations Eastmans Publishing, Inc. is a holding company engaged in publishing. Anyone have input on Idaho unit 59a for mule deer? A couple of these units will close the mule deer season early on November 13th. This is quite the impressive increase as to qualify to apply for a landowner tag, you have to own or be in contract to own at least 160 acres in that unit. This hunt is generally booked after the hunter has secured a permit. That buck displaced two former world-record bucks, both from Arizona, that were tied at the top spot with scores of 95 B&C points. A good friend with the same luck in the lottery as me decided we were tired of waiting, we need to go hunting. 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? Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks website has a fairly easy HUNT PLANNER section that can guide applicants through finding zones and units best suited for their type of hunt as well as draw statistics. This has been considered the holy grail of mule deer permits in the Big Sky State for the past couple decades. For many hunters, wrapping their hands around the thick bases of a tall, wide, heavy mule deer rack is a moment dreams are made of. My best MT bucks came from heavily timbered units that have limited glassing opportunities. Please call us to match you up with the best hunt to fit your specific needs and budget! Due to the fact that we are not providing lodging or meals, this is a lower budget hunt, but NOT a lower budget hunting experience! amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; This can make finding a trophy buck something difficult to do on public land. 28-Oct-08. ABOUT; OUR HUNTS. We narrowed down 5-6 different type 2 BMAs to register for. Landowner preference is completely unfair and steals tags from the average hunter. 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. This hunt has been getting better and better each year and now seems to be producing some very consistent results as of the late. Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line in 2023. is the caliber that currently holds one of the long range distance records for . With absolutely no doubt in my mind I can honestly say that Wyomings mule deer are currently at the absolute lowest point in my nearly 30-year career in this business. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; Lydia Decaria, license sales representative with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, said Pronghorn Area 73, north of Casper, is very popular with hunters because it has huge tracts of Bureau of Land Management property. 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. 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. Wyoming's Top Deer and Antelope Units - MonsterMuleys.com In Montana, unit 270 is considered one of the top trophy mule deer units in the state. Nonresidents fund a very large percentage of Wyomings Fish and Game Budget, the State also receives many millions in the Robertson Pittman Act funds. Its a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The application for antelope licenses is June 1. Any special permit that a non-resident landowner draws will count against the 10% non-resident quota for that unit. If you have any questions about the mule deer hunting or how to apply feel free to contact us. 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. WY. All antelope hunting in Montana is conducted on a draw-only basis. With the versatility to guide you on a Western Montana elk hunt, a spring bear hunt or an Eastern Montana trophy mule deer hunt. All Rights Reserved. Montana mule deer herds are showing a small improvement in quality, but herds are stable to declining in most areas of the state. Restrict a few more units to QDM, that is make a few units similar to how the Boyz East of the Mississippi did it, they know what a mature whitetail is and dont shoot 2 year olds. Top 125 Trophy Counties | Boone and Crockett Club Credit: Photo Courtesy Missouri River Country. Here are some key points when breaking down BMAs: There are 2 types: Type 2 must be signed up and registered beforehand. 5 Comments This is an action packed hunt during the rut. There are few secrets on premium LE units. I am currently applying for those myself. Hunt By Species: Deer | Montana FWP Kali Parmley, Editor-in-chief of Bakccountry Hunter speaks with Bret Maffet of Franchi Firearms to discuss the all new Momentum All Terrain Elite. Unit 22 is open for archery hunting late August to mid September and then December through the end of January. Hopefully this change wont happen for nonresidents. 20. