I know that last year was bad for deer and antlope from the hard winter. Just woundering how you made out and how much lower the herd really was.
I am wanting to still try for Mule deer, just woundering if I should look to another state.

I don't know if your looking for info from an outfitter or just hunters But I provide hunts in eastern Montana on Private Land. WE noticed the numbers were down but we still took some decent deer. I take 6 hunters on the ranch we have and we killed 4 bucks. They were in te 150 to mid 160 range and the bucks were killed in the first day or two of the hunters trips. The two unsuccesfull guys saw decent bucks but either missed or failed to keep hunting because they got sick!. Check out my offered hunt link if can be of any help.
http://forums.accuratereloadin...2100588/m/1381038761

quote:

Originally posted by Hntnhrd:
I don't know if your looking for info from an outfitter or just hunters But I provide hunts in eastern Montana on Private Land. WE noticed the numbers were down but we still took some decent deer. I take 6 hunters on the ranch we have and we killed 4 bucks. They were in te 150 to mid 160 range and the bucks were killed in the first day or two of the hunters trips. The two unsuccesfull guys saw decent bucks but either missed or failed to keep hunting because they got sick!. Check out my offered hunt link if can be of any help.
http://forums.accuratereloadin...2100588/m/1381038761

Thanks I have a few Outfitters in mind, just woundering how hunting was this year and the class of deer seen.
Would you say that the deer you took this year were smaller or your norm.

150 to 160 is not average.Thats damn good.

150 is usually bottom end of normal. Upper end is pushing 180. We saw one buck on Thanksgiving day that was a solid 180. BUt I was the only one left with a tag and I try to take out management type deer, There is a 2x3 that i was looking for that goes 30 inches. We did see guite a few young 4x4s (2 1/2 years old) so the future looks bright. My guess is the next couple years won't be great, Still good hunting just not spectacular but it should just take a couple years for the herds to bounce back and the younger bucks to mature. My recommendation is pick a small outfitt ( not a ton of hunters per year) and you should have a fun hunt and still be able to find a mature buck to take. So instead of seeing 20 bucks a day you will probably see 4 to 6.

quote:

Originally posted by Hntnhrd:
150 is usually bottom end of normal. Upper end is pushing 180. We saw one buck on Thanksgiving day that was a solid 180. BUt I was the only one left with a tag and I try to take out management type deer, There is a 2x3 that i was looking for that goes 30 inches. We did see guite a few young 4x4s (2 1/2 years old) so the future looks bright. My guess is the next couple years won't be great, Still good hunting just not spectacular but it should just take a couple years for the herds to bounce back and the younger bucks to mature. My recommendation is pick a small outfitt ( not a ton of hunters per year) and you should have a fun hunt and still be able to find a mature buck to take. So instead of seeing 20 bucks a day you will probably see 4 to 6.

Tony, Just don't shoot my buck.

quote:

Originally posted by Hntnhrd:
150 is usually bottom end of normal. Upper end is pushing 180. We saw one buck on Thanksgiving day that was a solid 180. BUt I was the only one left with a tag and I try to take out management type deer, There is a 2x3 that i was looking for that goes 30 inches. We did see guite a few young 4x4s (2 1/2 years old) so the future looks bright. My guess is the next couple years won't be great, Still good hunting just not spectacular but it should just take a couple years for the herds to bounce back and the younger bucks to mature. My recommendation is pick a small outfitt ( not a ton of hunters per year) and you should have a fun hunt and still be able to find a mature buck to take. So instead of seeing 20 bucks a day you will probably see 4 to 6.

Thanks for the reply, thats exactly the info I was looking for. You sound like a very Honest person, somthing not to common anymore. Good luck booking your spots.
Thanks very much.

quote:

Originally posted by Hntnhrd:
150 is usually bottom end of normal. Upper end is pushing 180. We saw one buck on Thanksgiving day that was a solid 180. BUt I was the only one left with a tag and I try to take out management type deer, There is a 2x3 that i was looking for that goes 30 inches. We did see guite a few young 4x4s (2 1/2 years old) so the future looks bright. My guess is the next couple years won't be great, Still good hunting just not spectacular but it should just take a couple years for the herds to bounce back and the younger bucks to mature. My recommendation is pick a small outfitt ( not a ton of hunters per year) and you should have a fun hunt and still be able to find a mature buck to take. So instead of seeing 20 bucks a day you will probably see 4 to 6.

