Ken Barrett's Fast Facts
For The TRCP's Life in the OpenMontana Cow ElkLocation: North of Livingston, Montana  The Crazy Mountains run north from Livingston, MT, and while both the east and west slopes and foothills are largely privately owned, the mountains are mostly public lands with limited public access points. To reach the area turn north off Interstate 90 or fly into Bozeman or Billings and rent a rig.
Access: I gained access to this ranch years ago through an agreement whereby we rent the ranch’s cabin and volunteer a day’s work each summer. However, there are ranches close by with sizeable elk and deer populations that are accessible through Montana’s FW& P’s Block Management Program. If you work at it, you can gain access to some very good elk hunting especially if you’re willing to take a cow. Check also with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks for special cow seasons and regulations. Unit 315 is open to any elk, bull, cow or calf, all season long. Best time to go: I’ve shot elk in this area during the first week of the season, the middle of the season and the last week of the season. Cold and deep snows drive elk from the high country surrounding the area ranches, but with burgeoning elk populations, some far exceeding the Fish & Game’s ideal numbers; the hunting is good all season long. If I had one week to hunt, I’d come in the middle of November, when the deer are in rut because most licenses cover both species in Montana. Check weather conditions at http://www.findlocalweather.com/forecast/mt/livingston.html. License availability: Montana residents can buy a license over the counter. Non-resident licenses are limited to 17,000 each year. Your chances of drawing a tag the first year are better than 50%. However, if you exercise the bonus point option ($20 additional) on your application you are sure to draw a tag the second year, if you fail to in year one. The current cost of a non-resident general draw license is $640. Please go to http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/ to learn more. Application deadline is March 15. Recommended equipment: Though many use a .270, I favor 30 caliber rifles for these big deer. I use a .30.06 with 165 or 180 grain premium bullets. Any caliber from .30.06 all the way up to .338 and even .375 is not too much gun for elk. Weather can fluctuate greatly; from temps in the 40’s and 50’s right on down to the sub zero marks. Come prepared, bring a pack and be prepared to layer; elk hunting is about shedding and adding clothes all day long. I’ve hunted elk in shirt sleeves and in 20 below temperatures. You’ll also need good binoculars for glassing, and I strongly recommend a rangefinder, especially for first time elk hunters. Elk are big, but so is the country. I watched a very experienced western hunter with dozens of deer; elk and antelope to his credit misjudge the range of an elk standing in the open by more than 100 yards! He thought it 150 yards off when it was more than 250 yards away and he missed it clean with his .45/70. Good boots are a must and you best bring a sharp knife, a collapsible saw, rope (I use parachute cord) and a pack frame, incase you have to pack meat to the truck. Cost: In addition to licenses and getting there, you’ll need a place to stay. You can camp at a local Forest Service campground or stay in a motel in Livingston; prices from approximately $40 per night. One fellow I ran into on a nearby property accessible through the Block Management Program told me he asked the owner if he could pull his camper in and stay. The owner said sure, just as long he didn’t leave a mess behind. They have since become good friends. There are both good cafes and restaurants in the area, but most campers cook their own grub. Tips & Commentary: Elk are simply great animals, every one of them, from big 6 x 6 bulls to sweet eating cows. Getting any elk off public lands or Block Management lands represents a trophy. If you’re hankering for a real adventure and a challenging hunt, both physically and mentally, start planning a do-it-yourself elk hunt in Montana. There are millions of acres of good public land hunting and some very good Block Management lands. I still remember my first hunt nearly 25 years ago when I came from New York state to hunt elk. I ended up getting a spike bull, on the Gallatin National Forest, and had to pack it out piece by piece over 3 miles: it took two whole days. It’s still one of my most memorable hunts and that spike remains a real trophy! Special thanks go to: South Dakota PheasantsLocation: Plankinton, South Dakota - Grand Ciel Lodge is located just north or Interstate 90 outside the small town of Plankinton, just a short drive west of Mitchell. Access: Grand Ciel Lodge is an upscale hunting destination, and it’s not inexpensive. However, it is one of the finest small lodges I’ve ever been to. The food is truly the best I’ve ever had at any lodge, anywhere, and frankly, it’s as good or better than many four-star restaurants in places like New York, Chicago and San Francisco. There’s beer on tap, an unlimited bar stocked with the best labels, and wonderful wines with dinner. Each meal is an adventure. You will return each day from the field for a hot lunch that can only be described as sinful! Best time to go: Brad Boison, co-owner of the lodge, with his lovely wife, the lodge’s gourmet chef, only hunts wild birds. Mid-October to Mid-November is the best time to go, though a late season hunt, with snow on the ground, can be both beautiful and terrific. License availability: You can buy your license over the counter when you arrive in Plankinton. Non-resident upland bird licenses cost $100. Visit http://www.sdgfp.info/ for more information. Recommended Equipment: Bring a good pair of comfortable boots, upland hunting clothes and a 20, 16 or 12 gauge shotgun with Improved Cylinder or Modified chokes. Size 5 and 6 shot is ideal. Bring your dog if you can, otherwise Brad has wonderful Braque Francais or French pointers that look very much like a German Shorthair, as well as good British line retrievers. Costs: A three-day hunt with four nights lodging will run $1,850 to $2,200 per person. It’s not inexpensive, but many will find it worth it. I don’t stay at many upscale lodges, but every once in a while, it’s kind of nice to pamper yourself. My son, Bradley, who had never been to any lodge, was blown away by the food, the attention to detail, our hosts and the whole experience. Tips & Commentary: I rarely go to places like Grand Ciel Lodge, choosing to do most of my hunting on my own and because frankly, it’s far more affordable. But like most people, I like to be pampered every once in a while. And while there are many lodges in South Dakota, most of them fine places, Grand Ciel is special, in a category of its own. The emphasis there is on small groups, the best accommodations, the finest food, attention to detail and hunting wild birds with great dogs. It’s not a place to rack up big bird numbers, rather it’s a place for those who truly love the best traditions of upland bird hunting, great dogs, fine food and drink, good conversation and a way of life, which if only for three days is not to be missed. Special Thanks go to: |