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks website has a fairly easy . With a mild winter and wet spring, I really think there could be some gems in these hills for those who hunt hard this fall. 7 Comments For example, fewer animals are found in the region around Fork Peck Dam as opposed to areas at the western end of the reservoir. These were usually posted as enrolled if there was no access. The Top Mule Deer Hunts and Facts to Know in Colorado. . A lot of large bucks stay nocturnal during the general rifle season, making them very hard to find. Phone: (435) 865-1020, Big Game Combination License (Elk & Deer), Bow and Arrow License (mandatory for all archery hunts), Preference Point Fee for Combination License (optional), Outfitter Preference Point Fee for Combination License (optional but must hunt with an outfitter). Its often reported the state is home to more pronghorn than people in a good weather year. Search our database forMT Mule Deer opportunities. We ended up hunting the type 1 BMAs for 6 of the 7 days hunted. Best rifle Mule deer unit for rifle hunt | Rokslide Forum The Big Sandy, late hunt is a true wildcard hunt with some very solid big buck potential. The terrain where you'll find mule deer ranges from dry, high-desert foothills to the rugged, mountainous, alpine zone. MONTANA: 2020 big game hunting forecast - fairfieldsuntimes.com She said it currently takes six preference points to be guaranteed a pronghorn tag in the draw in Area 73 but added the state allots 25 percent of the total quota in each area to a random drawing of all applicants who chose the area as their first choice. Some areas are easily accessed by roads, while others offer a wilderness experience for those willing to hike a distance from their vehicle. | All Petersen's Hunting subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. The most likely areas to produce a record-book pronghorn are GMUs 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 46, 47, and 48. Somebody please post up the best trophy mule deer hunting in Montana so anyone that is smart enough to work the google can pull up this thread! 5 Best E-Bikes for the Outdoors Jace Bauserman Recent Videos Steiner Optics Predator Series Introducing the Burris Veracity PH Gear Taurus Raging Hunter Streamlight Pro Tac 2.0 Gear Streamlight Bear Trap Gear Beretta A300 Ultima Turkey Gear Ascendant from Rock River Arms Gear HEVI-Shot Turkey Loads Gear CZ 600 Series Trail Rifle Gear Any further questions call Dan Alleman.". Along with exceptional big-game hunting the Montana's Missouri River Country boasts robust populations of sharp-tailed and sage grouse, and gray (Hungarian) partridges. Our editors have hand-picked these essential pieces of gear to make you a more successful hunter when you hit the game trails this season. Pronghorn Area 38, between Cheyenne and Laramie, is a mix of public and private land where landowners typically charge minimal trespass fees and hunters needed only two preference points to draw a tag in 2018, Decaria said. If you do, remember this: Dont pass the first day what youd shoot the last. mtmuley Sep 25, 2013 #6 The Interstate Commerce Clause, The Fairness Doctrine in the Constitution and other legal concepts can all be looked at again and Court Rulings Reversed. The rifle season dates allow hunters to hunt the rut. This county should have its own chapter in the record books with over 100 B&C entries for mule deer. These dates are provided only as a general reference.Check current regulations or use FWP's online Hunt Planner for specific dates.. 2023 SEASON . Montana's Best Hidden Gem for Elk and Deer Hunting rifle hunting western hunting Wyoming, Hunt mule deer with Ike and Guy Eastman during an October snowstorm. 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. A Muley Doe decoy is a must in Unit 76.The situation in Unit 76 is representative of several OTC mule deer units in Idaho. Colorado Corner Crossing Here We Go Again, 10 Most Common Big Game Violations Part 8 Hunter Trespassing, To Feed Or Not To Feed. The Pole Mountain, on forest hunt, is probably the definition of a sleeper hunt unit. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. There needs to be some serious adjustments to the hunting seasons in this unit. The Tendoy elk management unit (HDs 300, 302 and 328) continued to exceed management objectives after the 2019 hunting season, and long-term data trends indicate a stable population. Wyoming. Colorado. So overall, the Montana mule deer population is up 36.9% the past seven years. Reading the bill I took it that way unless I misunderstood it. DESIGNED BY: ROCKY RIDGE DIGITAL ADVERTISING. I'm not going out on a limb and making any bold predictions, but the science is adding up. amzn_assoc_asins = "B00UCI27H4"; You cannot access without being signed up for that specific BMA. Our mule deer love the high country! 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. 