East side on Montana to Hunt 1st week of Sept.

[hi-tailyn]

Planning a trip to Montana to hunt, then to North Dakota to check out how my dog is doing at Summer Camp.

Meeting buddy coming from NSTRA Championship in MT and before I go to the NGSPA Sharptail Championship, Ekalaka, MT, to scout and watch some dogs.

Looking for areas (not your honey hole) that a couple of us can put our young dogs down and get some good pointing dog work with them. Looking for the Eastern half of MT to be close to Ekalaka, MT, where Sharptail Ch. is being held. Wanting to get onto Huns and Sharptail. Hunted them off horseback 2 years ago in ND. That was a blast.

Haven't decided if we are bringing horses ourselves this year, or using the Pro's horses once I get to trial. Guys we are meeting are not horse guys. So probably won't hunt off horse this time.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[hi-tailyn]

Does anyone hunt or train in the east side of MT that could give some info?

[Llano Shorthairs]

Hey Scott
Montana is loaded with public hunting if you are going to walk. I think they are called block management areas. Check with the state fish & game department. I've hunted on some that were outstanding in the Tiegan area & it should even be better further east.
Joe

[sdpowskier]

Lots of public BLM land to hunt. Block management is private landowners that allow hunting by signing in with the landowners. Sometimes right at the field with a sign in box or you can reserve them, depends on the type.

Start here: http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/hunterAccess/ Look into the block management section, you can sign up to have them send you a booklet with all the information on each ranch/farm.

I have one of these in my truck all the time, its pretty accurate showing private and public land: http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeC ... h%253AS%7E

Just remember MT is not like ND, you have to have permission from the landowner, so if you don't know who owns it I'd stay off. Apparently in ND if it does not have any signage, like "No Hunting" its ok to hunt, but I'm not sure on those rules.

[hi-tailyn]

Anyone's opinion. Would I have better access and bird numbers in Eastern MT or in Western ND?
For those that have hunted both.

[Bberry20]

ND is open to hunt unless posted, but you still run into farmers who see you and will nicley ask or escort you off their land. Grouse have been hard to come by the last few years for myself and a few that i hunt with. Not saying they arent there though. Good Luck!

[hi-tailyn]

Now have heard that they cancelled the NGSPA Sharptail Ch. due to drought and lack of birds.

Might be tougher bird hunting in spots of eastern Montana.

[Ft. Peck birdman]

Southern Montana is being hit hard with drought, we here in the north east corner have been lucky getting rains when we needed. After very mild winter, nice spring and a good summer, bird numbers are looking great. My old stomping grounds of sheridan county is going to be plum full of roosters this fall! I imagine huns and grouse have did well also. Friends in Hinsdale area also report lots of chicks this summer, which is great to hear. Cant wait for the opener in Med Lake and the three most famous words in upland hunting.....ROOSTER....ROOSTER....ROOSTER!

[Anaconda Pintler]

You cant wait for the opener and now niether can the rest of the internet hunting world! Dont be surprised if you are pushed out of your favorite spots this fall with that kind of advertisement!

[GrayDawg]

You cant wait for the opener and now niether can the rest of the internet hunting world! Dont be surprised if you are pushed out of your favorite spots this fall with that kind of advertisement!

I'm betting that Ft. Peck Birdman owns a Motel in Sheridan County!

Rob

[Springer]

I think in ND every thing south of the interstate is posted, not saying you won't find anything and if you get to far north there is alot of road construction and traffic is horrible. I was out there a few weeks ago and trying to get on the main road to go north out of Watford City traffic was backed up 4 miles. Not sure if that was normal or not since I was only out there one day. I have heard other stories of bad traffic though.