From your pics one might have been close to 160.So the rest of your Hunters were satisfied with bottom of the barrel when 180`s are to be had???

quote:

Originally posted by OLBIKER:
150 to 160 is not average.Thats damn good.

For a whitetail yea, that is damn good. He is right, for mule deer, for a HARD working hunter or a guided hunt, that is bottom end average.

That's why it's called hunting and not killing.

quote:

Originally posted by MileHighShooter:

quote:

Originally posted by OLBIKER:
150 to 160 is not average.Thats damn good.

For a whitetail yea, that is damn good. He is right, for mule deer, for a HARD working hunter or a guided hunt, that is bottom end average.

His clients arnt shooting any.WTF???

quote:

Originally posted by OLBIKER:

quote:

Originally posted by Hntnhrd:
150 is usually bottom end of normal. Upper end is pushing 180. We saw one buck on Thanksgiving day that was a solid 180. BUt I was the only one left with a tag and I try to take out management type deer, There is a 2x3 that i was looking for that goes 30 inches. We did see guite a few young 4x4s (2 1/2 years old) so the future looks bright. My guess is the next couple years won't be great, Still good hunting just not spectacular but it should just take a couple years for the herds to bounce back and the younger bucks to mature. My recommendation is pick a small outfitt ( not a ton of hunters per year) and you should have a fun hunt and still be able to find a mature buck to take. So instead of seeing 20 bucks a day you will probably see 4 to 6.

From your pics one might have been close to 160.So the rest of your Hunters were satisfied with bottom of the barrel when 180`s are to be had???

I used to guide in eastern Montana in the early 90's and we killed a lot of 150"-170" type bucks. It's not an expensive hunt, at least where I was guiding. The hunters that came out weren't really looking for what a lot would consider a "trophy". We would see 100 bucks a day sometimes and I think that this is what was appealing to the hunters.

I guess it's a different mindset. The guys that are looking for a 180"-200"+ deer don't normally pick eastern Montana as a destination. There are some damn big bucks in that country but they are the exception rather than the rule.

For really big deer you'll hunt other areas and pay a lot more

quote:

Originally posted by OLBIKER:

quote:

Originally posted by MileHighShooter:

quote:

Originally posted by OLBIKER:
150 to 160 is not average.Thats damn good.

For a whitetail yea, that is damn good. He is right, for mule deer, for a HARD working hunter or a guided hunt, that is bottom end average.

His clients arnt shooting any.WTF???

Where did you get that from? He said 4 of 6 hunters filled their tags, and gave good reasons for the other 2 not filling their tags.

quote:

Originally posted by MileHighShooter:

quote:

Originally posted by OLBIKER:

quote:

Originally posted by MileHighShooter:

quote:

Originally posted by OLBIKER:
150 to 160 is not average.Thats damn good.

For a whitetail yea, that is damn good. He is right, for mule deer, for a HARD working hunter or a guided hunt, that is bottom end average.

His clients arnt shooting any.WTF???

Where did you get that from? He said 4 of 6 hunters filled their tags, and gave good reasons for the other 2 not filling their tags.

Evidently you did not take the time to click on his link and see the pics he posted of his hunters with their Deer.I have been Hunting Eastern Montana since 1965 form Alzeta up to Plentywood and have a good idea what is available.I never have paid for a Hunt and do better than what he show on DIUhunts.There are some outfitters here that I would pay to hunt with ,but I do not pay for what I can do better by myself.

quote:

Originally posted by OLBIKER:

quote:

Originally posted by MileHighShooter:

quote:

Originally posted by OLBIKER:

quote:

Originally posted by MileHighShooter:

quote:

Originally posted by OLBIKER:
150 to 160 is not average.Thats damn good.

For a whitetail yea, that is damn good. He is right, for mule deer, for a HARD working hunter or a guided hunt, that is bottom end average.

His clients arnt shooting any.WTF???

Where did you get that from? He said 4 of 6 hunters filled their tags, and gave good reasons for the other 2 not filling their tags.

Evidently you did not take the time to click on his link and see the pics he posted of his hunters with their Deer.I have been Hunting Eastern Montana since 1965 form Alzeta up to Plentywood and have a good idea what is available.I never have paid for a Hunt and do better than what he show on DIUhunts.There are some outfitters here that I would pay to hunt with ,but I do not pay for what I can do better by myself.

