What part of Elk Season to hunt, first or second half?

[StHubert]

My buddy and I got drawn for MT Elk rifle. Neither one of us has hunted Elk before. We are currently discussing if we should hunt the first couple of weeks or the last two weeks of the season. Our discussion is, the first two weeks because the Elk won't have been bothered as much. Or the second two weeks, because there will be a chance that snow will push the Elk down from higher elevation.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[----]

Most of the elk are killed early, like opening day. Second half of the season gets a lot less pressure, but depending on where you're going, your spot could be snowed out.

 

[Moe]

I'll give you my first timers persepctive since last year was when I became eligible as a resident.
You're wise to have posted this as its a delema I hadnt counted on and am interested in the responses you get from more skilled elk hunters too?

Again I had never hunted elk before last season; so this is just my take-
I foolishly booked at West Fork Cabins on the upper Madison based ona bogus recomendation from someone who hadn't hunted elk in ages..?

This would be openning weekend in the Gravelly's , and I can just hear guys on this forum laughing at me already after reading that one?

As I left for my trip another neighbor asked where I was going and I said: "The Gravellys" and he said: "Oh it'll be a zoo!?"

I blew him off, but those words have forever hauted me since...
...........
It was unreal. Thousands of hunters on ATV's, horseback, on foot, and I dint hear a rifle all weekend?

Out of like 40 guys in the cabnins not a single elk was even seen, much less killed.
The next week was much the same, hunters everywhere, but elk way up top and not willing to come down and get shot just yet..? Sure some were taken by guys who knew how to reserve lands in advance and a big harvest of about 17 were taken on openning day I later heard, but on private land and tough to get on.

...............
Now late-season: SNOW and lots of it. If your talking on or near Thanksgiving, think about the fact its a big hunting holiday up here and alot of BMA's are closed to family-only that weekend; so this will leave you on the mountains with another big wave of guys (or at least thats what I found out).
This was though a better time to kill elk as I saw quite a few legs sticking out of beds on my way home skunked for the umpteenth time and cursed everyone I saw.
.............

So my beginners advice would be to split the difference so to speak if you can. Dont come oppenning week; as the thoery of unpressured elk is a myth IMO- the 48 hours leading up to the whistle you can bet a hundred dudes on ATV's have educated any elk unaware the season was hours away - and they head for higher ground it appears?

I'd try to get here sometime after the first big snow, but not much into the next one- and dont wait for the last week either.

Moe.

 

[StHubert]

Thank you for the advice. We are planning on getting as far away from roads as possible, to get away from the guys on ATVs. While we haven't figure out the exact location yet, a contributing factor will be how far away can we get from those who aren't willing to put in the extra effort and walk in 3 or 4 miles from the roads into the rougher country.

 

[Lawnboy]

I'm no expert but unless you have a honey hole and your confident you can beat most in there I would shoot for the either the middle of the 2nd or 3rd weeks. Hunting mid week is really the best time. Now that the opener is on Saturday I'm going to be trying to sleep on some bull Friday night and hopefully get a shot at him while the foot soldiers are on their way up the ridges at first light. Wishful thinking I know.

 

[elk_hunter]

Honestly, I don't believe there is a "right" or "better" answer other than.......huff it to the spot(s) you want to hunt and hunt them -- try to have spots away from people and then be patient and hunt. On the other hand, you can use other hunters to your advantage to push animals to you; if you can gain vantage points from ridges, that's a huge plus because you can hunt both sides and dive off into the canyon you want. Sure the weather could play a factor (both with and without snow) but last year when I hunted MT, my dad and I were a couple of the only guys in a very high pressure area that got into elk consistently almost every day while a TON of guys we came across complained about seeing nothing and giving up. We were patient, glassed a ton and got into positions that most other guys weren't doing so we were rewarded with many encounters.

Er, um, I mean...hunt opening weekend because the wolves get hungrier the later it gets in the season.

 

[montanadogs]

I think that it depends on were you go. For me, I go usually mid week that first week and have had success, but I do a lot of walking/backpacking into were I like to go. I'm trying a new place this year. I've already started some scouting and plan to all summer up to the time I can draw my string and or pull the trigger. I plan on going up the night before to see what I'm up against as far a people are concerned. if it's crowed then I might just wait till later in the season if it doesn't snow tons. It all depends on were you go I think. That is my $.02 worth.

