2018 montana deer hunt

[8andcounting]

Hunted hard 10 days region 4 . Was totally prepared to go home without a deer but on last morning of the hunt this buck came by as I was sitting over a big draw watching deer mill around in the pines and he gave too good of a shot to let him go and I really wanted a sausage buck . I was hoping for bigger and worked hard on this hunt but overall I was happy with this deer . As for deer numbers , Wow are they down from 2017 , it's not good...... I had a b tag but after a day or two out there I quickly realized how low numbers were and decided I wouldn't take a doe . We had 4 deer tags in our group but only filled 2 , the other taken was a small buck that came by my friend with a broken front leg , so he thought it was the correct thing to do . Other 2 guys had a great time and coulda shot deer easily but we were all hoping for bigger mature bucks . I think those all died last spring cuz all we could find was young deer . We hunt some pretty good private ground and I'd say the herds were easily down by 40-50% and the ranchers agreed .

 

[Dl1969]

Wow,not good news,hopefully this winter will be easier on them!

 

[8andcounting]

Me too . I knew it wasn't a great winter but I was surprised just how bad the numbers were . We hunted hard had decent weather and we were there during peak rut so if there was lots of deer we would have seen them . Numbers down big time . I spent 2 days on some blm that's usually pretty good and it was tough to even find a track much less a deer

 

[Pondera]

Glad you had some success. Without giving up your spot what direction from the center of region 4 did you hunt? My observation of the area we hunt (west of center) was that mule deer were up from the past 2 years but not as plentiful as 5+ years ago. White tails still pretty scarce as compared to 8 or so years ago.

I find that individual hunter observations can vary widely but you had boots to the ground 10 days!

Pheasants had a rough winter for sure! Seems like the pronghorn did ok though...

 

[The Hedgehog]

Wow. I remember you whimpering about the price of the nonresident licenses. Well at least it doesn't look like it was a difficult one to pack out. I bet the sausage is extra yummy to eat, especially when you consider the price per pound. Maybe a whitetail doe would have been a better idea?

View attachment 91991

 

[belly-deep]

Wow. I remember you whimpering about the price of the nonresident licenses. Well at least it doesn't look like it was a difficult one to pack out. I bet the sausage is extra yummy to eat, especially when you consider the price per pound. Maybe a whitetail doe would have been a better idea?

LOL

Why shoot a WT doe when you can kill a 2.5 year old buck?

 

[The Hedgehog]

LOL

Why shoot a WT doe when you can kill a 2.5 year old buck?

Yeah, he's not a trophy hunter. I've read him type that numerous times. He likes being out there. But doesn't want any restriction on his ability to kill anything with antlers during the rut. No does though- that would be bad.

 

[EYJONAS!]

Looks like someone is full of Christmas cheer. Merry Christmas boys.

 

[mtmuley]

GH goes about it in his unique way, But I get the message. mtmuley

 

[8andcounting]

Glad you had some success. Without giving up your spot what direction from the center of region 4 did you hunt? My observation of the area we hunt (west of center) was that mule deer were up from the past 2 years but not as plentiful as 5+ years ago. White tails still pretty scarce as compared to 8 or so years ago.

I find that individual hunter observations can vary widely but you had boots to the ground 10 days!

Pheasants had a rough winter for sure! Seems like the pronghorn did ok though...

417

 

[Addicting]

Merry Christmas Greenhorn. I’m sure that coal will keep your tent warm this fall.

 

[antlerradar]

eight, That looks like a perfect sausage buck. A two or three year old three point makes just as good of sausage as that deep forked four point of the same age. Would have your buck been bigger at age five? All most certainly. Would he have been a truly big deer at age five? Not likely. That buck is a great sausage buck because you didn't take out a buck with great potential in the future. It always bugs me when someone claims to have held out for a big one and in the last part of the hunt they shoot a 22 inch deep forked forked two year old to make sausage. If you are happy with the 22 incher go a head and take him, but if you want a big deer you can not shoot him. Hold off and shoot the crappy forked buck or a three point for the pot. In three years that 2 year old 22 incher may be something that makes your heart beat faster.

 

[8andcounting]

eight, That looks like a perfect sausage buck. A two or three year old three point makes just as good of sausage as that deep forked four point of the same age. Would have your buck been bigger at age five? All most certainly. Would he have been a truly big deer at age five? Not likely. That buck is a great sausage buck because you didn't take out a buck with great potential in the future. It always bugs me when someone claims to have held out for a big one and in the last part of the hunt they shoot a 22 inch deep forked forked two year old to make sausage. If you are happy with the 22 incher go a head and take him, but if you want a big deer you can not shoot him. Hold off and shoot the crappy forked buck or a three point for the pot. In three years that 2 year old 22 incher may be something that makes your heart beat faster.

Thanks . I guess that was my thought , and I agree with you . Merry Christmas

 

[The Hedgehog]

Antlerradar’s right - a perfect sausage deer, and worse to shoot a younger one with great potential - which I'm guilty of. Regret roast is tougher to chew than tag soup is to choke down. But whatever floats your boat. Mule deer sausage at caviar prices might put a smile on your face. I thought odd given your complaints about license prices and regular comments about how the deer hunting is so great in MT. Better luck in 2019.

 

[timmy]

A very good representation of what Montana has to offer.

 

[antlerradar]

I have had some of that regret roast and greenhorn is right. You chew on in long enough and tag soup isn't too bad. Not as bitter thought as blowing your big chance when it given to you on a silver platter.

 

[8andcounting]

Antlerradar’s right - a perfect sausage deer, and worse to shoot a younger one with great potential - which I'm guilty of. Regret roast is tougher to chew than tag soup is to choke down. But whatever floats your boat. Mule deer sausage at caviar prices might put a smile on your face. I thought odd given your complaints about license prices and regular comments about how the deer hunting is so great in MT. Better luck in 2019.

Hey man I'm not that guy that shot "your sons deer" in SE montana few years back . I hunt a private ranch and there's some much bigger racked bucks but this one is one I decided to take . Just simply posted a pic and quick story . Which less and less people do cuz they catch crap from people greenhorn .

 

[CampRipleyLF]

Seen a lot of 2.5 year old bucks in region 6 but really lacked on any older age class of deer or 1.5 (last years cohort). Total change from 2017, looks like the winter did a fair number on the herd.

 

[CampRipleyLF]

I did alright though..... here's my 2018 montana buck.

 

[CampRipleyLF]

And btw congrats on the buck. Always a good feeling to put meat in the freezer