If you’re interested in hunting, experiencing this in Montana is going to be something you won’t want to miss. But before you head out here and into the wild, there are a few things that you’ll want to know about hunting in Montana.
To help you with this and get educated in the necessary areas, here are three tips for your first hunting trip in Montana.
Research The Area Before You Head Out
Montana is a big state with a lot of wilderness that’s available to hunters. Because of this, you’re going to want to do a lot of research about where you’re going before you head out.
When doing this research, Dan Wilde, a contributor to GoHunt.com, recommends that you take advantage of all possible online resources for mapping out the area you’re going to, choosing which exact locations to spend your time, and figuring out things like where to glass from or where you find water sources. You can also then call biologists or other people in that area to get a first-hand account of things you’re seeing online and get a better idea of what you’ll experience being out there. They can also give you tips on staying safe in certain areas too, like if you should bring a handgun for protection from mountain lions and how to prepare for the weather.
Understand How Drawing Works
Because Montana is such a sought-after area to go hunting, you’ll need to enter a drawing to see if you can get the tag that you want.
According to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, a maximum of 10 percent of available tags in a district are available to nonresidents. Knowing this, you’ll need to ensure that you can actually get the license and tag to hunt in Montana before you get too far down the road of planning your trip. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait and try again next year.
Consider Going With An Outfitter
For those that don’t have a lot of experience with hunting, are nervous about hunting in a new area, or are just wanting to go along with someone who knows the area extremely well, the editors of Field and Stream suggest going with an outfitter rather than trying to figure out all the logistics by yourself.
Using an outfitter, especially if you’re wanting to hunt in a very remote area, will make all aspects of your hunt easier to plan and execute. As long as you can afford this service, it can be well worth your while and increase your chance of having a successful hunt.
If you’re wanting to go on your first hunting trip to Montana soon, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you plan and prepare for this adventure.