Montana hunters

[Orion]

Could use a little help.  I put the cart before the horse this year.  Usually, I research an area I want to hunt and then apply for a permit/license.  This year, I just applied and drew a Montana elk/deer combination license. So, I'm looking for suggestions on places to go.  I don't expect you to give me GPS coordinates to your honey holes, but if you know of a unit or two that might offer what I'm looking for, I'd appreciate a heads up.  

Though elk will be the primary quarry, I'm looking for an area that holds elk and mule deer. Would be nice if there were a few mature examples of both species in the area, but doesn't need to harbor large numbers of critters, nor a lot of large critters.

My hunting buddy and I like to be able to get as far in as we can on old/logging roads and set up a wall tent at the end of the road.  We then hunt 2-5 miles from camp.  If we find good sign in a ways, we'll sometimes pack in a few miles.  We're both getting a little long in the tooth so we don't pack as far as we used to.  

Looking for areas where 4-wheelers are few and or non-existant.

My daughter and son-in-law live in the Kalispell area, so I'm leaning in that direction.  However, would certainly be willing to hunt elsewhere, including draw units.  I believe we have until the end of the month to submit applications for draw units.

Appreciate any help you can provide.

[mountain trapper]

Not to be smart but some unit where there are few to no wolves would be my starting point.  I know what they've done to our game in Idaho 10,12,10A,15,16,16A,17,19 and 20... particulalry 10,12 as I did hunt those units.  I know Montana has been hit hard as well.

[Orion]

[Orion]

Must be a few folks who hunt Montana.

[TURKEYFOOTGIRL]

I prefer to hunt the big or little belts.  Plenty of elk that havent been hit as hard by the wolves.  You can find areas to hunt close to the road or as remote as you would like.  If i were you i would also try for a hard to draw tag such as 690-21.  Must apply by june 1 and if you draw a tag well worth it!

[Bosco]

I concurr.

Either the belts or crazies.  These are open areas w/ mule deer as well, and haven't been hit too hard by the wolves yet.

[Orion]

Thanks.  I'll check those areas a bit more closely with the game biologists in the areas.  Are 690 and 621 part of what is referred to as  the Missourri River Breaks?  Have an acquaintance who's hunted there.  He has as taken some nice bulls over the past 15 years or so.

BTW, though I've hunted a number of western states and Alaska, this will be my first time in Montana. Looking forward to it.

[TURKEYFOOTGIRL]

690-21 is the actual tag you apply for.  It is units 680 and 690 archery only.  Half of it is in the breaks and half is in the bear paw mountains.  Awesome place if ya can draw the tag.  If you do i can get you in the right area for an awesome hunt.

[Kevin Winkler]

Jerry, I hunted the River Breaks about 18 yrs ago. I saw the most and the largest elk I have ever seen that hunt. I can't remember the unit number....I'll have to dig through my old hunting info and see if I can find it. We hunted on the river breaks and the islands within the the river. The elk would swim the river everyday. Saw some nice mule deer and whitetails on that hunt also.