Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Bowhunting Information about MT Milk River area

My BIL bowhunts Southern IL (Peoria, Fulton Cos.) where he's killed several P&Y bucks. He's never hunted the West and is interested in finding out about areas he might be able to DIY bowhunt in the Milk River area of MT. Would appreciate any leads. Thanks

The Milk is one of my fav parts of the world, it's totally wonderful country.

It is however also heavily leased up and outfitted as well. I really don't have the time but I do have the invite to go up and guide for the best outfit up there this fall. Would love to go just to see it and all it has to offer once again.

Not to be difficult but leads for this country that are truly worthwhile will be tough to come by.

Dober

Send me a PM in the morning.

It is nice country Dober.

No ma doubt! I have a model perfect property up there that I am looking at listing. B4 I do I'm gonna grab Mac and haul it up there to walk the property...

Dober

Hey Dober, when does pheasant open?


And how's the RE market up there?

U mean it's not open...<g>

Dober

laughin'


You made me look.

Just as I suspected. Opens the day before general antelope.

Top 5 weekend of the year!

Hmm, I kind of thought that the season for ditch pigeons was always open...grins

Dober

KFC!



There is an abundance of game back home.

Easy winters.

Good H20 and good horns this fall eh?

Dober

If you look at these maps you will see blue sections and yellow sections. The blue is state school trust land and the yellow is BLM. If a road touches the land you can hunt. Most state land will have a small sign saying so and you must get a state land use permit for your hunting license. I want to say again, it must be a road and the land is itself walk in only in most cases for state and established roads for BLM.

Now that I made many Montana hunters mad, good hunting. The outfitters don't lease everything, they just think so. There is also some very good block management areas you can find out about from the regional FWP office. SRM

Public and Private Land Ownership Maps

Block Management-Order Hunter Access Guide

EDIT- Do not wander onto tribal land without a tribal hunting license and regulations or you will be in Federal Court.

Actually there are lots of roads on BLM (pink and yellow) that may not be open to public access based on being landlocked by private lands.

As for State land being signed, I guess it depends on that part of the state you are in. Where I live in the state, along the Milk River, I don't know of any signed State lands. Best to have your map with you.

The only open roads on State lands for vehicular travel must be signed open. Not many of these either.

BTW, your State lands use permit is included in your prerequisite conservation license.

best of luck....

The Milk River is not the only good place in Montana for Whitetails.

True, but my BIL has never hunted outside IL and has heard so much about the Milk River on the hunting shows this has become his dream hunt. So I'm trying to help him out.

Hint- Get on the phone and talk to Game Bioligists in the differnt Regions!!!

The Milk is overated, IMO. Its not better or worse than any other 'river' in Montana. B&C bucks don't grow on trees in MT, especially in that country... the majority of the BIG bucks you see killed in that area are in the 140-150 class are at the very top end of what you'll find out there. You will have lots of company on public ground, and I wouldn't expect to kill a wall hanger, I wouldn't pass up a 130" buck either.

Good luck on your hunt.

Thanks to all who responded. I'll pass along the info - quite a bit to get started on.

Another idea for your BIL is to download Google Earth. You can get a view of the area you are thinking about before you go there. If he is hunting during the week you will see let hunters. Talking to the region biologist is never a bad idea. Even the FWP Wardens will answer emails and give you some good advice. SRM