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%. Only a limited number of tags are given out annually for this area. If you would like access to all of our research join today! The rugged "breaks" along the Missouri contain dense stands of ponderosa pines and junipers. Here in Wyoming and Montana, mule deer hunting is also diverse. The Brow-tined Bull and Antlerless elk hunts (34 HDs) makes a total of 63 unrestricted HDs where you can take any elk on 29 units and all but spikes on the rest. Mule Deer, Elk and Western Big Game Hunting Articles and Stories Montana Rivers and Ridges Outfitter offers a late season 4 Day trophy Mule Deer hunt on the beautiful prairie of Eastern Montana. Cedar City, UT 84721 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. READY TO GO ON YOUR EASTERN MONTANA MULE DEER HUNT? Kali Parmley, Editor-in-chief of Bakccountry Hunter speaks with Bret Maffet of Franchi Firearms to discuss the all new Momentum All Terrain Elite. For those interested in doubling up their hunting pursuits, most of the good whitetail habitat in Missouri River Country also harbors healthy populations of pheasants. The winter was very mild on these deer and the buck to doe ratio is very, very good right now. Western Hunt Co. This showed us what private, BLM, BMA and State lands were. Busted . New Mexico, Rio Arriba County113 typical mule deer in B&C records 15. Lewis and Clark noted the presence of huge herds of antelope mingled with the bison, elk and deer they saw along the Missouri River. We ended up hunting the type 1 BMAs for 6 of the 7 days hunted. The Milk joins the Missouri just below Fort Peck Dam. can handle bullets up to 250 grains with great speed and accuracy which makes it ideal for the giant mule deer bucks that are found on the Arizona Strip and Kaibab Plateau. Wyomings Elk Area 7, south of Casper, is a large unit with lots of elk and is about half public land. No other state comes close to Wyoming's endless harvesting options and ecosystems. Our Eastern Montana mule deer hunts are on exclusive and private Montana ranch land and hunting properties. Archers typically find the best success in the cool hours around daylight and sunset. 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. These are high country bucks that migrate to lower country to rut low country does which can make for a great hunt if you hunt hard and give yourself plenty of time to cover lots and lots of country. Thx Guy, Our trophy mule deer hunts are only for those who have already drawn a 270 Mule deer permit in Montana, if you have questions about how to apply feel free to contact us through the button below and we can help you out there. Region R, The West side of the Bighorns is a mule deer producing factory on a good year. Located outside of Laramie this hunt is a bit rough, but nothing like the rugged hunts in the northwest portion of the state. Mule Deer Go on More Hunts with Better Information, Join Huntin' Fool Today! Historically, a hunter with some gumption has a legitimate chance at a 180 buck here and many bigger have been harvested. If I could recommend one vital piece of gear that greatly helped us out on our hunt it would be the use of, 4-8 We Talk Walleyes and Walleye Tournaments and Gear for Days. Kevin Steele, Publisher of Petersen's HUNTING talks with JJ Reich of HEVI-Shot about the new offerings for 2023. This is isnt a review of gear we used on our hunt but rather a summary of how we planned our DIY hunt and some pointers that may help someone looking to do some mule deer hunting in Montana. No population reduction was observed higher in the Ruby watershed. Best Montana Scouting And Scenery 2020 Galleries. May 25, 2022 ARIZONA'S BEST OVER-THE-COUNTER MULE DEER UNITS - Montana Decoy 12,440 Views. 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. However, there are no guarantees a nonresident will even get a tag. For example, in 2019 there were over 1400 applicants with zero points, and one person drew. Hunter success here can be a bit spotty with an average of 57% success but if a hunter is in good shape and hunts hard, a big buck could be possible here. 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. Get our No-BS newsletter to your email box around twice a month. By doing so, they have combined a number of units. Montana's historical mule deer population and harvest breakdown - goHUNT 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. I finally got through and was able to sign up for 1 ranch giving us a 3-day hunt on that property. The 2021 state estimate was 293,950, which is down 34,363 from 2020. This hunt area is the other limited quota hunt unit inside the general Region G area. My advice is to pick a unit near where you will live, and learn it. From applying for tags early in the year, to buying, preparing, and organizing new gear through the summer, to the trip, long or short, to the hunting grounds, to the excitement that makes it almost impossible to sleep the night before opening day, the anticipation of the hunt can be almost as enjoyable as the hunt itself. . Using this strategy . DESIGNED BY. I ended up filling my tag with my biggest Mule Deer to date on our 2. day. We decided to try our hand at getting some tags in our neighboring state of Montana. If you have zero points you have a .004% chance of drawing a tag. At Silver Spur Outfitters, we have many years of experience and have been in business since 1993. Almost feels like a time share that well never get to use. 