 

[StHubert]

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, much appreciated.

I am assuming then, if you are willing to hike in away from roads and put in the effort to go deep into the forest, it should increase your odds?

 

[Lawnboy]

For sure. With that being said that doesn't mean that there are elk always there. Depends on the area and terrain you choose. Let us know what area you are thinking about and I'm sure someone on here will tell you if your getting "hot or cold" depending on your ideas. Good Luck

 

[StHubert]

Lawnboy,
Our thoughts so far are either 321 or 323. Not sure. Are we hot or cold with those two?

 

[montanadogs]

I'll give you my first timers persepctive since last year was when I became eligible as a resident.
You're wise to have posted this as its a delema I hadnt counted on and am interested in the responses you get from more skilled elk hunters too?

Again I had never hunted elk before last season; so this is just my take-
I foolishly booked at West Fork Cabins on the upper Madison based ona bogus recomendation from someone who hadn't hunted elk in ages..?

This would be openning weekend in the Gravelly's , and I can just hear guys on this forum laughing at me already after reading that one?

As I left for my trip another neighbor asked where I was going and I said: "The Gravellys" and he said: "Oh it'll be a zoo!?"

I blew him off, but those words have forever hauted me since...
...........
It was unreal. Thousands of hunters on ATV's, horseback, on foot, and I dint hear a rifle all weekend?

Out of like 40 guys in the cabnins not a single elk was even seen, much less killed.
The next week was much the same, hunters everywhere, but elk way up top and not willing to come down and get shot just yet..? Sure some were taken by guys who knew how to reserve lands in advance and a big harvest of about 17 were taken on openning day I later heard, but on private land and tough to get on.

...............
Now late-season: SNOW and lots of it. If your talking on or near Thanksgiving, think about the fact its a big hunting holiday up here and alot of BMA's are closed to family-only that weekend; so this will leave you on the mountains with another big wave of guys (or at least thats what I found out).
This was though a better time to kill elk as I saw quite a few legs sticking out of beds on my way home skunked for the umpteenth time and cursed everyone I saw.
.............

So my beginners advice would be to split the difference so to speak if you can. Dont come oppenning week; as the thoery of unpressured elk is a myth IMO- the 48 hours leading up to the whistle you can bet a hundred dudes on ATV's have educated any elk unaware the season was hours away - and they head for higher ground it appears?

I'd try to get here sometime after the first big snow, but not much into the next one- and dont wait for the last week either.

Moe.

There are elk there, but I'd look at Moe's quote

 

[BuzzH]

Not sure if this will help or not but here are the dates I've taken elk over the last 28 seasons in Montana...

Sept. 5, 14
Oct. 21, 22, 27, 27, 31 (opening day or opening week)
Nov. 28, 18, 23, 20, 23, 30, 23, 26, 27, 19, 23, 24, 16, 23, 24
Dec. 2, 1, 2, 3 (late cow only seasons).

I guess after looking at my data, most of the elk I've taken are shot later in the season. Thats a function of a couple things. Typically, I hunted Eastern Montana around the 2-10th of Montana when I was a resident there. Secondly, I usually took at least the last week of hunting season off...sometimes the last 10 days. That gave me plenty of time to search for elk and figure out where they were feeding, and usually had tracking snow. Plus, in 10 straight days of hunting, you're bound to run into one eventually. I also usually just shot elk as an "opportunist" in Montana...usually while hunting whitetails. I never was much of an elk hunter...just shot the ones that I crossed paths with.

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

Unless you draw a special permit (better apply), your best chance for success on a legal bull is to 1) hunt where you know there's plenty of elk, and 2) hunt later in the season, mid week. Gravellies might be a top pick as there's more elk per square mile there than in most other general season areas in MT.

Another tip, if you're looking in SW MT, might want to avoid places that have been creamed by wolves in the last half dozen years.. You could find elk, but not so many, even if you are hiking long ways from the crowds.

