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EASTERN
MONTANA HUNTING
Glendive
and surrounding area offer diverse and abundunt hunting
The
area around Glendive offers a variety of bird hunting,
along with big game hunting for mule and whitetail
deer and antelope. For the archery enthusiast hunting
for elk, the hottest spot in the state is the C. M.
Russell Game Preserve in the Fort Peck Lake area.
There is also a special drawing for this area for
gun hunters and a limited number of permits issued
following the archery season.
If
a hunter is lucky and receives an elk gun permit for
the C. M. Russell Preserve, he is nearly assured of
filling his tag. The only thing that may stop a successful
hunt is wet weather, as the area is famous for gumbo
soil which is extremely difficult to negotiate by
any kind of vehicle when wet.
Upland
game birds are a favorite for shotgunners in eastern
Montana. The mainstays are sharptail grouse, sage
grouse and partridge, which are found in the hills
and prairies surrounding Glendive. Hunting season
for sage grouse opens Sept. 1 and closes Nov. 1. Sharptail
grouse and Hungarian Partridge season opens Sept.
1 and closes Jan. 1, 2008.
Howard
Burt, biologist for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks,
said that so far, the past mild winter has seemed
to produce a lower than average number of winter kill
in any species. Although surveying of populations
has just begun, Burt expects that number should be
at average or possible above for the 2007-2008 season.
The
land along the Yellowstone River is the best bet for
pheasants, as they seem to thrive along the ditches,
fields and brush along the river where there is ample
cover. The pheasant season opens Oct. 13 and closes
Jan. 1, 2008.
Merriam’s
wild turkeys were introduced into the state in 1955
and through a trapping and transplanting program,
the few turkeys have increased tremendously and now
flocks are found all over eastern Montana. A special
spring male turkey season has really gained in popularity,
and calling the crafty old gobblers in range is especially
exciting. Spring turkey season opened April 7 and
closes May 20.
The
fall turkey season opens Sept. 1 and closes Jan. 1,
2008.
The hunting of waterfowl is governed by federal regulations
and the bag and possession limits are set each year
by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Drought
over the past decade had created a declining trend
in duck numbers. Burt said that these number have
recently bounced back with the timely rainstorms and
more moderate temperatures.
Canada
honker numbers have increased unbelievably, but dry
years in the hatching areas in Canada have also taken
a toll on geese. These magnificent birds weigh in
between 10 and 18 pounds.
Big
game hunting in eastern Montana is the highlight of
the season for many hunters. Mule deer numbers dropped
a few years ago, but populations have rebounded considerably
with mild winters. Whitetail deer populations are
also coming back. Hunters can choose between whitetail
— which are found in the brushy areas along the
Yellowstone River and other dry creeks in the area
— or they can head for the hills to try to bag
that big old “mossy-horn” muley.
Archery-only
season for deer and elk runs from Sept. 1 to Nov.
11 and archery season for antelope opens Aug. 15 and
closes Oct. 13. Antelope general season will begin
Oct. 14 and will run until Nov. 11. Deer and Elk general
season will open soon after, and will run from Oct.
21 to Nov. 25.
Then
there are the antelope. The keen-eyed pronghorns will
test the marksmanship of any hunter, as they can reach
speeds of more than 60 miles per hour. The antelope
gun season opens Oct. 14 and lasts until Nov. 11.
Whether
you are interested in birds or big game, we think
you will enjoy hunting in the rolling plains of this
area of the state.
All
hunters should be sure to reference the 2007 hunting
regulations for possible changes in season dates.
This information can be accessed at www.fwp.mt.gov.
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