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EASTERN
MONTANA 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.
The
lucky hunter who receives an elk gun permit for the
C. M. Russell Preserve is nearly assured of filling
his tag. The only thing that may stop a successful
hunt is wet weather. The area is famous for its gumbo
soil, which is extremely difficult to negotiate when
wet.
Hunting
upland game birds is a favorite sport for shotgunners
in eastern Montana. Mainstay birds are the sharptail
grouse, sage grouse and Hungarian Partridge, all 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, 2011.
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The
land along the Yellowstone River is the best bet for
pheasant hunters. The colorful birds seem to thrive
along the ditches, fields and brush near the river
where there is ample cover. Pheasant season opens
Oct. 9 and closes Jan. 1, 2011.
Merriam’s
wild turkeys were introduced into the state in 1955.
Through a successful 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 gained popularity among
early hunters, and the challenge of calling the crafty
old gobblers within range can be especially exciting.
Spring turkey season opens April 10 and closes May
16. The fall turkey season opens Sept. 1 and closes
Jan. 1, 2011.
The
hunting of waterfowl is governed by federal regulations,
with bag and possession limits are set each year by
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service..
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 recent mild winters. Whitetail deer populations
are also coming back. Hunters can choose between whitetail
— 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 a big “mossy-horn”
muley.
Archery-only
season for deer and elk runs from Sept. 4 to Oct.
17 Deer and Elk general season will open soon after,
and will run from Oct. 23 to Nov. 28.
Keen-eyed
pronghorn antelope will test the marksmanship of any
hunter, as they can reach speeds of more than 60 miles
per hour. Archery season for antelope opens Sept.
4. and closes Oct. 8. Antelope general season will
begin Oct. 9 and will run until Nov. 14.
Whether
they are gunning for birds or big game, hunters will
enjoy the fast-paced hunting through the rolling plains
and jagged coulees of this part of the state.
All
hunters should be sure to reference the 2010 hunting
regulations for possible changes in season dates.
This information can be accessed at www.fwp.mt.gov.
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