That's good for you. But as this thread was how things were going in Eastern Montana and as Tony is a gentleman and offered his help you choose to be rude to someone you have never meet. Real class act you are.

quote:

Originally posted by Brian Clark:

quote:

Originally posted by OLBIKER:

quote:

Originally posted by MileHighShooter:

quote:

Originally posted by OLBIKER:

quote:

Originally posted by MileHighShooter:

quote:

Originally posted by OLBIKER:
150 to 160 is not average.Thats damn good.

For a whitetail yea, that is damn good. He is right, for mule deer, for a HARD working hunter or a guided hunt, that is bottom end average.

His clients arnt shooting any.WTF???

Where did you get that from? He said 4 of 6 hunters filled their tags, and gave good reasons for the other 2 not filling their tags.

Evidently you did not take the time to click on his link and see the pics he posted of his hunters with their Deer.I have been Hunting Eastern Montana since 1965 form Aleta up to Plentywood and have a good idea what is available.I never have paid for a Hunt and do better than what he show on DIUhunts.There are some outfitters here that I would pay to hunt with ,but I do not pay for what I can do better by myself.

That's good for you. But as this thread was how things were going in Eastern Montana and as Tony is a gentleman and offered his help you choose to be rude to someone you have never meet. Real class act you are.

You mistook reality for rude.I call them as I see them.I hate to see guys with no experience get bullshitted.really pretty simple,but you guys stick together like flies on horse puckey.

I don't think so, If everyone could shoot 150-170 inch mule deer on public property there would be no need for guided hunts. I think Drummond summed up eastern Montana pretty well and as Tony said a good deer on the high side would be 180 but that's not the norm is it. If someone wants to shoot a 180 class or better they would have to spend more than $8000 or spend about $4000 less and have a chance (not a great chance, but a chance)to get a 180 class deer but the norm would be a chance to harvest a upper 150's to upper 160's deer. Again Tony offered friendly help to a question and you feel the need to degrade him and his buisness. All this thread now shows is you have no class and would rather stir the pot.

HntnBgame. Thanks I found If I BS people then I don't have very good time while people are with me on their vacation. Good Luck on your trip. Montana has had a rough road with the whole license issue, Hard winter and some tough die offs. But it is still a great hunting destination.

I guess somewhere I must have pissed in Olbiker's Cheerios. Though I can't remember when. Anyway I don't think there is anything I have said in this post or my hunt listing that I need to apologize for.

Brian, Since I have only had two years to work with the ranch in Glendive I think we are doing well. You have seen the pictures of the bucks we kill on the ranch in Forsyth and that has taken 12 years to get to that level.

Probably when I said 150 to 160 was a good deer which is the truth in Eastern Montana.That is far from the bottom average,but the norm.Yes 180`s and up are to be had if you put your time in and actually do some ground pounding instead of hunting out of the Truck.Most Ranches I hunt (Block management)or old Friends have little use for Outfitters that are viewed as Blood sucking the Community with little giveback.Thats why they lost their proffered tags.I do not have the ass for all outfitters,guides as I believe there to be some very good ones who post here who will bust hump for you.if I have offended anyone ,too bad!!!!

I took a 185 non-typical buck this year off public land in eastern Montana, but I live here, I've hunted many areas for weeks each year, and yes, I've done some guiding so I "know" where to look. IF you want a nice mule deer buck I think your best bet is with a small outfitter, the land owner outfitter types are generally excellent.

There is one example I can think of where "industrial" (several HUNDRED clients per year) outfitter greed destroyed the gene pool and trophy quality of an area, too bad. Would it have happened if those ranches were open to public hunting? Bluntly, yes, I've lived in this state long enough to see "public land" hunters crap in their own beds plenty of times.

When I was a kid outfitting was only a "profession" for the folks that took hunters into wilderness areas on horseback. Ranch guiding was a supplemental activity for the rancher, his kids, the ranch hands, a few locals. It wasn't until the late 80's and 90's that outfitters thought the state owed them "the right to a steady supply of clients". The outfitter sponsored tag and an unhealthy dose of unbridled hubris was the root cause of I-161. I am afraid that the outfitting "industry" in Montana has not seen the last of public anger towards them.

