Has anyone hunted elk in the Missouri Breaks?

[longbow fanatic 1]

I was wondering how many of you have hunted the Missouri Breaks? Although mountain hunts are fun and challenging in their own right, the breaks seem like a interesting and uniquely challenging topography to hunt. What are your experiences hunting the breaks? How much public hunting can one find there, and what are the biggest challenges to hunting the breaks vs mountain elk?

[Gdpolk]

I've not hunted there, but hiked through there a lot.  I think it would be a much more challenging place to get within bow range of elk.  

Also, for what its worth, the elk and deer population in North Central Arkansas and Southern Missouri are suffering from a Chronic Wasting Disease epidemic right now and have been for the past two or so years.  You may want to look into if the areas that you plan to hunt are affected by it before scheduling an out of state hunt to the area only to harvest a sick animal.

[Rick Richard]

I think he meant Montana correct?

[longbow fanatic 1]

Originally posted by Rick Richard:
I think he meant Montana correct?

Yes, I was referring to MT.

[longbow fanatic 1]

Originally posted by GDPolk:
I've not hunted there, but hiked through there a lot.  I think it would be a much more challenging place to get within bow range of elk.  

Also, for what its worth, the elk and deer population in North Central Arkansas and Southern Missouri are suffering from a Chronic Wasting Disease epidemic right now and have been for the past two or so years.  You may want to look into if the areas that you plan to hunt are affected by it before scheduling an out of state hunt to the area only to harvest a sick animal.

Thanks. That's  solid advice to check that issue out before you go out of state to hunt cervids.

[Tim Finley]

Ive hunted the breaks a couple of times didn't get an elk but I have shot a couple of muleys there . Its a great place to hunt and there are ways to hunt it for elk that really produce . Some friends have all taken bull elk by using tripods on the willow bars. I think there are less hunters there now although I didn't see many when I was there. Non res. license fees are high.

[cch]

If you have a boat you can hunt the willows but you might never get a shot even if they are 5 feet from you. A stand would probably work if you are patient. I hunted up off the river in the canyons. You can hunt in the canyons just like in the mountains. Also there are quite a few water hole you can find on Google earth and are effective to sit there in the evenings. You can spot elk a long way away in some areas. Look for them near the water holes and then sit in the evening. If it rains you are pretty much stuck until it dries. Some of the worst gumbo I have seen. And there can be quite a few hunters but there is a lot of land to get away from them.

[Jeff D. Holchin]

Isn't that a draw hunt now for elk?

[longbow fanatic 1]

Yes, I believe it is, Jeff.

[cch]

Yes it is a draw but fairly high odds. It's funny as I drew it as a non resident the first try but now I live here and didn't get drawn for it this year.

[todd smith]

I hunted there once with a couple other bowhunters. We had a boat and with that we were able to cover a lot of goround, but then, we covered a lot of ground...  Never really settled into a place to just hunt it. Catch 22??

Anyway it was really nice country. There were bulls bugling all night long.    

Get the good maps and regardless of whether you have a boat or not - get ready for a good time!

Some guys had generators running freezers in the back of their trucks. Seemed like a really good idea considering how hot it was.

Enjoy!!    

[mnbwhtr]

Been there twice, Hunted canyons coming off the river, saw a lot of elk but never got in front of them. 3rd day it started raining and we pretty much sat around, vehicles were worthless and every 100 yards you have to stop and clean the muck off your boots if you walked.  Second time was pretty much the same except it was 100 degrees and we didn't see anywhere near the number of elk. The bugs in the willows were at least as bad as any Alaska trips I've taken.