Antelope near Miles City, MT ?

[wisconsinteacher]

Well I am looking at Region 7 in Montana for my antelope hunt.  I plan on calling numbers when the Block Management info comes out and hunting near a water hole out of a blind.  Any one hunt this region or on Block Magagement land and have any tips or hints.  I plan on hunting mid-August before school starts.

[Goke]

I hunt Montana but a little further north ane West. Not familiar with the loper hunting in that area but have lots of experience hunting antelope both decoy and ground blind. If you've not done it and want general pointers shoot me a PM. If you have done it and just need specifics for that area, sorry I can't help you there. Either way, best of luck and enjoy.

[Whip]

I hunted west of Miles City near Forsyth one year on block management land.  Had an excellent hunt and saw plenty of antelope.  The ranch we were on though had a stream or river running through it, so water hole hunting was not great.  Too many options for the animals.  We did have success with decoys though, and had a blast!  

I know that you need to go early, and decoys are best in mid Sept. so I would search out ranches that don't have as much water on them.

You should have a great time!

[snufer]

I have hunted near Miles City for a lot of years, but as Whip said there is lots of water in the area. When the list of Block Management participants comes out, contact the ranchers on the list and ask about water on their property. We mainly decoy,and it is a hoot! but the rut doesn't get in full swing until mid Sept.

[wisconsinteacher]

If a guy gets to Miles City the day it comes out and then takes a few hours calling from there, do you think you could find a ranch without much water and a few holes to hunt over?  From there, go to the ranch and scout for a day and then hunt the next day?  I wish I could decoy, but I can not hunt in September.

[Whip]

The year I hunted there I went directly to the Game & Fish department in Miles City.  A fellow there was extremely helpful and we actually had maps scattered across the floor going over them on our hands and knees.  If you are able to spend a day or two before the season opens on scouting I'll bet they could point you to a ranch that will work for you.  It really is a great area!

[Prairie Drifter]

I live in Miles City.PM me for info.

[JimB]

Don't put all your eggs in one basket and have only one hunting strategy.It should be dry that time of year but you never know.One good rain can make waterholes go dead for days.

Keep an eye out for terrain that has antelope but topography or cover that would allow for some stalking.

Sometimes the first day or two are better spent using glasses and figuring out the animals and the country.

Don't be afraid to think outside the box.Antelope don't jump fences like deer so sometimes that creates opportunities.Last year I sat in a blind facing an open gate between two,huge,irrigated fields.There were antelope in both fields.On opening day I shot my buck 13 minutes after legal shooting time.There was plenty of feed in either field but sooner or later,a group of antelope will decide they need to join the others in the other field.They do it off and on,all day long.Just a simple open gate.

Just study the country and the animals and see what you can figure out.Nothing wrong with sitting on a water hole,just always have a backup plan.

[wisconsinteacher]

JimB great tip thanks.  I was planning on using the first two days of hunting as scouting/spot and stalk days.

[JimB]

Sounds like a plan.I would also PM Prairie drifter.Nothing like first hand information from someone right there.