Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Montana elk buffer zone

Just drew the buffer zone tag. Will be scouting until season starts. Anyone have any info on the area?

Is this new? I haven't checked the regs enough this year yet maybe.

It’s area 310-46. Tough to draw

I believe this is the Gallatin Special Management unit. Lots of grizzlies, and wolves. Also very weather dependant.
If the weather hits right it can be excellent.

If by "scouting" you mean you're trying to get accustomed to the area, that's a must do. If by scouting you mean locating elk, that's a waste of time. So much will change when September comes, and then especially when your tag is valid in October and the snow starts flying. I'd concentrate on finding a high vantage point that takes in a lot of country allowing you to locate a mature bull, and then plan on being there at first light on opening morning. That's a great tag and wish you the best!

I been putting in for that tag for 20 years.

That sounds like a sweet hunt! I am out of the game here anymore, but I did more good, thorough map recons than anything and pictured the area in my mind. I am not a big fan of "scouting" for elk! I hate to be cliche, but elk are where you find em, and there is such a thing as "hunting pressure" outside of the hunting seasons that can do negative impact, imho! Good luck on your hunt!

Why is it called “buffer zone”?

It used to be a no hunting zone between Yellowstone NP and the open to hunting National Forest land in the upper Gallatin River drainage. MT FWP finally opened it up to a few hunters on as draw tag unit.

Weather is a factor. But I’m retired and have lots of time to invest in this tag. And I’ll have a wolf tag too

I don’t want to rile you up. I burned all my elk points 2 years ago. My wife and I both harvested nice bulls (347 and 362). I figured I would put in for the hardest tag to draw. My main purpose was to build some more point and if I drew this tag it would just be a bonus. So I got luck and drew with 1 point

And that right there illustrates what a joke our "draw" system is!

Regardless, happy for you and best of luck. Personally, I'd be approaching it as a backpack hunt. I'd be in the backcountry with a tent up several days before the opener glassing.

Maybe 10 years ago. But the weather has a big impact on pushing the elk out

Get all the wolf tags you can buy. My neighbor was shed hunting yesterday up Tepee Creek and saw 6 wolves and numerous elk kills.

Thanks. I kinda thought that might be the case.

Yesterday back in Porcupine.

Why 10 years ago? Perhaps age? You don't need to wait for weather to get into bulls in that area. Of course you're right, for the influx of Park bulls the weather change is key, but there are still bulls in there to be had before the weather turns.

brad the good thing about our draw system is there still a chance that you can draw without waiting forever..

everyone still has a shot....it sucks when you have been putting in forever though...bob

Nice. I would plan to start in early November. Get 2 miles off the road and you likely won't see another hunter.
Bring a spoting scope

There are only 5 tags for the whole unit so you’d be lucky to encounter or even glass another hunter.