Well, spent a week up on the north side of Fort Peck in 622 chasing cows... wasn't a good week. First, found out one of my favorite spots had a big fire roll thru this summer, leaving behind nothing but black ground.... so no elk there... Then found out that some ranches that allowed public hunting, one was in block management, closed all hunting. Fence posts had signs saying "NO HUNTING Thanks to MT FWP Free Roaming Bison Plan." So, needless to say, elk ain't stupid, and they went right to where there was no pressure.Was a discouraging hunt, but was able to sit 60 yards from a couple bulls... too bad the bull tag is hard to obtain.So if anyone is heading that way, hope this info helps on planning for the hunt...
We have hunted Unit 622 for many years, the last 20 or so years by horseback. Last season was the worst I've ever seen for elk sighted and deer sighted also. We rode into two of the most remote spots I know of in the unit and only saw one cow about two miles away, a bunch of 3 raghorns, one muley buck and one muley doe, and one lone antelope. We saw twice as many coyotes as all other game animals combined. I don't know what they have done to 622, but I don't plan to go back again. Once they raised the lake level, that destroyed all of the river bottom security cover, and made access way easier than it used to be. In my opinion 622 will never recover to what it used to be as long as the lake level stays up this high. The other units that still have the river bottom willow thickets still have elk. The really amazing thing to me, is that I see FWP has put the same number of tags up for sale again this year in 622. Maybe I've lost my mind? I think someone has. I always though that one of the main missions of FWP was to be a steward of our game and fish resources. Our hunting and fishing license dollars go to them to that end hopefully. I for one want a refund!
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Topic: 2012 elk hunting 622 (Read 5761 times)