As far as the ranchers not liking outfitters, well, I-161, lost in rural areas in the state but was overwhelmingly approved in urban centers. Check the Montana election results.

quote:

Originally posted by HunterMontana:
I took a 185 non-typical buck this year off public land in eastern Montana, but I live here, I've hunted many areas for weeks each year, and yes, I've done some guiding so I "know" where to look. IF you want a nice mule deer buck I think your best bet is with a small outfitter, the land owner outfitter types are generally excellent.

There is one example I can think of where "industrial" (several HUNDRED clients per year) outfitter greed destroyed the gene pool and trophy quality of an area, too bad. Would it have happened if those ranches were open to public hunting? Bluntly, yes, I've lived in this state long enough to see "public land" hunters crap in their own beds plenty of times.

When I was a kid outfitting was only a "profession" for the folks that took hunters into wilderness areas on horseback. Ranch guiding was a supplemental activity for the rancher, his kids, the ranch hands, a few locals. It wasn't until the late 80's and 90's that outfitters thought the state owed them "the right to a steady supply of clients". The outfitter sponsored tag and an unhealthy dose of unbridled hubris was the root cause of I-161. I am afraid that the outfitting "industry" in Montana has not seen the last of public anger towards them.

As far as the ranchers not liking outfitters, well, I-161, lost in rural areas in the state but was overwhelmingly approved in urban centers. Check the Montana election results.

Good honest comments!!!!

Wow. This turned into a pissing match pretty quick and I'm sure I'll get flack over this post too.

In answer to the ORIGINAL question, as a non-resident hunter in Montana who has hunted there in and around the greater Billings area with friends for the past 10 years, I noiced a big decline in sheer deer numbers on the properties we normally hunt there, a mixture of some BMA places and private ares my friend has access too. Enough drop in deer numbers that I was not able to fill my "A" tag (you all know, that really expensive one now thanks to that I-161 passage, and by the way, the last "A" tag I'll be able to buy with all other hunt costs going up). I love hunting in Montana, and over the years have drawn a few other "A" tags that I was able to fill, but not huge bucks by any means. I have no idea what the "numbers" were on these bucks, but they all provide great memories of trips past. I did fill a couple of my "B" tags this year and plan to continue to hunt in Montana on "B" tags in future years. In spite of the perceived drawbacks and lower deer numbers seen by me this year, I'll be back and if your state F&G department ever stops trying to rape us non residents I might even buy another "A" tag, and in the long run it beats the deer hunting opportunities and such here in my home state.

quote:

and in the long run it beats the deer hunting opportunities and such here in my home state

Exactly. And why don't you do something about it in your home state?

So, Montana should just kiss your ass because you're so special and condensed to grace us with your wonderfulness and whatever money YOU deem appropriate so you can come here and harvest OUR resources that OUR FWP and resident efforts have preserved. Oh yes, we should do that just for you because you're sooooo special. GO **** YOURSELF.

PLEASE go to Colorado, or Idaho or just stay the hell home jack-wad. Montana has finally begun charging an appropriate amount for ITS RESOURCES. I guess we finally got sick and tired of being a "third-world" playground for a bunch of whiny ass trolls from "somewhere" else. The new fees under I-161 are no more outrageous than those charged by other states with good game populations. On a per diam basis they are a bargain compared to Colorado. Yet, snots like you still whine. Bite me.

quote:

Originally posted by HunterMontana:

quote:

and in the long run it beats the deer hunting opportunities and such here in my home state

Exactly. And why don't you do something about it in your home state?

So, Montana should just kiss your ass because you're so special and condensed to grace us with your wonderfulness and whatever money YOU deem appropriate so you can come here and harvest OUR resources that OUR FWP and resident efforts have preserved. Oh yes, we should do that just for you because you're sooooo special. GO **** YOURSELF.

PLEASE go to Colorado, or Idaho or just stay the hell home jack-wad. Montana has finally begun charging an appropriate amount for ITS RESOURCES. I guess we finally got sick and tired of being a "third-world" playground for a bunch of whiny ass trolls from "somewhere" else. The new fees under I-161 are no more outrageous than those charged by other states with good game populations. On a per diam basis they are a bargain compared to Colorado. Yet, snots like you still whine. Bite me.

