SE MT elk hunting/scouting
Elk
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Looking for any advice people can give me for the 700 units for elk.
So I'm new to the Billings area. I grew up in kalispell mt with mountains everywhere and I knew the country and where to go. Now moving here I have not the first clue where to go and even start scouting for elk. I'm not looking to take anyone's spots but some helpful advice and a general direction would be greatly appreciated.
If you got Kalispell on lock, why not just drive home and hunt. Billings is ALL private pretty much.
Don't listen to elkman. There is plenty of good hunting around you.
If you don't have a 900 permit in hand you need to go west and hunt were you can use a general tag
I got the 900 tag for archery. I've draw this one a few times. And I've spent a lot of time up by grass range 411 and that's always been good! But I want to find some new country and that Custer forest looks good but I have no idea where to start. And I would if I could afford that. That's a 7 hr drive to kalispell I do love that country up there.
Carnage2011: I'm assuming you hunt around there then? If it's so good why don't you post some photos of all your success so we can all see what the Billings area's public land opportunities have to offer?
I've only lived in billing for two years and I'm trying to figure it out man that's why I'm on here looking for help
Personally, I'd hunt the Missouri Breaks before I'd hunt the Custer.
There is no real secret to it. Find the refuge areas where the elk go to escape pressure. There will be plenty of it for the next few years.
Scout, scout, and scout some more. The elk will focus on alfalfa fields in late August and bed close by in the timber.
Most elk are on private. Outfitters have it leased. The few you do find on the forest are hunted fairly hard. The last few yrs there are more and more people coming over from the west side to hunt. The elk are primarily found in pockets so lots of scouting is recommended..
I have lived in Billings for a 40+ years and there are a number of spots you can archery hunt in close proximity to Billings. Hwy 212 (Ashland to Broadus) cuts the Custer National Forest with about 1/3 to the north and 2/3 to the south. The north portion versus the southern portion offer it's own unique challenges for access, hunting opportunities and experiences. You have to keep in mind that the Custer National Forest is where the latest world record elk was just harvested with a bow, so this area is going to draw more attention for those people wanting the next world record elk. But, good luck to them. The northern portion experienced a fairly large forest fire a few years ago, but that is not to say elk don't still reside in this area. You just have to find them the day you are there. The elk that reside on and off the Custer Nat'l Forrest tent to move from private to public and back to private with little or no effort.
There is a "Motor Vehicle Use Map Custer National Forest - Ashland" map available from the Forest Service. There is a Custer National Forest Service office in the Billings Heights (they moved from there former location and I am not sure of there current location). You might consider stopping by the office to gather all the maps that are made available and possibly speak with a ranger or biologist. Then I would take a drive.
If you go down now, you can turkey hunt the area and camp at one of the camp grounds. The July and August tend to get hot in this entire area (100 degree'ish).
I personally don't hunt this area, because I have other areas that I personally prefer to spend my time and money going to hike, fish, hunt, and camp (just a personal preference). I have hunted this area and it does offers some good opportunities just like a lot of other spots here in Montana. If you want, send me a private message (PM) and I can expand on my limited knowledge of the area. There may be others on the Bowsite that can offer a lot more information, but I'm alway willing to help a fellow bow hunter. Good luck.
JMG I sent you a pm did you ever get it?
JMG I sent you a pm did you ever get it?