Drew Montana Combo

[bullcanyon]

Newbie here with a question. My hunting partner and I drew the combo tags for Montana this year. We're planning on archery hunting elk in the sw section of the state. Bitterroot mts. I've spent a bunch of time scouring the maps and will be making a few trips over there this summer to scout.

Is there any areas that I should be checking out? I don't expect gps coordinates, but general starting points to look would help. I've only been to Great Falls. Never south. The only hunting I've done in Montana is prairie dog hunting so my knowledge of elk holding grounds comes entirely second hand, and from looking at the maps and visualizing where I would expect them to be.

I live in western washington and if I can ever help anyone with anything just ask. I do a lot of salmon and sturgeon fishing over here so maybe someone would like to trade a fishing trip for some hints to elk over there.

Thanks a bunch http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-faces-toast-beers.gif

Kris

[FTTPOW]

Dang, Bull I wish I could help. Have you tried to contact Fish Wildlife & Parks? Maybe they can give you some info on success rates for different hunting units. Just looking through to Regulations may help if you look for the units that offer the most cow tags. Even then, you need to consider why they offer the tags as they do. It may be because of migration and that means that the elk will only be in the area for a certain time of the season, not neccesarily when you plan on hunting. I know a bowhunter that hunts the Missouri Breaks area and he said they were into elk every day. I&#39;ve never been there so I don&#39;t know. I wish my christal ball hadn&#39;t clouded over. I wouldn&#39;t expect anyone to give you their honey hole location, though. Good luck.

[wmidbrook]

Congrats on your draw! I don&#39;t have any info for you either but someone around here will probably pull thru with a good recommendation.

[firedog]

BullCanyon, We hunted SW Montana last year during rifle Season. Saw a lot of animals, we were hunting the Snowcrest Range and the Gravelys,South of Alder. Spent most of our time in unit 324 and 327. You can&#39;t hunt mulies in 324 but can in 327 and the other adjoining units. These are not secrects by any means and there were plenty of other hunters around during rifle season. Might be a little better during bow season. Good luck and I am jealous, hopefully we draw next year.

[bullcanyon]

Thanks for the info firedog. I appreciate it.

Where at in sw washington are you located? I&#39;m in Mineral.

[firedog]

Bull Canyon, you are welcome. We had a great place you could rent a cabin and hunt right out the back door but the website doesn&#39;t work anymore. If I am able to find it again I will post it for you. I really do wish I was going abck this year, hopefully next year. We ahd a blast one bull and three deer for the three of us. We packed the elkout in about -20 windchill and it was a great time :)

I am in Northern Vancouver, just moved up from Portland.