Looks like somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning

quote:

Looks like somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning

Actually no. I have no problems with non-resident hunters. Most of them are essentially really nice folks, yes even the whiners. I generally have no problems with outfitters, there was a significant percentage that abused the system, hence I-161. Unfortunately, if I-161 does not "solve" the perceived "problems" with the outfitting industry there will be more, and harsher restrictions. Too bad.

However; I am really completely over it when it comes to whiners about non-resident fees or license restrictions.

How about this: It's been a few years since I was in Washington state salmon fishing, when I was I paid an "outrageous" non-resident fee! Hey, I was fishing in US territorial waters, not Washington state territorial waters, why should I pay more!!! WA WA WA!!!! Or why is it fair for AZ to have limits on elk tags or Utah or whoever or whatever gores someone's ox because they don't live in whatever state they'd like to hunt in.

Grow up, fishing and hunting are NOT subsistence activities in the lower 48. IT'S A SPORT. RECREATION. SOMETHING YOU DO FOR FUN. If they cost is too high then FIND SOMETHING ELSE.

EXAMPLEo you realize what an ass you come across as when you complain about a $542 deer license fee to a local with a 15 year old pick up while sitting in your new $45,000 truck?

Stop complaining about the restriction: The restrictions are WHY the hunting is still good!!!

well guees I came off as the bad in this according to HunterMontana. Certainly didn't mean to come off like that to him, but can't help what he thinks and it is a free country. Guess I'll just have to stop completely helping out the economy in Montana then. And oh by the way, H M, go **** yourself too.

Yea it really sucks that non residents are hunting your deer on federal land that everyone in the united states owns. You should Thank every nonresident hunter for lowering your Tax. I hunt out west quite a bit and I pay for whatever License I need. I'm working Class! I work and live in the Adirondack Park In NY. Out of state doesn't pay half of $542 to hunt, fish and hunt small game and they can kill quite a few deer. Glad they come! Lease all your private land Make Hunting as expensive as you can,lets make hunting only for the well heeled

Yea, our economy would just collapse without the money from out of state hunters, spare me the BS. There is no shortage of nice folks who want to come here and pay our "outrageous" fees, we can certainly survive without another snot from the left coast.

Oh, and I'll be putting in for an elk tag or mule deer tag in NY next season... oh that's right YOU DON"T HAVE ANY DO YOU? Please send pictures of the big horns you've got in the Adirondacks... no? There is a reason why out of state tags are cheap in some states and not so cheap in others. What exactly do you have to offer? Whitetail? When I was growing up they were considered vermin, still are by a lot of ranchers and local hunters.

The Federal land crap again? OK, how about we confiscate 40% of YOUR state? Or just randomly select whatever percentage of private property in your state to match Montana's "federal" lands and open it to unrestricted public hunting. You want equal access, why shouldn't it flow both ways?

You may or may not have some hunting and or fishing opportunities that are not available in Montana, great. Enjoy it. If I go somewhere to hunt or fish some species that is not available in my home state I appreciate the opportunity, I pay the fees, OR I DON"T GO. It's a hobbie idiot, it's not life or death. You're not feeding a wife and 6 kids for a year off what you kill on a one week hunting trip.

Whiners, I guess you'll be voting for Obama next time, after all, He promises to make it all FAIR.

HunterMontana, thanks for your thoughts on this issue. NR license fees have always been higher for a reason. Montana residents have tremendous in-state hunting and fishing opportunities and those NR's who can afford to purchase NR licenses are lucky indeed.

On the other hand, it might help to be a bit more open-minded when considering opinions other than our own. We're all in this together, you know. We really have no reason to fight or argue, unless we choose to.

Sorry about the rant for those not in the whiner group. I think I've reached my boil over point with the "It's not FAIR! I shouldn't have to pay so much for a NR license" crowd, and the crap they seem to direct at Montana.

On my part I wouldn't mind it if some of the critics of Montana NR quotas and fees might just ask a resident why are fees so high compared to (your choice of state). Instead what I hear is arrogant, condescending and ignorant of the actual situation. I guess that's the internet.

I have no problem paying the License fees.I enjoy hunting in Montana,and am made to feel at home there.I am not what you call well heeled,but I can`t put a dollar amount on the enjoyment I get huntiing there.If it was just meat,I could fill my freezer here .

WOW I'm glad to see my post got atleast 3 three replys that pretain to my topic.

