Montana Bulls

Bozeman · Feb 26, 2006

Just wondering when some of the larger bulls generally drop in Montana. I saw big six yesterday still packing and that got me in the mood. Maybe some of you Idaho, Wyoming, Utah guys could tell me on average in your area. Thanks

Droptine25 · Feb 26, 2006

I generally find the larger bulls drop about mid March and smaller bulls will be all shed out by mid April, but depending on the year it could vary
later,
Foster

berto · Mar 1, 2006

Bozeman, i'm in MT and every year i hear rumors of a bull dropping in the town of Gardiner by now. I don't believe it unless the bull was on the verge of winterkill. The bulls eating the nutrient-rich lawn grass in that town will help the winterkill process along. i have seen healthy 6-pts carry until the end of April. Every bull is different, and each area varies widely.

By the way, if the bull you saw was on public land, don't count on it not being molested. it will be pushed all over creation by multiple antler-crazy people by the time it finally drops. These days too many people get "the fever" too early and stress the bulls unnecessarily trying to be the first to find a fresh shed. This is not good, but there is no way to enforce against human stupidity.

Bozeman · Mar 2, 2006

Thanks for the replys. I sure hope they don't get chased around. The hillside he's on is darn near vertical for a mile. I'm sure by the time he drops I won't know where he is. Oh well I'll give her a try maybe at the end of march.

Bambistew · Mar 2, 2006

Bozeman... I used to hunt horns in MT a lot around your area... The earliest I ever found an elk shed was the first of April, with the 'hot' time being about the 3rd week through the middle of May... The bigger bulls tend to shed a little earlier, but generaly speaking the first of April was my 'opening' day... but I rarely found many fresh elk sheds until about the 10th. Good luck. That being said I left the animals alone until the snow as off most of the mountains though. They will shed a little earlier, but I wasn't one of the jackasses chasing them all over the place hoping to find my 'first freshie of the year'...

Zigga · Mar 2, 2006

Bozeman,

Just drive out to the Flyind D and start hiking. Just kidding. But do drive the Norris road towards the Madison and look to the south on Uncle Ted's place with a good spotting scope and watch the bachelor herds. A few years ago, on March 20th, there was a group on the hill and the biggest bull was missing one side. You don't harrass any game and it's a great indicator for the area.

Bozeman · Mar 3, 2006

LAST EDITED ON Mar-03-06 AT 07:39PM (MST)[p]Thanks berto for the update. I just got back from snowmobiling and saw two nice bulls up on the hills from my pickup.

Zigga, I'm not that stupid to go on the flying D. Although I did ask Rob Arnaud the head outfitter up there if I could go look as long as I turned in everything I found. He thought for a minute and then said unfortunatly not everyone would be as honest as you might be. Seriously though I think it would be awesome to go and look up there even if I did have return them.

sheepeater · Mar 4, 2006

By the way the Right was found on the 25, went back on Thursday and found the left.

sheepeater · Mar 4, 2006

LAST EDITED ON Mar-04-06 AT 08:24PM (MST)[p]Read back through the posts, guess Im one of those Jackasses, but believe me I only hunt mid day, and never hunt them in there bed because we watch the actual bull where it sheds in the early mornings and evenings and then go mid day, you boys just keep waiting until mid APRIL PLEASE! I guess you guys are the reason I have a barn full of huge sheds because you all are Saints and big bulls dont start dropping until april. hehehehehehehe. Please, please, please, please, dont go out until April and May. By the way that isnt me in the photo, I would never show my face on the board LOL. Zigga-Wait to you see the big boy we have been watching, you arent going to believe your eyes. Sheepeater

Zigga · Mar 4, 2006

I'M WAITING!!!!!!!

Bozeman · Mar 4, 2006

Sheepeater, Thanks for the reply. Are you in Montana? I always thought that the some of the biggest bulls could drop in late Feb. and early March. I'm sure there are differences in every region. I just wanted a general idea of when I might be able to hike that steep mother. I can't spot only a fraction of the hillside, so when I go I'm going to be committed. Thanks again.

sheepeater · Mar 5, 2006

Bozeman-I live out in Springhill. Keep an eye on that bull you spotted, if he is big he will drop anyday. We have been watching bulls since about the first of February. One of them is a monster that we chased all during archery and then into rifle season, cagey fellow.
Zigga-We have our fingers crossed that he will dump them soon, the horn army will be out soon, especially if it stays this nice, and will bump him out of country for sure. We have a running bet on how big he is, my guess is 405 gross.

Zigga · Mar 5, 2006

I was waiting for my "MOOSE" to drop his rack the first week of January but I saw him on December 20th with NO headgear. Maybe this is a good year to be looking early for elk as well. I got snowed on too fast to look for my moose's antlers. Will have to wait till the rodents are done chewing on it now. I sure hope I don't find your 405" bull. If I do stumble on them I will leave them lay where I found them. I promise.

sheepeater · Mar 5, 2006

Zigga-Yep and I just saw a pink pig flying through the air. Those moose paddles are sweet. I just had one that I found in Wyoming scored at the Sportsmen show at the Fieldhouse, I was totally shocked it is going to go in the top 10 in the world. I found it in the Bighorns above my parents place. Im outta here we are heading over to the Elkhorns today.

