My question would be, how did they come up with this place to hunt. You cannot look at a map and know it has elk. Did someone suggest this area to them? Did the fish and game dept tell them about it? I am not asking for a secret spot just wondering how could they decide where to go?
Montana Elk Helicopter access
- Thread starter Southwind
- Start date
Like many in Montana, or other states, I drive lots of miles every year, looking for critters to chase and land to chase them on. When you see a herd of 200 elk standing in an alfalfa field, seemingly undisturbed, it gets your attention.
The next step is to go home, get your maps, and find out if/where any nearby public land exists. If you find some public land, you figure out a legal way to access it. Then, you apply for the tag and hope, hope, hope that you draw. In some instances, it is a general unit and the draw is not the issue.
I would disagree that you cannot look at a map and know it has elk. I can look at the core elk range maps of the Montana elk management plan, or any other state management plan, and within about a half hour, locate some spots on Google Earth where I could be willing to risk my tag fee that I could find elk there. I suspect many others do the same with their research.
I have found most of my hunting spots by driving/hiking around and glassing, or by researching state management plans, then going to Google Earth and finding likely looking spots. If you saw the mountains of surface ownership maps I have at the house, you would conclude the same thing as my wife - either I have a map fettish, or I am completely nuts. Could be both.
I had driven by this spot and seen elk about ten years ago. Lawnboy had hunted the unit a time or two, so his information confirmed it as a quality place. Given its growing popularity, it seems time to go find another spot where I can do the same thing, with less effort and greater likelihood of drawing the tag.
Like some said, I know of places in WY, NM, and Colorado where I would love to do the same thing. Just need to get the tag and/or figure out the logistics.
Hope that helps.
Lawnboy
Well-known member
I have seen his man room
Not sure he even has carpet up there. You can't see anything but maps and hunting magazines scattered across the room floor. I think the computer up there has google earth on the screen constantly. I know where to go if I have any questions for just about any state out west.
look-alike?
The show aired again today. Watching the episode, I started to get an weird feeling watching Big Fin's hunting partner "Bart May" and then it hit me......Phil Mickleson loves to elk hunt when he's not golfing!!!!
The show aired again today. Watching the episode, I started to get an weird feeling watching Big Fin's hunting partner "Bart May" and then it hit me......Phil Mickleson loves to elk hunt when he's not golfing!!!!
Lawnboy
Well-known member
Not sure how to take that
Sorry for the weird feeling. I told Fin that the ratings would dramatically increase if I wasn't involved.I'll have another $1000 in just fuel to head back to Montana for a short deer hunt in another week and a half.I never look at that as a waste of money.Seeing the country and hunting in Montana is well worth every penny I put in the tank.This will be my 2nd trip out this year so I guess I'm running close to $3000 when you add the tag fees,but thats for almost 3 weeks in paradise to me
I'd do a helicopter trip without hesitation if I knew of a place worth the expense.So anyone looking for a partner of such a trip;let me know.I'm glad a show like that aired as I would have never thought of it myself
I'd do a helicopter trip without hesitation if I knew of a place worth the expense.So anyone looking for a partner of such a trip;let me know.I'm glad a show like that aired as I would have never thought of it myself
DavidKeenan
New member
Not sure how to take that
Maybe your left handed.
Or is it the pro in the spotlight. :hump:
I wonder where the Tiger is at
montanadogs
New member
I bet I'm at $300 spent this year so far on fuel. I still have to go grouse hunting as well
.
I can tell you that as it stands right now I'm in the dog house for quite a while from the expenses I've racked up this year. My wife looked at my debit card (I save $50 a paycheck and put into a checking account just for hunting), she added up my gas bill for just the 3 weeks she and the kids went home to visit while I went hunting. It totaled up to about $800. I spent most of that running around Montana helping friends but it still came out of my 1500 I saved up. I still have yet to fill my elk or deer tags.
Fin, if you still have the pic. of the goat I sent you a few weeks back I need help on getting it onto the sight. I've was forced to take a break from hunting and seem to have some time to type up the story. I dropped my phone in the mighty mo along with my camera and gps.
(needless to say that I have now surpassed my hunting budget and that is why I'm in the doghouse for a while). The goat was wide and tall. I'll add measurements with the story.
DogEatDog
New member
BigFin Hello. My name is Andrew and I live in montana. I am trying to find info on helicopter flights into public land with no luck. Can you help? Looking for contact info to get the ball rolling.
Here you go.
DogEatDog
New member
Thank you very much.
802flyfish
Well-known member
Curious as to how hard it would be to draw a rifle either sex Elk tag for district 320?
320 doesn’t have a draw license specific to it. It is a general unit.
RobG
Well-known member
As a lover of math and finance, I have to say that spending $700 on gas doesn't justify spending another $700 on a helicopter ride. However, durable goods like guns and flyrods and piper cubs are a different story.
802flyfish
Well-known member
R
rwc101
Guest
The cost is worth it if they allow you to play "Fortunate Son" as you fly in.
R
rwc101
Guest
No arguments here.Thinking more on the line of "Ride of the Valkyries".
