Any Missouri River Breaks Experts

[corndog1]

622. Last time I had the tag was in 2012. Will be a great time with my wife, hoping for a bull but I REALLY don't want the hassle of another hunter trying to claim a bull I killed.

That's not going to happen

 

[Straight Arrow]

Glad I got out of the Breaks alive. mtmuley

The Breaks of today sound like Deckerd Flats (at Jardine just north of Yellowstone Park) of yesteryear.

 

[Rie Bread]

The Breaks of today sound like Deckerd Flats (at Jardine just north of Yellowstone Park) of yesteryear.

Shooting them from with in sight of the road ain’t what it use to be

 

[Straight Arrow]

Shooting them from with in sight of the road ain’t what it use to be

That too, but Deckerd Flats down by the river where elk were crossing was the place referred to, where an acquaintance hunter waited all night, picked out his bull but someone shot it prior to hunting time. The hunter had to hunker down to avoid bullets flying overhead. He did get a nice bull later in the morning. The hunter who shot the bull early lost his elk and probably lost his license too, as game wardens were monitoring the situation and actually caught his muzzle flash.
My son and I were up on the mountain above Jardine and had to duck down in a ravine below the flying bullets.
Then high school aged son and his buddy tracked his wounded elk down off the mountain to where the big bull stood by the fence above the road, unable to even cross the fence. A suburban full of adult(?) hunters stopped and put the elk down, then tagged it and loaded it as the teenagers argued that it was their elk. The boys found the game warden (a friend of ours) who said that an elk on its feet was "fair game" so, although he said it was highly unethical, he could not do anything about it.
Those are sadly pretty common examples of elk hunting fiascos of that area during that era.

 

[huntin24/7]

I still enjoy bowhunting the breaks every year, but I don’t consider it, at least the northern units as trophy units. I first hunted it in 2007. I would see at least one legit 350 bull and countless 300-330 those first few years in a week of hunting. That same area now, I will see a couple rag horns a day, some cows, and maybe a 300 bull in 4-5 days. I hunt it because I love the area and know it well, not because it’s great hunting anymore.

 

[Flylo]

I’ll join the fun. I burned a lot of points on a breaks tag this year knowing it’s not what it used to be. More excited to to hunt the country. I have plenty of time to be patient and see what the unit might be hiding. Hopefully we can prove all Debbie downers wrong!

 

[OpenCountry]

I still enjoy bowhunting the breaks every year, but I don’t consider it, at least the northern units as trophy units. I first hunted it in 2007. I would see at least one legit 350 bull and countless 300-330 those first few years in a week of hunting. That same area now, I will see a couple rag horns a day, some cows, and maybe a 300 bull in 4-5 days. I hunt it because I love the area and know it well, not because it’s great hunting anymore.

This mirrors my experience. The flight data from 2022 to 2024 was pretty shocking to say the least when talking with the biologist. It set my expectations for this archery season compared to years past. I’m happy they cut a large chunk of the rifle cow tags and it sounds like a big proposed change for archery elk permits was submitted as well. We’ll see what gets approved or disapproved with it.

 

[huntin24/7]

This mirrors my experience. The flight data from 2022 to 2024 was pretty shocking to say the least when talking with the biologist. It set my expectations for this archery season compared to years past. I’m happy they cut a large chunk of the rifle cow tags and it sounds like a big proposed change for archery elk permits was submitted as well. We’ll see what gets approved or disapproved with it.

As someone who loves bowhunting there every year, the archery permits far too high for that open country with the excellent archery equipment we have today in my opinion.

 

[OpenCountry]

As someone who loves bowhunting there every year, the archery permits far too high for that open country with the excellent archery equipment we have today in my opinion.

Absolutely agree.

 

[Shed God]

Iam no expert but my 2 oldest kids and I drew the rifle tag in 2022. Spent 23 days hunting rifle season and first 4 days scouting prior to the opener. My boy killed and okay 6pt opening day about 150 elk and it was the 2nd biggest bull of about 20 branch antlered bulls there. It was monsoon weather on the opener. Trapped us there about a week. Second week we trekked over was that super cold week. Negative degrees everyday without wind chill. Staying in a wall tent. She lasted 5 nights 6 days and wanting to go home. She passes several bulls after the opener and that week but wanted something close to 300. She refused to go back the last week. I don't blame her. It was wicked weather both times. The last week was actually decent weather and seen alot of bulls. I never seen a bull over 320 and maybe 3 over 300 the entire time. We had access through landlocked private and my daughter hunted the apr. Along with my buddy is the game warden in unit 410. Or 1 of the 2. Very fun and cool experience. Seen alot of bulls just the quality is way down.

