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2023 Montana hunting trip

cheek9075

Looking for advise and pointers here.
I have a friend that lives near Bozeman and as said he would help me out with a hunting trip for myself and 2 teenagers. All I have to do is get the tags, he is taking care of everything else. Plan is to hunt region 3 unit 322. He will supply horses, tents, all the stiff needed, all I have to do is get the tags.
Question 1, how is the best way to go about this? When can I apply, etc.
Question 2, what will I need? Besides rifles and being prepared to camp for a week what else. I know this is general but I have never done anything like this and want all the input I can get. We have basics, rifle ammo, long range shots, range finders, spotting scopes, etc. Really looking for advise on what to expect.
 
Well, Where do you normally hunt and what kind of country is it? Everyone has their preferences but I would recommend having good footwear appropriate to the terrain and weather, decent clothing (I like synthetic underwear/long underwear, wool socks with silk liners and wool or carhartt pants depending on the weather. Camo isn't really necessary and Montana requires hunter orange vest or jacket. A good fanny pack or back pack with basic survival gear (each member should have their own survival gear, including a couple different ways to make fire), a compass and a gps, preferably with the SD card for the area that shows all the public and private land borders. A good sharp knife, not too big. We have been doing the gutless method that last 10 years, so we pack along canvas drop cloths to wrap the meat in. If you are hunting from horse back, your friend will have better advice than me. I always prefer to carry plenty of water and food.

Edited to add, a good 8X bino and maps of the hunting area. Prepare to find vantage points and spend a fair amount of time glassing. Your friend will hopefully have scouted the area and can put you on likely areas. Otherwise it can be daunting given the size of the country, going in cold.
 
tominboise said:
Well, Where do you normally hunt and what kind of country is it? Everyone has their preferences but I would recommend having good footwear appropriate to the terrain and weather, decent clothing (I like synthetic underwear/long underwear, wool socks with silk liners and wool or carhartt pants depending on the weather. Camo isn't really necessary and Montana requires hunter orange vest or jacket. A good fanny pack or back pack with basic survival gear (each member should have their own survival gear, including a couple different ways to make fire), a compass and a gps, preferably with the SD card for the area that shows all the public and private land borders. A good sharp knife, not too big. We have been doing the gutless method that last 10 years, so we pack along canvas drop cloths to wrap the meat in. If you are hunting from horse back, your friend will have better advice than me. I always prefer to carry plenty of water and food.

Edited to add, a good 8X bino and maps of the hunting area. Prepare to find vantage points and spend a fair amount of time glassing. Your friend will hopefully have scouted the area and can put you on likely areas. Otherwise it can be daunting given the size of the country, going in cold.
Click to expand...
We only have hunted very tip of VA where all 3 states (VA,KY,TN) meet. Mild weather, hunted this weekend in pants and short sleeve shirt. Temp can range from 70-20f depending on weather. Private farms, field and hardwoods is about it. Most time you can get atv of truck within 100 yards of less of hunting stand/place.

Looking for idea of clothing, packs needed, foot wear. I figure alot of walking in higher elevations than I am not used to (1400-2000ft currently).

What will weather be like? Attitude? We made the trip out there on vacation this year and all suffered from elevation sickness at some point (I think so anyway).

I really have no idea what to expect. I think I have but really don't, so just looking for advise on what it is like. I guess my older fat hide end needs to get out exercisingfor the hike. I don't even know when/ what I need to apply for. Elk and mule deer with rifle is what I hope to get, but don't even know when that is. Guess a call to MT wildlife is a good place to start.
 
We have Cabelas ,Scheels and Murdoch’s in every major city, I’m sure you’ll find all the hard weather gear you need right here and no sales tax in Montana either. Be sure to check out the link above also.
 
cheek9075 said:
We only have hunted very tip of VA where all 3 states (VA,KY,TN) meet. Mild weather, hunted this weekend in pants and short sleeve shirt. Temp can range from 70-20f depending on weather. Private farms, field and hardwoods is about it. Most time you can get atv of truck within 100 yards of less of hunting stand/place.

Looking for idea of clothing, packs needed, foot wear. I figure alot of walking in higher elevations than I am not used to (1400-2000ft currently).

What will weather be like? Attitude? We made the trip out there on vacation this year and all suffered from elevation sickness at some point (I think so anyway).

I really have no idea what to expect. I think I have but really don't, so just looking for advise on what it is like. I guess my older fat hide end needs to get out exercisingfor the hike. I don't even know when/ what I need to apply for. Elk and mule deer with rifle is what I hope to get, but don't even know when that is. Guess a call to MT wildlife is a good place to start.
Click to expand...
I grew up in Montana and have hunted there off and on over the years since I moved to Idaho. Mule deer is expensive but there used to be a non resident sportsman pack that included elk and deer. It is an expensive set of tags but you can get that info from their website.

I have settled on a fanny pack with suspenders for most of my general big game hunting. If I going to be packing game out, I will attach the fanny pack to a pack frame and carry the whole thing.

I like to wear two pairs of socks and non insulated boots, with Goretex lining. If there is snow, I will wear snow gaiters to keep my pants dry. The weather can change from cold to hot to cold again in the same day, because it's Montana.

I am sure the Montana members of the forum here will weigh in with better information.
 
Last year early snow storms(before the general season) had pushed elk down(migration). Grizzly will move the herds around. A bear got on a blood trail(elk) before we did, we were able to run the bear off before it fed on it. I'm from Mn, this was my first time in that part of Montana.
 
Buy your boots NOW! and get them broke in real good. 2 pair. One pair non insulated or 200 gr max insulation, Second Pair Pack boot with extra liners. Kenetrek are great boots for mountain hunting
 
10shooter must walk like I do. But I take 3 pair when hunting out of a drive to camp, boots/socks need to fit correctly for DOWNHILL walks and lacing long enough for mountaineering tie. I clean and waterproof boots before trip and wear merino wool base layers, carry waterproof and windproof outerwear in pack. I carry 48oz of water in my day/hunting packs. If you get dehydrated at altitude, you will suffer and can take a whole day to recover(and I'm a runner 5,10k, 1/2 marathon). As I get older, trekking hiking poles help with heavy packs.
 
If you don’t know horses get someone who does to go too, weather can be extreme. I am in Bozeman right now and it will be sub zero in the mountains tonight and a foot or better of new snow. Your friend is setting you up for a great hunt, it would cost a lot to hire that. I hope you have a great time, tags are not cheap but after you have them and do the hunt I bet you never say that was too expensive.
 
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