Montana Elk area 316

[JavaBob]

Drew elk tags for MT this year, looking at hunting area 316 hopefully close to Cooke. Any tips or suggested areas is appreciated. Will be a DIY hunt.

Thanks Bob

[salukipv1]

Looking to do a DIY archery in the missouri breaks myself, which is a unit 400 or 600 type tag.

Not looking to do an archery hunt are you? general rifle tag?

I hear 380 is an awesome unit, not sure if that's close to 316 but I assume it would be, south of Helena...

You might as well put in for a limited rifle tag for $10 or whatever, who knows you might draw it!

[JavaBob]

Doing rifle. Yea looking at areas to apply for other tag. From IL myself.. small world.

[GreatHunterWannabe]

hmmm, I hunted 329 a lot, but never over there in 316.

I'm mostly guessing here, but in many of these areas in south west Montana the tree line stops not only at a high elevation, but again at low elevation. The elk will drop into the open valleys at night to feed, then beat feat to the tree lines to bed down during the day, you just need to find what drainage they are going to head into and cut them off. This was certainly the situation in 329, but I don't know if it will apply to 316.

I'm also guessing there's going to be a lot of open country, so plan on doing plenty of glassing, a spotting scope could be very handy. You need to be able to spot elk at long distance. Some elk will stay in the open brushy areas even during the day, hiding in sage brush, etc so look there in the afternoon.

Good luck