Guys/gals....

Best chance to harvest a big whitetail.... Where do you all think????

Cheers
Tim

Most of my hunting is for Muley and if I run across a nice WT I blast him. I don't know any details but would think an the Yellowstone would be good. Maybe some place in south western MT????

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Actually, I suspect some of the largest whitetails you are going to find are probably scattered among the mule deer out in Central and Eastern Montana. I saw some huge whitetails on my deer hunts out there. Since the deer eat all the grain from the farmers fields, they can get pretty sizable. And since they are scattered among the muley's, they sort of "get lost" to most hunters. And since hunting pressure for deer in central and eastern montana isn't the highest, many of these deer probably live to a ripe old age.

Moreover, finding the whitetails out on the prairie is a heck of alot easier than busting brush through the thick forests of western Montana, particularly if you're hunting solo!

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Jim
Big Sky Fishing.Com Administrator

Thanks guys...

Jim.... How about locally around Kalispell???? I'm actually from Michigan and FINALLY drew a deer tag for Montana.... I have family in Kalispell so this is where I will be staying when i travel out this fall...... Any decent state properties around?? Is it hard to gain permissions from private land owners in the area or even in central Montana as you suggested??

Cheers
Tim

We have some very sizable whitetail deer here in the Flathead Valley. Unfortunately, gaining access to the land to hunt for them isn't easy. "Pay for hunt" is sprouting up here lately, removing much of the available best hunting land. While there is no shortage of federal lands, that is up in the mountains - not in the open lands of the valley which is where the biggest deer are found.

In Central Montana, most farmers and ranchers will give you the "keys" to their land - there is so many deer and not many people hunt there - so gaining access to land in central Montana is generally quite easy. There is also quite a bit of public lands available for hunting, too.

Unfortunately, the Flathead is becoming owned by more and more out of state folks, and much of the open land is quickly turning into subdivisions. And there is little to/no state or public lands available down in the valley, unfortunately.

Hopefully your family here has some connections or knows some landowners here in the valley. If so, you'll likely have a fine hunt as there is no shortage of large deer around.

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Jim
Big Sky Fishing.Com Administrator

Jim...

Sounds like a cousin of mine in the area has a few connections... Hope it all works out... Gonna give hima call tonite and pick his brain on central Montana... Any particular towns or areas you would suggest???


Cheers
Tim