Milk River help needed..
03-05-2006, 07:46 PM
#1
Typical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 681
Milk River help needed..
A couple buddies and I have applied for Montana NR tags, so hopefully we get drawn. But I have a few questions for those that know....
We will most likely be going opening weekend(Sept 2nd, all private ground). Overall, what should I expect? Classical morning and evening movement with close to no mid-day stuff going on? Pure bed to food/water travel routes? Obviously leave the rattlin antlers at home, but Iwould assume doe pee(non estrus stuff) and some very low key grunting would be ok? Anything else you have to add...feel free to toss it out there!
Xtec
We will most likely be going opening weekend(Sept 2nd, all private ground). Overall, what should I expect? Classical morning and evening movement with close to no mid-day stuff going on? Pure bed to food/water travel routes? Obviously leave the rattlin antlers at home, but Iwould assume doe pee(non estrus stuff) and some very low key grunting would be ok? Anything else you have to add...feel free to toss it out there!
Xtec
03-06-2006, 12:22 PM
#2
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Milford, Delaware
Posts: 1,919
RE: Milk River help needed..
I have seen some of the monsters that have come out of there.If it were me going out there(if there is a god,someday i will
) i don't think i would worry to much about scent and calling that early.I would put my butt in that stand as many hours as i could.That's my strategy.Good Luck!!!!
) i don't think i would worry to much about scent and calling that early.I would put my butt in that stand as many hours as i could.That's my strategy.Good Luck!!!!
03-06-2006, 12:46 PM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 1,424
RE: Milk River help needed..
I would never leave the rattling antlers at home......I've seen multiple instances in the milk river area (on video) where guys needed their antlers to call in big whitetails that had been sparring in the field....i'd take 'em...better safe than sorry.
03-06-2006, 01:16 PM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NW Montana / SW Alberta Rockies
Posts: 3,258
RE: Milk River help needed..
I've bowhunted the past two archery seasons pretty close to the milk.
I went opening week last year and temps were up to 110f during the day and at night they would fall in the low 30's. Fire band was on so campfires weren't allowed. Saw herds of elk each day and I plan on being back there this year but I'm not going to go as early due to the heat. I'm going to wait around the 18th and hunt the rut and it'll be a little cooler than.
You guessed the game activity right, first couple hours in the morning and last couple hours of the day is when it was most active. I used the afternoons scouting and fishing and trying to stay out of the sun. If you have a tent it could be as hot as an oven so find some shade, and thats not always easy to do. Good luck.
Bobby
I went opening week last year and temps were up to 110f during the day and at night they would fall in the low 30's. Fire band was on so campfires weren't allowed. Saw herds of elk each day and I plan on being back there this year but I'm not going to go as early due to the heat. I'm going to wait around the 18th and hunt the rut and it'll be a little cooler than.
You guessed the game activity right, first couple hours in the morning and last couple hours of the day is when it was most active. I used the afternoons scouting and fishing and trying to stay out of the sun. If you have a tent it could be as hot as an oven so find some shade, and thats not always easy to do. Good luck.
Bobby
03-06-2006, 04:05 PM
#7
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 268
RE: Milk River help needed..
I hunted the Yellowstone.I lived near Miles City for two years. Sept. opener is tough because if your hunting by any water, mosquitoes they were horrible.They actually chased me outta my stand.If you can get a killing frost,its a lot better. Typycally the frost is a little later maybe the end of September.
But yeah its best at dusk and Dawn, they tear up the alfalfa and any corn fields. Try to find places away from water to beat the bugs. However the best fields will be by the river or irrigations ditches. Take lots of spray and netting. Lots of deer there. Also they sell over the counter tags for a whitetail doe to Nonresidents. Good luck!!
But yeah its best at dusk and Dawn, they tear up the alfalfa and any corn fields. Try to find places away from water to beat the bugs. However the best fields will be by the river or irrigations ditches. Take lots of spray and netting. Lots of deer there. Also they sell over the counter tags for a whitetail doe to Nonresidents. Good luck!!
03-06-2006, 07:23 PM
#9
Typical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: MT
Posts: 759
RE: Milk River help needed..
I don't live to far from there but I have never hunted it but have seen some nice bucks from that area. The days can be hot but just depends on the year. There is alot of farming in that area and is a hugh area but the deer are really all over that country. The nites will get cold and You will experience wind in that open country. Take all your tools for hunting and blinds would work good if you have the time to pattern them in the area you are hunting. Bugs can be a problem and be prepared for the worst and hope for the best with the weather. Being on private land some one will get you in the right direction which will help. The country is big and without some direction it could be tough. Good luck hunting.