Mule deer hunting Montana?

[JoshM]

Would like to line up a muledeer Hunt in Eastern Montana. How hard is it to find land to hunt out there and how hard is it to get a buck tag? any info would be great. Thanks

[Newcastle]

I know a guy who did that trip this fall-tags were as tough as coming up with 350 bucks for a tag (doe tags were around $75).

Sounded like there was a lot of public land available and they had no issue taking 6 does-they didn't purchase a buck tag but he said had they it could have been filled. I know he had a pretty good time-a little different hunting than Minnesota so a fun change.

[mabr]

I hunted the Eastern Part a few years back (around Sydney) There was a ton of land open to public. They had some program back then that I cant remember the name of now. But the owners or DNR had a pador booklet to just sign in as you went on there property. From what theu people i hunted with said there were alot of spots like this. I hunted private land for the most part.But the biggest Muley I seen was on Very Public land. and it was not hunted at any time i was there for 1.5 weeks

Very neat area both WT and Muleys with good opportunity for both.

[JoshM]

Thanks guys.

[DonBo]

There was a ton of land open to public. They had some program back then that I cant remember the name of now. But the owners or DNR had a pador booklet to just sign in as you went on there property.

It's called "Block Management". Look on the MT GFP HSOforum and it explains it all. I've hunted antelope on some of these ranches with great success and saw many deer along the way.

[DitchPickle13]

As far as getting a license goes, you're looking at a 25 or 30% chance of getting drawn on your first application, but if you apply for the Big Game Combo (Elk + Deer + small game/pheasant), your odds go up to around 70%. Those are 2008 drawing #'s. The Montana F&W HSOforum has all the detailed stats:

http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/planahunt/drawingresults_deer.aspx

As for access, the give the MT F&W a call and they'll be pretty helpful with info.