Hello all,

I am in the process of moving to SE Montana and would like to know what the upland hunting is like in SE Montana. I love to hunt Sharptails and Pheasants but would also like to get after some Huns.

Most likely I will be around Colstrip area.

Thanks for any information.

http://fwpiis.mt.gov/hunting/plan/g...p.aspx?bt=sharp

http://fwpiis.mt.gov/hunting/plan/u...es=116#sheridan

http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/planahunt...s/gamebird.html

__________________
Here is where I came There is where I went Home is where I want to be!

Thanks I had been using their Website....just wanted more affirmative feedback without someone giving me their spots. I do like to do a lot of my own "research".

One more question: what about rattlesnakes? Are they very plentiful? Should I go through snake avoidance with my Britts?

Thanks for your advice.

Tom

YES We have Snakes out that way. !!!
It is so dry that most of the snakes you will find along the waterways,ditches and home steads.
There is a lot of grouse and partridge and some pheasants. Most of the good hunting is in privet lands, good lock they do a lot of outfitting over there for birds and prairie dogs.

__________________
Here is where I came There is where I went Home is where I want to be!

Britts!?
Lucky devils.
Have a good time, they will for sure.
Cheers
Richard (fellow Brit)

I grew up in the Forsyth area which is about 25 miles north east of Colstrip and my wife's family has a good sized ranch south of Colstrip and I will clue you in. There are almost no grouse in that area except a rarely found strain of sharp tail grouse that you won't find in the grain fields like other grouse but up in the pine trees and they are few and far between. In 35 years I have never seen a hungarian partridge in this area. Not to say they aren't there. For Huns I would look north of Forsyth. We used to see a lot of them there as well as the Smith Creek hills. If you want easy grouse hunting look in the Smith Creek area just west of Forsyth. Good luck finding access. Having relatives there I used to hunt the Smith Creek a lot and there were always lots of birds, turkeys too. The pheasants are plentiful all around the area as long as you are hunting the creek or river bottoms. Along the Yellowstone river the water fowl hunting is absolutlely fantastic. As for rattle snakes, they are every where and some years are quite aggressive.
If you try to gain access to private lands to hunt birds invite the land owner. A few of them have had the chance to hunt with a good dog and like it. The hunting can be pretty tough with out a dog and most of them don't have a good bird dog let alone time to pursue the hunt on foot. Without a dog it becomes a driving operation with lots of time and leg work and brush busting.

P.S.
If you are hunting huns I hope you have a light, short gun that handles fast and easy! They can be the ultimate challenge for fast accurate gun handling.

Darn not quite the news I wanted but reenforces what some others had told me. I like to hunt alone after some "party" hunts that I endured in Iowa.

I also have gotten on places by being alone and asking if the owner wanted to come and provided both the gun and ammo for them...like having a spare around just in case. Plus lets me carry my camera and not feel so bad when the birds fly!

Yes, have a light 28/20 combo from Franchi that has endured the Sandhills of Nebraska. I have a friend in lewistown that says to move closer to him...but have to go where work and $$ is, life what ya gonna do?

I was also looking SE towards the corner with WY, ND and SD....saw a lot of goats that way and wondering if birds may be that way. Learned from NE that where there are cattle usually no birds and will usually be near water as well.

Thanks for the information. Aleast I will be 1000 miles closer to heaven than now!

What are you going to do in the Colstrip area, what is your profession? Are you going to work at the mine or power plants? Do you have any interest in deer hunting? I was just drawn for a land owner sponsored deer license in the Colstrip area. I will be there the second week of November and there is a possibility that I can take you along for deer or pheasants if things work out. It would be a chance for you to meet and get to know some folks. You can email me if you like.

JBend: had thought the job was not going to happen so went into scramble mode to get another. Going to actually be a Math Teacher in Lame Deer. So weekends are open. Moving out in July and will be going into find a place to hunt mode.

I have thought about deer hunting just have not done it any great deal. Have had a friend that had always shot one for me in Iowa so all I had to do was buy beer and a cooler when I went to pick it up!

I thought those goats looked awefully tasty too. Just never really had time, area and someone to show me the ropes....but more than willing to try.

Now I just need to work on getting out of hell, I mean here, Chicago and getting settled there.