I think years of 150 rifle tags and 1899 archery tags have taken its toll. Yes it used to be unlimited archery but that was before everyone in the world had a bow. They cut the tags to 135 and 1000 but probably won't be a significant difference to make it great again. I highly recommend the tag for kids or someone that just wants a 6pt.

 

[cgasner1]

All I have to say about the breaks if I just wanted to kill a bull it’s where I would hunt. Fwp missed the bus on the north side and the archery draw didn’t go first and only choice for some reason. I’d put in for rifle first and archery second and be hunting it ever year if all I wanted was a bull.

 

[Shed God]

The only other thing I will add. Is nothing is Missouri breaks proof. All the fancy gear in the world is not going to survive the breaks. It's true what they say about the mud. It's unbelievable.

 

[ismith]

I know of two people it has happened to during archery. My old Fed Ex driver arrowed a bull, waited 30 minutes to look for it. When he got to it, a group of guys had tagged it and were guarding it with pistols and AR’s. More of them than him. Argument ensued, he called game warden but warden wouldn’t do anything because it was one man’s word against the other. And other guy tagged it first.

Similar story for other one but no firearms involved. Both people arrowed a bull but someone else tagged it.

I’ve hunted cows in nearby district without incident. I definitely don’t think it’s the norm but does happen.

I’ve heard of it happening in the Madison valley more than once. Elmer Keith wrote about it happening to a woman down by West Yellowstone back in the 20’s.

 

[Montanahunterjon]

I’ll join the fun. I burned a lot of points on a breaks tag this year knowing it’s not what it used to be. More excited to to hunt the country. I have plenty of time to be patient and see what the unit might be hiding. Hopefully we can prove all Debbie downers wrong!

Are you on the north side? If you want to pm me I can help you out. Yes and hopefully we will prove there are still decent bulls in there. 300 and above would be amazing for me. I am just excited to be able to get out there and hunt with my wife tagging along. Hoping for good weather. And I would be happy with a decent 6 pt.

 

[Montanahunterjon]

I’ve heard of it happening in the Madison valley more than once. Elmer Keith wrote about it happening to a woman down by West Yellowstone back in the 20’s.

That is so stupid, where is the honor in stealing someone's kill.

 

[Montanahunterjon]

The only other thing I will add. Is nothing is Missouri breaks proof. All the fancy gear in the world is not going to survive the breaks. It's true what they say about the mud. It's unbelievable.

That is 100%. I have a rig that can get through almost anything but I'm hoping for good weather. Boots 10 pounds heavier with mud isn't fun

 

[Montanahunterjon]

Iam no expert but my 2 oldest kids and I drew the rifle tag in 2022. Spent 23 days hunting rifle season and first 4 days scouting prior to the opener. My boy killed and okay 6pt opening day about 150 elk and it was the 2nd biggest bull of about 20 branch antlered bulls there. It was monsoon weather on the opener. Trapped us there about a week. Second week we trekked over was that super cold week. Negative degrees everyday without wind chill. Staying in a wall tent. She lasted 5 nights 6 days and wanting to go home. She passes several bulls after the opener and that week but wanted something close to 300. She refused to go back the last week. I don't blame her. It was wicked weather both times. The last week was actually decent weather and seen alot of bulls. I never seen a bull over 320 and maybe 3 over 300 the entire time. We had access through landlocked private and my daughter hunted the apr. Along with my buddy is the game warden in unit 410. Or 1 of the 2. Very fun and cool experience. Seen alot of bulls just the quality is way down.

I think years of 150 rifle tags and 1899 archery tags have taken its toll. Yes it used to be unlimited archery but that was before everyone in the world had a bow. They cut the tags to 135 and 1000 but probably won't be a significant difference to make it great again. I highly recommend the tag for kids or someone that just wants a 6pt.

Do you have a pic of the bull your boy killed?

 

[Borny1]

I hate to ruin the Breaks bashing going on here and I agree with not giving up hunting areas, but I saw more than three 350 class bulls in the breaks this year. I don't even hunt there, my buddies showed me pics.

 

[Carnage2011]

I hate to ruin the Breaks bashing going on here and I agree with not giving up hunting areas, but I saw more than three 350 class bulls in the breaks this year. I don't even hunt there, my buddies showed me pics.

Dead? Or alive?

 

[mtmuley]

I hate to ruin the Breaks bashing going on here and I agree with not giving up hunting areas, but I saw more than three 350 class bulls in the breaks this year. I don't even hunt there, my buddies showed me pics.

Let's see them. mtmuley