BY CLINT TRAVER
Winter has finally made a showing here in Montana and for many people hunting is the furthest thing from their mind. Though the thundering guns of the general
season have only recently quieted, I am already pondering my options for next season. The wide range of game species and hunting regions that we have here in our state provide plenty of food for thought. By making choices now about your hunting for next season you provide yourself almost an entire year to prepare and you can keep your head in the game staving off the post-season gloom.
Like many hunters, I know that come hunting season my time off will be very limited. Though I have plenty of weekend hunts, due to my finances and work schedule I am only able to plan one “big” hunt each year. Needless to say I covet this trip saving vacation time and planning months in advance. During the slowness of the off season I usually begin to fantasize about my big hunt for the following season. By making a decision now about my big backcountry hunt for next season, I have a whole year to prepare. The choices of what, where, when and how to hunt are wide open before you and thinking about them now will help you stay focused through the slowness of winter.
The first step that you need to take is to decide what type of game you want to pursue in the backwoods. With the assortment of critters we have here in Montana there are plenty of animals to choose from. By deciding what type of game you want to hunt, you help set the stage for making other decisions like where and when to hunt. If your goal is to hunt for animals that require the successful drawing of a lottery tag, do yourself a favor and also plan a backup hunt for a species that does not need a special drawing. I think I plan a moose and sheep hunt every year and still no damn tags.
Deciding where you want to hunt can be an exciting process. If you are putting in for specialty tags, you need to at least know which
hunting district you will be hunting before you can even submit your
application. With the different species offered by your general tags, the
options of where to hunt are almost wide open. When I choose an area to hunt, I generally look for a few specific things. First and in my mind foremost, I look for areas known to hold good populations of the animal that I seek. Next, I try to find large roadless areas with very limited
access.
The process of deciding where to hunt should start out very broad, with your choice of location being refined as you do your homework. If the location you are looking at has good numbers of animals the next step is to find spots within that area that are off the beaten path. For the greatest chance of success you want to find locations that have very limited access and the type of habitat suited to the animal you seek. The best chance for remoteness is usually in a Wilderness Area or a large swath of National Forest. I start with my maps and try to locate pockets of country with little or no trails. Though this type of country will eventually lead to my suffering, it will help me have the woods to myself.
When to hunt is a question that is integrally linked to the answers of your other questions. For example, if I want to hunt elk in the Big Hole and I decide that I want to make it an archery hunt then I will probably want to hunt the rut. With that in mind, knowing that the elk in the Big Hole tend to rut a bit sooner then the elk in some other areas, I need to plan my hunt accordingly. In some instances when to hunt is closely linked to things like the weather. If I should decide that I want to hunt for a big bull with my rifle, I need to watch the weather and make sure that I am in my area of choice before the snow depth or consistency pushes the bulls closer to the other wintering elk. The weather variable is obviously tough to predict but you can look at the patterns from previous years to get a rough idea of what weather conditions have been in the past. I would also suggest taking the time to look at what the moon phases will be for next season before deciding when to hunt.
Here in Montana we have many options with regards to how we hunt. First we have the choice of which weapon to use. This is sometimes dictated by hunting district or other seasonal regulations. Then there is the question of how to hunt once you are on the ground. Will you still hunt the timber or post up on a migration corridor or a water source? Also, will you be exploring the backcountry on foot or possibly from a bike or horse? All of these questions should be answered as you begin your preparations for next season.
Though I map out most of my hunts down to the last detail, you need to allow for flexibility in your plans. There are many unexpected things that can alter your plans here in Montana. Sometimes it seems like everything from the weather, the economy, forest fires and just day-to-day responsibilities are all conspiring to ruin your plans. Life is not static so you need to be dynamic and have a backup plan. If the area you want to hunt is on fire or in a severe drought, hunt elsewhere. If your boss forgets about your months-old time off request, negotiate for other time off and hunt then instead.
Now I am a realist and I know that most people are not going to put a bunch of time and effort into getting ready for next hunting season while spring is still months away. If you just take a few steps each month towards your goal for next season, the chore of preparation will be much easier. Also by staying active during the winter, especially after the gluttony of the holidays, it will be easier to get in shape later on.