i would like to get help on were to go

[honkertalker]

I im moving to montana and i need some help on killing my first bull. I im only 15 and i would injoy getting a bull with my dad. So saying that is there any places to go by butte MT. Thanks for the help

[Indian Summer]

Howdy young man. And welcome to Elknut Forums. Since you found your way here there's a chance you might end up teaching your dad a thing or two.

From Butte you could head south on I-15. Then go west on route 43 into the Bighole Valley. There is some pretty decent elk hunting in that area and it wouldn't be too far at all for you. Where do you live now?

[Indian Summer]

I'll take a guess: Since you're talking to honkers... South Dakota?

[honkertalker]

Haha no sadly washington the hunting is not so bad

[ElkNut1]

Welcome to the Forum bud, wish I could help out with MT, but it's not part of my stomping grounds! (grin) Check with F&G, Taxidermy shops, Sporting Goods stores, etc in the area & you should get a good feel for areas to consider!

ElkNut1

[honkertalker]

Ok thanks

[Lefty]

Were you, are you a comp caller? You may already know your in the secret region for unreal-easy goose hunting

Lots of choices for elk hunting!

[honkertalker]

Yeah i im just getting started comp calling.

[ishy]

Never hunted it, but have seen 150-200 head off the freeway between Missoula and Butte in the middle of September.

[CurlyTail]

You are wise to get involved with Elk Hunting at an early age. Elk meat is amazingly delicious and healthy. Elk hunting promotes a healthy active lifestyle. Plus - it is the most intense, and exciting outdoor experience you can have - quite worthy of all your vacation time and energy for the next 30 years! Plus you get to hang out with your dad a bunch. Once you have some success, all the men in your family will want to join you. Just don't think it will be easy at first.

Your easiest and best bet is to meet a friend out there and join an established group. They can show you the ropes and would appreciate a young energetic man with a good attitude to help pack out the elk. Learning everything yourself is quite possible - heck I did it at age 49 - but you will need to be dedicated and not expect immediate success. I think it takes 5 years of hunting minimum to get out of the beginner stage. Nobody is going to tell you where their secret spot is. A good spot is only good for one group - two at the same time spoils it. You will have to get out hiking and exploring to find likely spots to hunt, but that is just part of the fun.

Good luck, and I think you have a lot to be excited about moving to Montana.

[honkertalker]

Yeah not asking for secret spot just trying to know were elk are for i can go scout when i get there. And yes elk is my favorate meat my dad has killed a couple bulls and now he is trying to get me one

[CurlyTail]

Go to the Rock Mountain Elk Foundation web site. Click on the Plan your hunt tab. Go to the map and click on current elk range and state of Montana. This will tell you where elk live in Montana. It can also give you information on land ownership so you know where you can hunt. This will help get you going in the right direction.

[Lefty]

Honk
Will you be rifle or archery hunting or both.
Will you be able to hunt alone some times?
Do you have an ATV or small cycle.

Hunting close to home isnt always a bad thing. I know I couldn't get enough of the outdoors when I was your age
Hang out on here, the" tips and clips" will be a great help!

One more important question: Whose goose call are you blowing?

and for the Elknuts: his mom must be a saint with a goose caller in the house

[honkertalker]

I would probably hunt archery that's my main goal and I might be able hunt alone once and a while.

I have a quad.

I blow Tim grounds triple thang and real thang. I also love my ex3 call I mostly use that hunting. And yes my mom does go crazy sometimes

Do you waterfowl hunt your self?

[Lefty]

Do you waterfowl hunt your self?

For the past 45 years. Mostly geese the past 10 years.
13 years ago I taught 8th grade shop and had students making duck, goose and predator calls, Used GK guts until they quit selling them to us, Then bought knight and Hale guts at .25 a set, had a few dozen of Tim Grounds flute guts.

With your quad get out every chance you get and cover trails where you might hunt

[honkertalker]

I will keep that in mind

[Ridge Ghost]

Buy a copy of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Map. It is split into three maps- North, Central, and South. The North and Central maps will have the areas closest to Butte. As the maps will show, there is national forest in every direction close to Butte. Much of it will be suitable elk habitat, but the only way to find out if elk are actually using it is to lace up the boots and check it out.

Pick a few spots out on the maps, go scout it out and look for rubs, wallows, poop, etc. Once you have done this, give the local biologist a call. Let him know where you have been, what you have seen, and ask for suggestions.