Well, I looked to see if I got my big game combo license for Montana and I did. Now I know California and Montana are different, but I'm still under the assumption that I won't see a damb thing while hunting(that describes last years CA deer season for me). I will be hunting the area around Anaconda (near Butte) with some family (between dad and son, they got two cow elks and a mule deer doe). Hope I see something this year. Really would like to collect my first elk.



I shoot a 30-06 and I think it's time I learn about bullet expansion. Can anyone give me a suggested weight and make of ammo to use and what companies load them (not a handloader yet)? My dad will be joining me as well and he shoots a 270 wsm. Is this efficient enough for elk? Thanks for your input.



Sevens

There are lots of good factory 06 elk loads. I would try the Federal 180 Partition first. A few others to look at.

Federal 180 Trophy Bonded

Remenington 180 Swift A-frame

Winchester 180 Partition gold

Winchester 180 Fail Safe

Speer 180 Grand Slam



Stick with the 180 gr in the 30-06



270 WSM should be fine for elk, just use a good heavy bullet, like a 150 gr Partition

I agree with Anaconda and the 180 grain Partition.You might also try the High Energy loads from Federal in 180 grain like the Nosler and Trophy Bonded BearClaw.It's pretty hard to beat the High Energy loads even if you reload.They are right at the old 300 H&H velocities and ballistics in factory ammo.The .270 WSM certainly will work on Elk if you use a good bullet and place your shot well just as any other caliber.

Good luck on your up coming hunt.Jayco.

Sevens, I hunt in Montana every other year, sometiems each year if I get drawn, you'll see animals. Whether you get a shot or not is up to you. Your 06 is fine, I agree w/ the other guys about any of the manuf. ammo using the 180grNP. Your dad's .270WSM will also do well, look for a good 150gr load for your elk. Good luck, I love going up there to hunt.

I live and hunt in SW Montana (Butte) so know the area very well. When are you hunting? Archery or Rifle? Do you know what areas? Did you apply for an cow elk permit? If not I suggest you do. Your 06 with any good 180 grain bullet will do fine.

Elk Hunter,

I applied for the big game combination (elk and deer). The area I'm unsure of as my relatives are still checking into that. They normally hunt zone 319, but I guess their zones were changed. My tags allow for a bull elk and either sex whitetail. I was also told, but he wasn't 100% sure, that after the first eight days of the season anyone with a bull elk tag can take a cow. That is supposed to be new this year so we arn't quite sure as to if thats true or how that works. I will go up towards the beginning of November. I would apply for a cow elk permit (unless what I heard is true), but I don't know if a nonresident can get one and the tags for a nonresident sure are expensive.

Sevens

Both guns are fine and I hope you do well. Also you won't go wrong w/ the 180 (.30) & 150 (.270) Partitions.

However, don't overlook the Barnes X. The TSX or the XLC in lighter bullets - 165/168 (.30) & 140/130 (.270) will equal or beat the penetration of the heavier Noslers and retain more weight besides.

The only fly in the soup is that it takes a little more work to get them to shoot quite as tight as the noslers, but on elk, I wouldn't be sweatin' an extra .5 MOA.

If a person has not received mail from Montana as of today, does that mean they were probably not drawn for the licence?

Blue

If you are hunting 319 area, what you said is true. The first week is for brow tined bulls only, after that it is open for brow tine bulls and antlerless elk (cow and calf). The only thing that is not legal is spike and small elk. There are not many whitetail deer in 319 because it is mostly mountains. If you want a whitetail you will have to go to some other areas that have river bottom ground. You can usually find some good river bottom ground within about 100 miles of 319. I hunt 319 allot and know the area very well.

The hunting is VERY weather dependent. The more snow and cold the better the hunting but the harder the conditions. The later you can go in the season the better the chance of snow so thus the better the chance of good elk hunting. A pretty good chuck of 319 is wintering grounds for the elk and a very big herd migrates there if we get enough snow. Are you going to camp out or drive to the hunting area each day? I have allot of pictures of this area so if you would like to see some of them send me your email address and I will send you some so you can get an idea of what the country looks like.
Russ

MTElkHunter,

What defines a small elk? The whitetail is what I believe is issued on the license, I don't know why, hopefully I'm mistaken and it says mule deer. The second to third week of Nov is the only time I can go, I have a family vacation at the end of Nov. I'd would love to see some current photos of the area. I haven't been up there in a long time. I'll PM you my email.

Sevens

Blue,

There is still hope. I checked on the Montana fish and game website. Here's a link: Drawing results for Montana Good luck to you.

Bull elk have 4 age groups defined for hunting. The first one is the year they are born. When they are born they are classified as a calf for that first year. This is not usually an issue because since they obviously don't have antlers at this time you cannot tell them apart from a cow calf. That is why the licence says anterless because you can not tell a bull apart from a cow. By the next fall the bulls are 1 and 1/2 years old. At this time the bulls will usually have spikes 2 or 3 points but will NOT have a brow tine. A brow tine is defined as at least one anter with a branch point 4" long on the BOTTOM 1/3 of the antler. Most (99%) of 1 1/2 year old elk do not have a brow tines. The next year ( 2 1/2 year old elk) usually have 4 or 5 points. These elk usually have a brow tine. The next group is elk 3 1/2 year or older. They usually have 6 or 7 points per side. The purpose of the brow time rule is to protect those small 1 1/2 year old bulls.
Russ