Your tag is good for both public and private lands, however its ageneral tag and you can only hunt units that are general areas. Areas such as the breaks or custeryou must obtain the specialrifle tag.Units of the eastern half of the state are pretty much special unitsfor elk and other selected areas elsewhere in the state are special areas too. Same goes for deer, certain areas are special units.If you want to hunt those units a person must obtain the general tag first which you already have done, now you are able to apply for the special units if you wish. If not or you dont draw the specials, you can hunt any general area.Just as in alot of the other states, lot of states have the general areas and special areas. Montana does it differntly though where you have to get thegeneraltag before being able to evenapply for a special unit. Looks like from the hunter orange and hunting areas question, you need to get your hands on the reg's and read them carefully before you head out this season. Hopefully the private lands you plan to hunt isa general unit so you dont have to worry about drawing a special unit tag. I re read your first post and you said the North east.Is that correct? If so, thats prya unit with in the breaks and you will need to draw a specialunit tag to hunt elk. Your deer tag you can hunt off the general tag in most of the breaks but the elk is a differnt story. You should have it made though if your hunting a general area, 25,000 acre ranch in elk country. Should be a good time. Is this a private ranch that restricts hunting pressure or is this a ranch thats signed up in the block management program that allows hunting to the general public? If they allow a fair number of hunters access the property during hunting season, I would suggest getting into elk shape this summer and beprepared to walksome distanceas those elk will be pushed back from the 4 wheel drive trails you talked aboutby the time you hit the mountains.