Anyone hunt Bob Marshall Wilderness in MT?

[PA Duck]

If we draw the tags, we are planning on hunting in the Seely Lake area.  We are planning on hunting Elk in September.  Does anyone have any information about the area?

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

Group of local that go every chance they get.. They have scored on a couple P&Y's and seen bigger.
There have been rumors of conflict between DIY hunters and some outfitters using the region.
Should be a great hunt.

[Wallcrawler]

Just get a good map of area.  The Seeley Lake side is a fairly step entry, but the shortest access point with a few gated roads that come close to the boundry. The most common access for foot hunters is likely the North Fork into Camp Pass.  This is just to the south and east of your mentioned point.  I have also gone farther east to Red Mountain.  I you have livestock, well you have greater options.

[bowfiend]

Be careful - You'll never want to leave.

[PA Duck]

Thanks for the info.  I may be asking for more detailed info if we draw a tag.

[RL]

PA Duck,
I hunted whitetail there in 2005. When I drove up I kept seeing warning signs about grizzly sows with cubs in the area. Three days later I climb into my tree stand and have my bow pulled about half way up when I hear this branch break. Sure enough, a big grizzly walks by at 25 yards. Awesome animal to see but I didn't walk around in the dark anymore.
Rick

[Tyler Carlson]

Rick- how did the wt hunt go?

[Ray Lyon]

I used to hunt the backside of Lone Mountain (Big Sky Ski resort was on the frontside and I had friends there) and Fan Mountain back in the late 80's. I believe this had one of the highest Grizzly concentrations in the lower 48. I certainly saw a BUNCH of orange colored scat piles in that area.

It's beautiful country and saw/called/worked, but never closed the deal on some dandy bull elk. I harvested a mule deer and a cinamon colored black bear there while hunting out there over several years. I'd love to get back out there someday soon.

[Zbone]

"Fan Mountain back in the late 80's. I believe this had one of the highest Grizzly concentrations in the lower 48"

It was said Scapegoat Mountain was when I was there in 1978.

[Ray Lyon]

Zbone,

I'm going by recollection here, but there was one other mountain that was in the Fan/Lone/??? triangle that was at the edge of the Bob Marshall Wilderness-which had the high Grizzly population. It was the "area" versus just one mountain that I conveying (as the locals conveyed to me).

[Scott Smith]

Both are right. Lone Mountain is just east
of Fan Mountain. Normally Lone would be accessed
through Big Sky and Fan would be accessed through
Ennis. There is a private road called Jack Creek
that you guys probably used to hunt the Mountains.
As far a Griz, yip they are in there.
Just south of there in Taylors Fork a Griz killed
a bowhunter a few years back.

[Ray Lyon]

Scott,

Yes, I remember that Jack Creek Road. I didn't use that, since my buddy just took me up the ski lift service roads and then I backpacked around the back side of Lone Mountain. I also hunted up in Beehive Basin as well and stayed in an old trappers cabin. What a cool spot. I saw a 7x7 just up the hill from that cabin at about 100 yards right at dark. I literally dove in the cabin to get in for the evening as elk were coming out of the timber and down into the grassy park at dusk. That night I was entertained by two bulls just screaming at each other outside the door at about 2 in the morning.

[m laughlin]

the fan mountain and lone mountain are down south by yellowstone and aren't part of "the bob". grizzlies live in both areas but yellowstone wins if your looking for em. i would hunt the outskirts of the bob marshall due to the fact it is an early rifle hunt inside the wilderness area. inside also seems to have more conflicts with outfitters which aren't normally bad but there just the same.
matt

[Scott Smith]

Ray,
 Beehive Basin is a super nice area and I know
the area real well. It is starting to get built
up with houses now.    and will soon be
a gated community, part of it already is. It
still has some great wildlife, I saw the biggest
bull moose ever there. The houses don't matter
much as they are only part timers mainly skiers.
Ever plan on coming back to hunt?
Scott

[PA Duck]

Does anyone have any info on the Swan Valley specifically?

[Ray Lyon]

Scott,

I've got two friends still there in Big Sky. They've been bugging me to get back out there for skiing and for hunting. I think I'm going to have to make that happen in the next year or two. I'll have to look into the tag thing though, as I'm sure it's changed since I was out there 15 years ago.

I think the Beehive development was just in its infancy when I was last there. I saw several moose while out there. In fact, I was trying to get a close up of a cow and a calf while my friend was driving me back into Beehive (no telephoto back then). As I walked away from the truck to get a little closer, my buddy said "if she comes after you, I'm outta here with the truck so you better be quick".