Bozeman · Mar 5, 2006

Sheepeater, Thanks I'm going to go try to spot him this weekend. You can't miss his huge body and blond color. My friend had a elk shed he found a few years back scored at the Sportsmans show as well. The shed scored 193!! He couldn't for the life of him find the other side though. It weighs 17 pounds and is 5 inches across the base.

sheepeater · Mar 5, 2006

Bart-Holy smokes are you kidding me 193, that puts him in the humongous class, just think with a measly 40 inch spread and an equal bone on the other side, that would easily put him in the 430 class. WOW! I would have never stopped looking for that other side, my luck it would have been a spike.

Zigga · Mar 5, 2006

Sheepeater,

I'm confused. Did you draw an Elkhorn tag? Are the Elkhorns open or is it a WMA? Are you trying to confuse me? Are you looking in the Madison possibly north of JC? Throw me a bone here..........a 400 incher............and show me a pic of that moose shed please.

Bozeman · Mar 6, 2006

Sheepeater, There is a picture of it on their website. They recently began outfitting there ranch. www.bowhuntelk.com. I said the same thing. That could be close to a world record. You sure have ol Zigga in a lather don't ya. I have another friend who found a entire rack (winter kill?) in the ruby range a few years back that scores 412. It is absolutly enourmous. It's funny how many people don't believe that there are that size of animals around. They obviously know how to avoid hunters.

RockyDog · Mar 6, 2006

Sheepeater, you a FAG.

sheepeater · Mar 6, 2006

Barry-Oh man who let you on here. Now you get to join in on the fun, you bald headed monkey choker. Careful it is a touchy game around here, watch out for the flying pink pigs and dont give away all the secrets, your little Matt boy told me you guys have been playing with them already. Sure wish I could get out of the house to hang with you pros.
Zigga- Easy, easy you cant tell all on the internet, just because everbody knows the same thing as you and I do, they all think it is SECRET. I did hear there is some good bulls in the Bangtails though HA! I got shut down on the Elkhorn deal, had to go to a two year olds b-day party. I did draw the tag in 2002 though, choked! They live there though I got focused on all or nothing and of course I got the nothing but not without teasing him a few times. Ask Rocky Dog though, there is no other hardcore shed pounder than the big bald one. NO ONE!! Except maybe his brother. Dont let it get to your head Barry, Matts on your tail this year.
Bart-Ill check that out!
Jamie

sheepeater · Mar 6, 2006

Bart-HOLY COW! You werent kidding that is the sickest thing I have ever seen. Man I know a client that would pay some serious bread for that bull if they think he is still alive. You should send me a private message and Ill pass his name along to you and your buddy can get in touch with him. And they say AZ is the land of Giants, Sheesh Im still in shock. HUGE!

Zigga · Mar 6, 2006

Sheepeater,

I totally understand the all or nothing idea hunting in the Elkhorns. You can get a decent bull most anywhere but in the Elkhorns you have a better chance at shooting something over 400" than anywhere. I talked to a friend today that saw a 330ish bull on Sunday. It's too early for me to get excited yet. The odds of me finding a shed right now are lower than they will be in another 10 days. I usually wait til the WMA opens and the area has been picked over by poachers. That's how I roll I guess. Someone needs to pick up the dinks and throwaways. Don't forget to post that moose shed pic. I need to see it, PLEASE! If I draw an Elkhorn tag this year are you going to give me pointers?

sheepeater · Mar 6, 2006

Zigga-You know I will help out in the elkhorns, I unfortunately found out about some real good private land to hunt during rifle once my season was done. The archery season is by far the time to be there though, I got some real good help from some of the locals over there Ill pass it along, the bull I chased all season was photographed on winter range later in the year I wish I would have kept a copy. Never did hear of him getting wacked though, would have been the bull of a lifetime for me. Keep rolling with the scraps,(pink pigs flying through the air again) it is better than dirt balling it. Besides it is good for buying new gear and beer. J.

sheepeater · Mar 6, 2006

Zigga-Send me a PM I got a real interesting spot for you to check out, should be perfect in 10 days, and there is no way Im going to make it up there. J.

RG · Mar 6, 2006

Here's a shed from the Madison, from years ago, scores 196!

Bozeman · Mar 7, 2006

Sheepeater, I'm kind of a tard at this computer thing. I'm not sure how to PM you. You can give me a call this evening. I'm working in Big Sky and get home around 5:30. 586-8664. I'm real interested in talking to your friend about a hunt. $3500 is a bargain for the quality of hunt.

sheepeater · Mar 7, 2006

Bart-Will do, he is not really a friend just a fishing client of mine, who spends big money on hunting ect.... He has hunted Turners Flying D the last two years both 360 class bulls he is looking for a true Monster that doesnt live in a pen, he was considering the Bull Mountain area, but I think once he sees this place he might reconsider. Ill give you a call.

That last shed is sick! I have a feeling his offspring is still hanging out in the vicinty but then that would be a secret wouldnt it?

Zigga · Mar 7, 2006

LAST EDITED ON Mar-07-06 AT 08:12AM (MST)[p]OMG! That is a TOAD! I sent you a pm and I certainly hope you aren't yanking my chain. That side is incredible. Where is the other? Send me a pm or an e-mail at [email protected]