Rocky Mountain Elk Bowhunts

Guided Elk Bow Hunt in Central Montana

Hunt a private ranch on the east slope of the Crazy Mountains in central Montana for good quality elk. This is another full service, all-inclusive hunt with a well established outfitter in a general tag area. Hunting methods vary with the season, but you may be doing some spot & stalking in open ranch country or waiting in a ground blind or tree stand or chasing bugling bulls – it’s all fun. This is a relatively gentle elk hunt, where general movement within the hunting area is done by 4x4 truck, but hunters should expect a considerable amount of hiking.  These guys do well and most hunters will get a shot at a decent (heavy 5x5 and up) bull. They have some really good bulls as this is a good ranch within a good area - The Crazies are a relatively small (40 miles across) mountain range with very little public access, which helps winter more bulls than the typical easily accessible ranges.

Where: Private Ranches in the foothills of the Crazies – between White Sulphur Springs and Livingston Montana

Costs: 2x1 - $6,500, Deposit - $1000

What is included in cost

• Services of licensed professional guide (2 x 1) for 5 full days of elk hunting
• All the (home-cooked) meals & nice comfortable lodge for accommodations needed during the hunt
• All the transportation needed during the hunt.

What is not included

• License – (through the draw)
• Gratuities for the guides or staff
• Up-grade to 1x1 - $2,750
• Meat processing and Taxidermy work. 

                                     Contact Tom Close  for more information  (715) 554 - 3302  

Ambush your trophy Bull from a tree-stand along the Musselshell river in the Breaks of northeastern Montana. Our outfitter owns and leases 3+ miles of prime-time river bottoms and irrigated alfalfa fields that hold a resident population of a couple hundred Elk. The Bulls begin trickling in just before the archery season with new bulls showing up nearly every day. Expect to see Elk nearly every ½ day and well over a hundred several times during your hunt. Rifle hunting is strictly controlled in the Breaks which ensures sustainable quality. Herd Bulls are generally big mature animals that will score over 320 PY inches and some a lot bigger. The Satellite Bulls are the most vulnerable as they are on the move nearly steady and don’t have the cows to watch out for them and account for the bulk of the harvest. These (Satellite) are nice bulls and are usually 3-4 year old 6x6s that will score 260 – 300.  Success runs > 65% and nearly everyone will get a couple legal bulls within close shooting-range during their hunt.     

Crossbows are not legal during the archery season  

Where: Montana’ unit 700 just south of the Musselshell river Missouri Breaks  

Costs: $6,500 Deposit - $1,000  

Hunt Dates - 1st Saturday in Sept  thru Oct 15th  

What is included in hunt cost : 

• Services of licensed professional      guide for 5 full days of hunting 
• All the meals & accommodations      needed during the hunt
• All the equipment (ladder-stands /      hang-on Stands w/ climbing sticks and ground blinds) need for the hunt    
• All the transportation needed      during the hunt

What is not included : 

• License – (through the draw) 
• Gratuities for the guides or staff 
• Meat processing and Taxidermy      work   

Hunting strategy 

The guides go out well before daylight and listen to the Elk as they try to pin-point the bigger groups as they feed and bugle in the alfalfa. The guides watch them nearly every morning and night so they have a pretty good idea on the general direction the Elk will take as they exit the fields and move back into the cover for the day. They try to anticipate the trails the Elk will use and get you into a stand overlooking one of them. Often, you’ll cross the river and circle back behind your stand-site a mile or more to minimize the disturbance to the Elk as they feed and relax in the fields. Sounds easier than it is, but it works if you can stay quiet and remain patient. 

The afternoon hunts are similar but of course, in reverse, and you’ll often be right on the edge of the alfalfa, trying to intercept the elk as they break cover into the field.  

These guys practice an extreme low-pressure approach, where hunters must stay in their tree-stand or ground blind, usually surrounded by Elk until the mid-day lull or darkness before hiking back out to the truck. Calling is not allowed either and if you chose to ignore their rules, you’ll probably be asked to leave camp. 

Typical day 

• 5:00 am (1st light minus 2 hrs)
  • Guides leave to monitor the Elk 
  • Hunter enjoy a cup of Coffee and toast before showering & getting dressed for the morning hunt 
• 6:00 am
  • Guides take hunters into their stands in the dark without flashlights  
• 6:30 am (1st Light minus 30 minutes) 
  • Hunters are Buckled into Tree and ready to go 
• 10:00 am
  • End of the morning hunt (up to hunters)       
  • Elk are bedded up for the day  
• 10:30
  • Big hearty brunch (breakfast) served to hunters   
• Noon 
  • Siesta 
• 3:00 pm
  • Hunters taken back out to a stand       for the afternoon hunt 
• 7:00 pm
  • End of the hunting day 
  • Darkness 
• 7:30 pm
  • Big Hearty supper served to hunters        
• 8:00 pm
  • Cold Beer or night-cap   

Getting a tag (subject to change – Montana Legislation in progress) 

The Montana “system” is a bit cumbersome, and a key reason this hunt is underpriced (in our opinion). You must apply for the general state-wide license, and then an area and weapon - specific tag 

1) Apply for the Big game Elk / Deer Combination - General

a. Application deadline - March 15th 

b. Cost - $1,001 + ($50 preference point if you like)

c. Preference points credited to unsuccessful applicants 

2) Apply for Area specific / weapon specific tag

a. Application deadline – March 15th 

b. Area 700 (outfitter will designate)

c. Draw results posted in April 

d. Bonus points (lottery) credited for each unsuccessful draw  

3) Bowhunter licenses 

a. Cost $10 / each 

b. Must have proof of Bowhunters education or previous Big Game Bowhunting experience (license) 

What happens if you don’t draw 

1) Refund (80%) available for the General Elk License – subject to change via Montana FW&P 

2) Automatically roll your Deposit into the next (2nd) year at the same price. If unsuccessful the 2nd draw, hunt price dictated by the outfitter’s published price

                            Contact Tom Close  for more information  (715) 554 - 3302