I drew a big game combo for montana and the other two guys and i decided we were going to go to region 3 in september to archery hunt it. I was wonderin if anyone had any information they could share with me about this unit. We are all taking separate scouting trips over there this summer to check it out and see what we could come up with for the best places to hunt. We've done a little bit of research and talked some of my relatives over there who don't hunt, but they are letting us stay with them in dillon if we want to. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
The Matador ranch is open Block Management area just south of Dillon about 20 to 30 miles down the Blacktail. Head up to the top of the ridges between the Blacktail and the Beaverhead on the Matador and scope things out. There are a lot of elk up there and also a lot of "Road Hunters" Trucks, ATV's, utility vehicles etc. But if you're willing to get off of the Main roads which are just two tracks and do a little hiking you have a pretty good chance to kill and elk. Our party generally kill 3 to 5 every year and there are 5 or 6 of us that hunt together in that area. It is a big area so there is plenty of room for everyone and when you get 1/2 to 1 mile off of the road you are alone.
Thanks Guys. Is there a lot of people hunting archery over there or is that mainly during the modern season?
I can't wait to go hunting overthere! I will shoot the first legal bull i see if i can. We will be over there for about 10 days. I will definetly check out that area.
The other two guys in my huntin party talked to a game warden and a biologist yesterday and they told them about an area west of wisdom. They said something about something road and said there is a lot of elk over there. Forgive me for not knowing exactly but i think he said bloody dick road if that exists. They said the wolves have messed up the pattern of the elk quite a bit that it's hard to predict where you will find them. The biologist also said it's open in that county so you can do a lot of glassing. He talked about the wolves not being afraid of people so i was thinkin about buying a wolf tag if it was available.
That road sounds right. Also, west of Wisdom, there was a pretty big fire higher in the timber years back that I've seen elk in. There's a good mix of open hills and thick timber to make for some fun hunting.
Bloody Dick is 30 miles south of Wisdom. The wolves have been fierce in there. Not near as many elk as their use to be. I don't know why the Bio would give you info to the that area. There's better a lot closer to Dillon. West of Wisdom, is only 47 miles south of Hamilton, and 90 south of Missoula. Its not much closer coming from Dillon. Those are big population centers and many hunters hit those areas. If I was in Dillon, I would hit the snowcrest's or the farther south, not west.
I wanted to take a scalp, but the kill was not mine.
Just curious, do you plan to backpack/hike, use horses, ATV's? Here is a place where you can do all of that. And see elk. Just might see you there. Good Luck. Photo is the east side of the 'snow crest', south of 'ruby reservoir'.
We have Quads and we have horses and pack mules but we are debating what we want to take if any. We don't really know which would be better b/c we haven't been over there yet. I plan on doing a lot of hiking until we get something then maybe we could take the something in to get it. All three of us have packs too that we could use but we don't really know yet.
If your were going to hunt an area, (as I suggested), I would take the quads, on the first run. Using the ATV's in a responsible manner should not bother anyone. Basically, your first trip is a 'scouting' trip, with maybe a chance at an Elk. You have to find the Elk before you can hunt them. At least that's how it works for me.
