Hunting
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Big game, waterfowl, upland birds, varmints... southwest Montana's got it all. ("Git yer elk?" is the most common question asked in October and November.) And big wildlife populations mean long seasons and good hunter success rates. Find more info at the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks web page.
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Mostly what I hunt for is connections. I wander around the mountains, prairies, and marshes looking for something I must have lost. There are connections to the natural cycles of the seasons. There are connections to my hunter/gatherer past. Read more >>
The Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks website has up-to-date information on wildlife populations, hunter success rates, and predictions for next year's hunting seasons. Read more >>
For many of us, summer means one thing: hunting season is near. But months of lazy fishing, floating, and summer barbeques do little to keep one’s skills sharp come opening day. Like anything, preparation and forethought are invaluable companions on the journey to success. Read more >>
Montana lawmakers recently voted against a bill that would have amended current trespassing laws and enhanced access to public land for hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts. The House Judicial Committee tabled the “Corner Crossing Bill” on January 30. Read more >>
There are plenty of things to remember when prepping for a hunt, but hearing protection is often overlooked. Properly fitting, sufficient hearing protection can prevent permanent and irreversible hearing loss. Read more >>
In an era of leafy, cut-poly fabrics dyed in the latest digi-cam patterns and different outfits of the latest tech-wear designed to blend into the countryside like a moth’s wing or a duck’s butt, the only thing today’s hunter could lack in the ancient art of concealment is money. Read more >>
It’s finally here: day and night are in sync with similar hourly spans, frost has been spied on the pumpkins, and a rack or two has been spotted in the back of a passing pickup. It’s autumn, and in Montana that means only one thing: HUNTING SEASON! Read more >>
Half a mile below Axtell Bridge, as I stalked the wily fall foliage with my Nikon, a fisherman burst out of the brush. Big-eyed and breathless, his creel flopping and waders swishing, he hustled over to me shouting, “Did you see it?” Read more >>
Whether you’re a classic Wild Turkey–drinkin’ hunter or a more sophisticated Cosmopolitan-quaffer, Bozeman has some great spots to relax—or celebrate—after a day in the field. Here’s where to get your drink on après-hunt.
Colonel Black’s and Zebra Cocktail Lounge Read more >>
The cycling days in the mountains around Bozeman are numbered. Sandwiched between June’s mud season and the first snows, there never seems to be enough of those fat-tire days in the high country. Read more >>
When physically-challenged hunters in Montana want a fair shot at some game, all they have to do is call LA. Read more >>
Big Game
The Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks website has up-to-date information on wildlife populations, hunter success rates, and predictions for next year's hunting seasons. Read more >>
Deer season has arrived at last, and you’ve put in your time waiting and stalking. You finally have one in your sights—but do you know if it’s a whitetail or a muley? You should be able to tell the species almost instinctually before you pull the trigger. Read more >>
After you trim the prime cuts off your animal this hunting season, you’re going to have a lot of scraps. In fact, after bagging an elk, you can end up with over 50 pounds destined for the grind pile. What’s the best way to enjoy all this meat? Read more >>
Refining the focus of the spotting scope, my jaw drops. The largest mountain goat I’ve ever seen is standing on the same damn cliff as the previous morning. Read more >>Birds
The Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks website has up-to-date information on wildlife populations, hunter success rates, and predictions for next year's hunting seasons. Read more >>
In 1985, Montana formally created Block Management Areas (BMAs), which provide free access to private lands across the state for hunting big game, upland birds, and waterfowl. Read more >>
The next best thing to hunting is reading about it, and in 40 Days Under the Big Sky: A Birdhunter’s Journal (self-published, $25), author Jay Hanson relates an entire season on the wing, chasing birds across every type of terrain and through all kinds of weathe Read more >>
Wild turkeys, not unlike the namesake whiskey, can bring an otherwise sane person to the heights of elation, the depths of depression, or the brink of madness. Read more >>Small Game
The Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks website has up-to-date information on wildlife populations, hunter success rates, and predictions for next year's hunting seasons. Read more >>
Sure, any joker can lay down a pile of bucks to harvest a giant bull on the Flyin’ D, and there are more than enough “grip and grin” shows on cable outdoor channels. However, in Montana, one of the most sought-after game critters of the spring season happens to be the lowly gopher. Read more >>As pursuits go there is nothing that turns the proverbial crank quite like a hunt. But alas, spring is not usually considered the season for such things. Although this may be the case, and aside from the hibernation-thinned bruin, nothing considered big game is in season. Read more >>On January 14, 2006, the town of Baker, Montana will have its annual coyote calling contest. No, this isn’t the kind of contest where you can win a t-shirt for moaning in public. This is a chance to win a few hundred bucks for killing the most coyotes. Read more >>There's a distinct sense of adventure in following animal tracks in the snow, and winter is probably the best time for developing your tracking skills. Read more >>Archery
The Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks website has up-to-date information on wildlife populations, hunter success rates, and predictions for next year's hunting seasons. Read more >>
I have never figured out why once these good short months of harvest and hunt come, my thoughts never drift to fish. Read more >>
For many outdoorsfolk, autumn can be a conundrum. With the plethora of possibilities and opportunities in this blessed corner of the Treasure State, choosing a starting point can be overwhelming. For starters, head for the bridges and ridges of Madison County. Bridges Read more >>He’d been shooting his bow for months. The dedication was intense. He spent the shortening days of the fading summer quivering with excitement and expectation. And now the season is here. Read more >>
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Outfitters
Started in 1949, Montana Outfitters & Guides Association sets the standard for outftters & guides throughout the state. This page lists over 200 outfitters who will take you wherever you want to go.
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