 

[Sytes]

Sthubert,
321 (Lost Trail / bighole / wisdom) area had, in the past, been great. Then the fire a few years ago seemed to scatter them into other locations. We (partner and I) still hit that area if our other location does not pan out... though noticed a heavy surge of wolves in a "X" mile radius 360* of Trail Creek Rd / Hwy 43.
It was pretty discouraging as one of our favorite areas... We humped our nuts off over pretty rugged terrain to a few parks that held past success... Nothing! Then on our way down to our other connection point... saw several wolf tracks - maybe a pack of 4 (-,+ ?) And knew that had to be the reason the elk had blown out of the area. We did come across the elk in another area of 321... I missed a great opportunity 2008 - my hunting partner nailed a decent one.

Anyhow, some "general" tips... if 321 is your area.
1. Check in wisdom at "leftys" around 7am weekdays. Most often, an owner or rep of Hershey ranch is present to meet with and complete an authorization for hunting their property. This is very useful as there are some good hunt points off "foothills rd" through their property.
2. May Creek Campground is a good general location to travel from for your hunts. (off Hwy 43 near trail creek rd) It is full service (water/restroom/firepits) Also, a few undesignated camp locations between Butler creek and Pioneer - though be sure to clear of the private property that you drive through.
3. There are some DECENT muleys along the idaho / Mt border of 321.
4. There is a forest service cabin that can be rented at Hogan Creek area and decent road hunt / glassing areas.
5. Think it is called Shultz pass (at the end of Johnson rd) is a major migration route for the elk... Though you need to hit the area at "certain" times. It is CLOSELY guarded by an outfitter group there who has a pretty heavy base camp at that junction. The route to that area was hit by a fire maybe 8 years ago(?) It is turning back to some good patches.

The area is popular for road hunters... especially Foothills rd. Not too bad as it keeps them out of the hills. Also, a decent road hunt to wisdom for a good dinner... Haha!
Best success has ranged 1-5 miles off any vehicle road. Over 4 miles (when camped along the road) is pretty far for packing in this terrain... It is steep and thick and 5 miles is about my max for doing round trip (10miles) meat pack outs (without pack horses).

Then again, 321 happens to be a favorite location of mine. So maybe wolves are not an issue and terrain may be prairie hills with glassing territory that is matched by Dillion & some eastern MT locations .. HAHA!

Best of success in your hunt! If you have specific questions about the area - feel free to PM me with your areas of interest and I'll give you the input I have there... This post is more or less general info.

 

[Bambistew]

I used to do really well the first couple days of the season and then again the last couple weekends. However that was before the elk numbers dropped off and the hunter numbers increased. The last few times I pulled elk tags in MT I usually got discouraged after 3-4 days and went deer hunting. Personally if I as planning an elk hunt in MT it would be in archery season, no question.

If I didn't archery hunt, I'd go mid season

 

[StHubert]

Thank you to all of you who responded, this information has really helped me.

Sytes, Thank you for allowing me to PM. I will send you a PM in the next few days, I want to make sure I ask some decent questions.

 

[mdunc8]

I've only got one season under my belt in Montana, so I'm probably not the one to be taking advice from, but I will never hunt opening weekend EVER again. We didn't see another hunter during all of bow season, but it was a mess opening morning of rifle. I think I shot mine this year the second week of November and that was just dumb luck. Wasn't even intending to shoot anything. I was just showing my buddy a spot for mulies and we wandered up on a cow.

 

[drahthaar]

I like opening weekend to just find an area I know holds elk and sit down. Of course depends on where you are hunting, but so many people out can sure put them on the move. You could get them run right into you.

If I was picking a time as a non-res, I think I would pick a couple weeks out of the middle. Maybe last week of Oct and first part of Nov. And I think it applies to anywhere in the state that has general areas to hunt. You avoid the rush at the start, and the push at the end to fill tags. You never know when snow will come, that is a crap shoot either way.

 

[----]

I've hunted elk in both the areas you mentioned.
Both have good elk numbers, and pretty good access. Both area's get a ton of pressure too.
Don't get discouraged by all the other hunters though, regardless of how many other people there are, if you work harder than the majority of them, it'll pay off for you.