So I got lucky and drew the 312-50 tag. this is the first hard to get tag that I have ever drawn. Now it is time to do my homework. I have hunted this unit for elk and bear so I have a few ideas where to start for a nice buck, but I am in my networking phase of scouting and will take any info I can get.....I would love to find some hidey holes that other guys wont hunt. thanks for any help
312 muley buck tag
- Thread starter tazman
- Start date
CabinFever
Member
My friend has this tag as well, and I would love for some people to share their hidey holes on the WWW here as well, so I can walk through dem and look at da bucks.
Just kidding Tazman, welcome to the forum, but I'd recommend not asking for what you just asked for as your first post.
Maybe we'll see you in the Bridgers next fall...
Just kidding Tazman, welcome to the forum, but I'd recommend not asking for what you just asked for as your first post.
Maybe we'll see you in the Bridgers next fall...
putm2sleep
New member
The ol' 312-50 tag huh! That is excellent. Tell me where you were planning to go tazman! I have the tag too, maybe we can network together? I have a lot of great spots.
belly-deep
Active member
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2009
- Messages
- 3,459
belly-deep
Active member
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2009
- Messages
- 3,459
You know, the funny thing is, I had that tag back in 2006 and killed a 185" 6x7.
I was going to PM you a few spots to try until I got to that last line in your post.
Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered.
I was going to PM you a few spots to try until I got to that last line in your post.
Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered.
brownbear932008
Well-known member
Homework my friend welcome to the OYOA! Maybe you should introduce yourself before you ask for someone's hidy hole?
Sorry guys, I didn't mean it that way at all.....but now that I see how it was taken I feel like a jerk. My INTENTION was to get some general info like quality to expect to see, areas to avoid because everybody goes there, stuff like that. I would never expect someone to give up their perfect spot that took them a ton of work to find. That is the kind of spot I want to find but not by being spoon fed it, but by puting the peices together on my own. So I am just looking for pieces. Google maps contour map is acually a great way to get kind of a birds eye view of an area, Found a few spots I def. want to check out. So I offer great appoligies and PROMISE I am not as big an ass as my first post made me sound like.
spook12
New member
Very nice recovery. Welcome, hang around awhile and I would bet someone will be able to help you out.
So everybody that I have ever talked to that has had the tag or talked to a bioligist says was told to try Ferry Lake....so I am pretty sure I will avoid that area just for that reason....although I bet most of them won't leave their truck or 4 wheeler.
I have had the tag three times. I never shot a buck on the tag, due to not seeing anything that get me real excited. I saw plenty of bucks.
Call Dave Pac, the former FWP biologist who studied that herd for his entire career. He will tell you this general pattern and it seemed to follow true in the times I had the tag.
Most the deer on the east side before snow. At the first snow, most deer migrate over to the west side and stay as high as they possibly can, depending upon snow levels.
He had many deer collared and tracked them with great frequency. The travel patterns were pretty much the same, depending upon weather. Some on the SE side of the range will migrate over toward the Bangtails when the snow comes. Some on the north end will migrate further north, rather than west.
The density of bucks continues to fall, in spite of going to limited entry tags in 1998. No one seems to have the answer. Every year, one or two nice bucks gets taken. They can grow there, for sure, but for some reason, it is just not happening.
Might be a better archery hunt. If you go from the ski hill, north to Frazier Lake, you will see bucks on the crest during early archery season. Just not nearly in the density you would hope.
There are no real hot spots that nobody knows of. Expect plenty of people at all of the west side trailheads in the later part of the season. Unless you have private access, there are only so many places to access the public.
Best of luck. I know a lot of people who have had the tag, all of whom were serious hunters who get after it, and none of them punched a tag. I hope you can break that mold.
Call Dave Pac, the former FWP biologist who studied that herd for his entire career. He will tell you this general pattern and it seemed to follow true in the times I had the tag.
Most the deer on the east side before snow. At the first snow, most deer migrate over to the west side and stay as high as they possibly can, depending upon snow levels.
He had many deer collared and tracked them with great frequency. The travel patterns were pretty much the same, depending upon weather. Some on the SE side of the range will migrate over toward the Bangtails when the snow comes. Some on the north end will migrate further north, rather than west.
The density of bucks continues to fall, in spite of going to limited entry tags in 1998. No one seems to have the answer. Every year, one or two nice bucks gets taken. They can grow there, for sure, but for some reason, it is just not happening.
Might be a better archery hunt. If you go from the ski hill, north to Frazier Lake, you will see bucks on the crest during early archery season. Just not nearly in the density you would hope.
There are no real hot spots that nobody knows of. Expect plenty of people at all of the west side trailheads in the later part of the season. Unless you have private access, there are only so many places to access the public.
Best of luck. I know a lot of people who have had the tag, all of whom were serious hunters who get after it, and none of them punched a tag. I hope you can break that mold.
Ya from hunting the unit for elk, and all the people I have talked to before..I am thinking 170- 180 ish is probably a decent goal. Not that I am overly concerned with score....In my opinion it's an above average tag with a decent chance at an above average buck and I am fine with that. It's close to home and deisel is expensive. Funny thing is the biggest deer I have seen in the Bridgers lived in a junkyard off of Springhill.
The Hedgehog
Well-known member
Legit 180 in the Bridgers is a lofty goal. You've better chances in most other areas in MT. Have a fun hunt, close to town and a warm bed, and hope for a nice 4X4. If you're looking for a 170-180, I hope you've got a lot of time and access to all the private property.
mtlion
Well-known member
Art Vandeley
Well-known member
I had the tag in 2011 and did not kill a buck. I saw plenty, and saw some dang good ones right at the end of season, but only found one that was not broken up. Had him at 150 yards and he would stop long enough for me to shoot, and a doe ended up smelling me and wheezing and the gig was up. I found the same thing as Big Fin did. I had an awesome time and have been wishing for a do-over since then. Best of luck
CabinFever
Member
I have been hearing the same thing about Fairy Lake, sounds like good info from Big Fin. Good luck, we'll probably run into you somewhere up there.
track1
Well-known member
I had the tag last year. i saw one in archey season that was mid 180's. I killed one about 160 but i had a broken collarbone and didn't get after it like normally would have. I saw two other bucks around this size. I think 170 is a better than average buck for this unit and is a difficult but attainable goal. If you're willing to walk 2-3 miles from the truck you won't see too many people.
Attachments
nidahunter
Well-known member
That is a cool buck, love the bases!
mtlion
Well-known member
track1 that's the nicest buck I've seen out of there barring a couple of private land monsters I saw at my taxidermists. You did the tag justice. I have a shed off one bigger, picked it up fresh in March a few years ago. God only knows where he lived during hunting season.
Highlands Hunter
Active member
Very nice deer congrats!
