Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure

BY JOE ESPARZA, SPORTSMENS ACCESS

If you’re on the track for a monster mule deer or whitetail where would you hunt? Like most of you I’m looking forward to the heart of Montana’s hunting season and I was asking myself this very question. I called each of the Montana’s 7 regions and asked various biologists if they had to hunt somewhere in the region in which they worked which one would it be and why? There answers were informative and insightful.

REGION 1
“For hunters to be successful year after year in this region hunters have to have grit”. That was the comment from Jerry Brown biologist out of Libby. If you’ve ever hunted in region 1 you know what Jerry is talking about. Thick forests with heavy underbrush, steep mountains,
waterfalls, and rocky cliffs are what
making hunting this area not for the weak of heart. Mental toughness is also needed to hunt this area hard day after day. “Hunters could go a long time without seeing any deer because of the cover”, said John Vore, biologist out of Kalispell. John went on to say that this cover gives the deer the very security they need to grow older and escape predators both man and four legged ones. Deer ages in region 1 have in general have been increasing every year at the check stations throughout the region. “When you have older, more mature animals you have deer that can score in the 140-150’s”, John added.

Top Picks
Units 109 110, 130, 170

REGION 2
In my conversation with a few of the biologists we discussed rattling and the effectiveness it has on mature deer. Mule deer didn’t seem to respond to rattling was the opinion of more than a one biologist. In general, whitetails seem to be more aggressive and curious than mule deer and this maybe why in my experience whitetails respond more to rattling than mule deer.

Mike Thompson in region 2 felt that they did not have the problems in fawn recruitment that region 1 had with the ratio of fawns to adults at 40:100 where region 1 was 29:100. He also felt although there was prolonged snow this didn’t seem to impact the mature deer in region 2.

Top Picks
Units 201, 216, 293,

REGION 3
This area is more typically associated with high elk numbers and mature bulls. This is certainly true when you look at overall elk numbers in the state. However, biologists mentioned that the deer numbers are up in the region and numbers of mature bucks are holding steady as well. “Pre-rut hunting in higher elevations would probably pay bigger dividends if hunters are looking for bigger mule deer”, said Tom Linkey, Livingston biologist. Deer in these elevations seem not to receive as much pressure and have a greater opportunity to mature and gain some size, Tom went on to say.

Top Picks
Higher mountain ranges in the unit during the pre-rut for mule deer
Major river systems for Whitetails during the rut.

REGION 4
This area is one of the most diverse in the state with a mix of units in the high mountains ranges, more open rolling prairie, and the breaks of the Missouri River. “I think it would be difficult to pick out one or two units in region 4”, said Graham Taylor, biologist for region 4. He went on to say, “when recommending units in our area I like to find out more about what type of experience the hunter want to have”. “Hunters need to decide if they want to have an alpine, backcountry type of experience or more a breaks or prairie type of hunt”. This area with the Chinook winds did not experience deer mortality like other parts of the state.

Top Picks
Focus on transitions zones on the front range and the Missouri River Breaks for Mule Deer.

Concentrate on River Drainages such as the Sun, Missouri and mountain ranges like the Snowies, Moccasins, and Highwood for Whitetails.

REGION 5
“This region has roughly 75% private land making access tougher for the hunters”, said Ray Mule’, biologist for Region 5. He went on to suggest that hunters look at obtaining access through block management opportunities in the area. The region has over 161 ranches enrolled in the program.

Top Picks
Concentrate on Block Management areas that offer creek bottoms or access to Yellowstone or other river drainages for both mule deer and whitetails.

REGION 6
“When looking at sending people to a good deer area during the rut I focus people in range with good habitat”, said Mark Sullivan, deer specialist for Region 6. “Our area has some great numbers for mule deer and whitetails so it’s hard to pick just one spot in our area for rut hunting”. Other biologists around the state recommended spending at 20 hunter days to take a trophy class mule deer or whitetail in the state.

Top Picks
Blaine, Philips, and Valley counties for Mule Deer.
Whitetails are spread throughout the region with high concentrations around the Milk River, and some in the Missouri River breaks.

REGION 7
“Our region has good deer numbers and age structure”, said John Ensign, biologist for Region 7. He estimated that approximately ¾ of the land in this area is private and roughly inaccessible. Growing up in region 7, John suggested the old way of gaining access, “Get out there and build relationships outside of the hunting seasons”. He suggested that taking the time to do this and pre-scouting the areas in August and September would give dedicated hunters a big advantage. Hunting during the week and outside of the first and last week of the season would also give hunters an important advantage.

Top Picks
Look in areas with public access along the Missouri River, Custer Forest, and areas south of Broadus for Mule Deer.
Irrigated farming areas and along the Yellowstone, Tongue, and Powder River for whitetails.

Joe Esparza is the owner of SportsmensAccess.com, a membership website that provides members with the most comprehensive database in the state of Montana for hunting and fishing on public and private land.

Rutting Whitetail Deer