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. All Rights Reserved. Post-season 2019 counts in the Pioneer Mountains elk . Pronghorn tags in both states can be very difficult to draw. Best in the West: Coveted Hunting Tags for Western States | onX Our Memberships Include The Most Accurate Draw Odds Available, Join Now! Draw units will typically take a number of years and points to draw a tag and have more trophy class deer. Edward Wright: This was 20 years ago when coyotes in my home state hit epidemic proportions. Colorado unit 57, which includes areas 57, 58, and 581 northwest of Canon City, produces quality pronghorn bucks, Alcazar said. Guy's TOP 5 Picks for Wyoming Mule Deer 2022 To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Because nonresidents are in the same pool, there are 8,543 applicants in the total pool. A type 1 BMA is walk-in access with sign up at designated entrances. Both state and federally managed public lands sprawl across thousands upon thousands of acres of prime habitat. 7 Core Tips For A Successful Mule Deer Hunt | KUIU If you are a regular nonresident this means you are in the pool of 8,543 applicants for four tags. 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? Today, antelope are a perennial favorite among big-game hunters who stalk the prairie speedsters on the open plains on both the north and south sides of the Mighty Mo. Pheasant season spans the entire general rifle season for deer and elk. Hunting Blue Mountain Ranch Utah took advantage of a combination of favorable weather, aggressive habitat management, and strict regulations to increase its mule deer population by as much as 100,000 from 2008 to 2016, pushing the size of the herd past 380,000 animals. Montana has 7 hunt districts that break down into smaller units in each district. Hopefully, some of what I have learned can help you if your itch to hunt out of state gets to the point where you need to try it. 5 Best States for Mule Deer Hunting. This proposal would remove half of the nonresident licenses from every quota in every area in the state for the future. Give a Gift But, most importantly Wyomings States Total Budget is funded to the tune of about 25-30% by the Federal Government (nonresidents). Montana Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting 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? The adventure is big. 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. In 2019 there were 7,654 resident applicants for about 35 tags. James and his guides live in the woods, and would be happy to share one of these experiences with you. 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. PDF 2022 DEER HUNTING SEASONS - Idaho Department of Fish and Game Montana, Sanders County132 bighorn sheep in B&C records 11. My partner got through and signed us up for a 2nd one giving us only 1 day on that particular ranch. We are now booking for '23 and '24 Mule deer hunts. Although the thought of the 90/10 proposal could be very difficult to comprehend for most of you at this point, I really do think if it does in fact happen for deer, elk and antelope, I would be very surprised if it happened before the 2024 hunting season. Montana has a lot of country and lot of mule deer. We shootbrownelk: Big fines, mandatory jail time and loss of licenses. The hunting season for these species coincides with the archery season for big game. However, by looking at all point levels from 1-16, multiple applicants drew permits in just about every point level from 0-16. 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. 3. The 2021 mule deer population estimate is the lowest since 2014. 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. The moral of the story is, the more applicants the more washed out the drawing is, and the less work your expensively purchased points do for you. Area 128-1, I have been very hard on this hunt in the past, however the recent historical data here is very positive, particularly when compared to everything else currently going wrong in Wyoming. As mentioned previously, New Mexico is home to world-class pronghorn hunting. Arizona and New Mexico are home to huge pronghorn bucks, including the current world record, which scored 96-4/8 B&C points and was killed in Socorro County, New Mexico, in 2013. 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. This place has it all, comfortable camp, good guiding, good food and Shield River trout fishing, it's just a great week. Theres thousands of people who have invested a lot of money in the point system. This is a very limited, late season hunt with hunt dates during most of the month of November. 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."