Yea, well here is a link to a Montana FWP survey on mule deer hunting/hunter attitudes about seasons etc.
http://fwp.mt.gov/fwpDoc.html?id=53311

I would suggest that you explore the MT FWP website, especially the NEWS section. http://fwp.mt.gov/news/

EHD and/or blue tongue took a horrible toll on deer the eastern and central part of the state over the last two years. A nasty winter last year in the same area also took down a lot of animals. Numbers are down to "where did all the deer go" levels or low in some areas, not too bad in others.

I hunted in an area I've hunted for the last twenty years, not every year, but mostly. I usually see several dozen deer over the course of a week, I saw 4 in four days. I had a doe tag for Region 7 but decided not to use it. Antelope numbers were down in that area from hundreds to a few dozen.

Frankly, Montana isn't known for producing giant bucks, too much pressure during the rut, bad winters, deer don't get old. It has always had consistently good hunting though. A little effort would get you a 150 some serious time, 175+ not that usual. Not so at present because of the disease and weather. If I were traveling out here to hunt I'd go guided or at least paid private access. DIY on public if you've never been here before? In a couple of years it should be back to normal.

HunterMontana:Thanks for the links

quote:

Originally posted by OLBIKER:
I have no problem paying the License fees.I enjoy hunting in Montana,and am made to feel at home there.I am not what you call well heeled,but I can`t put a dollar amount on the enjoyment I get huntiing there.If it was just meat,I could fill my freezer here .

I totally agree. I didn't get drawn in 2010, but drew for this year, a License A and B for a whitetail doe. Hunted with a farmer who leases some of my family land, and had a fantastic time. He commented that the deer and antelope numbers were down, but compared to my home state, the hunting was fantastic. I am not wealthy, and while not thrilled with the 50% increase in NR fees, I believe they are well worth it. I hope to draw next year, and will be thrilled to go again. My farmer friend said it was fun to hunt with someone who appreciated it. For me, it was a fulfillment of a near life long dream. I hope I can go again soon.

I did a guided mule deer hunt in eastern Montana in 2011. It was my eighth hunt since 1998 with the same outfitter. I would say I saw about 1/4 or 1/5 the number of mulies I've seen in my previous seven hunts. For instance, in 2010, I saw 7 4X4's in the first hour of my hunt, and passed on a 24" 4X4. In 2011, I shot the first mature 4X4 I saw, and only saw a total of 8 4X4's in the entire 5 day hunt. Of the 8 4X4's, I shot one and the other mature 4X4 was 200 yards off the property line, and therefore off limits. I didn't see a single antelope, where in past year, I'd see dozens. Whitetails were almost non- existent. Pretty severe winter kill in my opinion.

Sorry guys. HunterMontana is just another wannabee cowboy wearing his belt to tight from the east side. Check the records. More top end deer taken over here in the west side of the state. I know plenty of guys who shoot big deer year after year. Wolves and all.

Ski+3

The Federal land argument (we all own Federal land so we should all pay the same license fee) makes no sense whatsoever. With that logic, I wouldn't have to pay a non-resident license if I hunt on my land in Colorado.

The game belongs to the state, not the landowner. Why is that so hard to understand?

quote:

Don't Ever Book a Hunt with Jeff Blair

Ha, It's funny he calls my house multi times yearly and I have no Idea how he got my #.
Never spoken with him, always working and was on my answering machine.

quote:

Originally posted by SkiBumplus3:
Sorry guys. HunterMontana is just another wannabee cowboy wearing his belt to tight from the east side. Check the records. More top end deer taken over here in the west side of the state. I know plenty of guys who shoot big deer year after year. Wolves and all.

Ski+3

Thank you smart ass. Yes, you are right, over the last few years, it looks like Flathead and Ravalli counties were great places to go.

However, the question was EASTERN MT. Next if you note that of the approximately 34 Permit only deer hunting districts 29 are either 100,200 or 300 districts, that would be the western part of the state. Restricted entry helps. A lot. Unit 270, southern Ravalli Co. has a 0.92% draw rate. It would be interesting to know how many of the big bucks out of Ravalli Co come from 270 or 261 (a 2.77% chance of draw). Doesn't do a non-resident any good, first he'd have to draw a license then get a permit, if limited draw, NR are restricted to no more than 10% of tags available. Slim odds.

Also check the last 10 years, more in the east, but just. Given the weather and disease, I'll bet the western part of the state surges ahead on numbers, but not the opportunity to hunt.