Montana- Little Belt and Highwood Mountains

[DMiller6868]

Anybody have any experience in the Little Belt Mountains or the Highwood Mountains in Montana? This is in the Lewis & Clark Forest. I'm thinking of headed there in September for a DIY 8 day hunt. I've been told that wolves in other areas of the state has driven guys into the Lewis & Clark and it's very crowded, but wanted to check if anyone had the same experience. It seems that the Little Belt's have so many ATV trails that it's hard to really "get away" from the other hunters.

I have access to a 12,000 acre ranch just to the south of the area, but it's lower in elevation and the elk never seem to make it there during the bow season (according to the ranch owner and game warden). Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm definitely a newbie to the elk hunting addiction and I can't afford a $5,000 guided hunt on the private ranches so public land will have to do. I'm not deadset on Montana, but if I went to Colorado I'm afraid I'd be chasing every guys bugle through the woods rather than an elk.

[welka]

Loaded with hunters. The middle of September on the roads going up into the mountains looks like a city street, not a mountain dirt road. There are places you can get away, but you really have to know the area. Haven't been there for 4 years, but it will only be worse and heard that wolves moved in. Keep looking.