Avalanche Basin Outfitters - Fully Outfitted Montana Private Ranch 4x4 Rifle and Archery Hunts for Elk, Deer and Antelope. Located in Meagher County - Hunting District #446- License # 515
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Rifle Hunts

Thank you for your interest in our rifle elk/deer combination hunts.

We are located in the Big Belt Mountain Range northwest of White Sulphur Springs, MT, area number 446. We hunt 2 private ranches totaling 76,000 acres for elk hunting. These ranches include 7 main drainages, the largest being Rock Creek and Beaver Creek. The ridges and south slopes are covered with scattered timber and numerous basins. Elevations vary from 4,700 ft. to 7,200 ft. The tops of these ridges offer miles of open parks and benches, where much of our hunting takes place. The north slopes are steep with heavy red fir, lodge pole pine and quaking aspen timber for cover.

In the 2009 and 2010 seasons, 54 elk hunters harvested 41 bulls for a 76% success rate. 1 seven point, 26 six points and 14 five points were taken. 26 whitetail bucks and 10 mule deer bucks were also taken, including 1 seven point, 14 five points, and 21 four points (western count). 5 bulls and 8 bucks were shot at and missed. Shots were also passed up at 18 bulls and approximately 45 bucks.

In the 2011 season, 27 elk hunters collected 21 bulls for a 77% success rate. 12 six points and 9 five points were taken. 9 whitetail bucks and 7 mulie bucks were also taken, including 1 six point, 9 five points and 6 four points (western count). 8 bulls and 3 bucks were shot at and missed this season. Our hunters also passed up shots at 7 bulls and 15 bucks. Hunters averaged seeing a minimum of 125 elk per week/per person, including 8 to 12 bulls. This was our 29th season on the Lingshire Ranch.

All hunts are 6 full days of actual hunting. We run 1 guide for 2 hunters with 6 hunters a hunt maximum. You will enjoy the vast amounts of hunting country the ranches offer throughout the week. The ranches do not allow public hunting or road access. Our crew and the ranch crew are the only exceptions.

We run approximately 350 head of resident elk. These elk calve, summer, go through the rut, and winter on the ranches. The cow-calf ratio averaged 32% over the last
3 years, with a 7 cows to 1 bull ratio. A good flow of elk also travel on to the ranches during parts of the hunting season, due to hunting pressure around us.

The weather, other than extreme conditions, is not a deciding factor in our elk hunting. Our success is not greatly affected by 60 degree weather, nor do we depend on heavy storms and migration to move elk into our area. November snows do improve hunting, triggering the deer rut, concentrates the elk more, and makes tracking and spotting a lot easier.

Elk
Happy Hunters


Deer
Preparing for shipping


Montana
Snowy on Top

These elk do not migrate, spending late fall and early winter in high, secluded parks and timbered ridges, where hunting pressure is minimal. These ranches offer 118 sections of this type of country, giving the option of letting some hunting country rest from week to week, and being a major key to our success rate on good bulls.

Most of our hunting is done by glassing, spotting elk feeding at first light, then stalking to within shooting distance. If we have no luck spotting at daylight, we stillhunt slowly around edges of parks, benches, and fairly open ridges. In the evenings we set up where elk or tracks were seen that morning, waiting for them to feed into us or feed to where a stalk is possible. Due to the amount of open country, we work in on the elk only when you have a chance of getting close, clean shooting. You always have the option of passing up bulls due to size or difficult shot placement.

The mule deer hunting is done similar to the elk hunting, glassing, spotting, then stalking to within shooting distance. Our mule deer population on Rock creek is increasing at this time. The mule deer bucks that we are taking are 22” to 26” bucks. The Camas Creek Ranch has a good mule deer population and great late season hunting.

I lease 11,000 acres of river bottoms for deer hunting in addition to the elk leases. It supports an estimated population of 250 whitetails. We do some still hunting and a lot of sitting for the whitetails. Natural ground blinds are used, and will be set up pre-season. We also use portable hay bale blinds and tree stands as needed. Hunters are seeing 15 to 30 deer per day, including 4 to 8 bucks in the river bottoms. This lease is included as part of your hunt, and used later in the week after you have collected an elk.
The ranches are fairly rugged with a lot of high parks and ridges. This is fair chase elk hunting in mountainous terrain. Weather and wind conditions, changing game patterns, and hunter ability are beyond our control. You need to be well prepared and in good physical shape for this hunt, as we hunt hard to find the best bulls the ranches offer. We cannot guarantee an elk, but give our 100% best efforts. Our goal is for you to have an enjoyable, successful hunt.

The guides that help us are kind, courteous, seasoned hunters, and realize the importance of slow, quiet hunts. We also have an excellent full time cook.

4x4 vehicles are used for transportation to and from hunting areas. This amounts to 15 to 60 minutes of traveling before daylight to get into good hunting. They are also used during the day if we move to another hunting area before evening. Lunches are packed with us daily.

We drive to both camps, which are located 23 and 43 miles northwest of White Sulphur Springs on Beaver Creek and Rock Creek. At each camp one large cabin is used for storage and cooking. Four 12x16 cabins are used for living quarters, 2 hunters per cabin. They are furnished with beds, mattresses, 15,000 BTU propane heaters, propane lights, table, chairs, drying racks for boots/clothes, and gear storage. These cabins are well constructed, very warm, comfortable, and well winterized. A barn is used for horse gear, feed, and hanging meat.

All food, guides, equipment, and accommodations are furnished. You will need to furnish your motel rooms and transportation to White Sulphur Springs, Montana, before and after your hunt, hunting license, rifle, sleeping bag, personal gear, meat processing, and taxidermy costs. There is a butcher and taxidermist in White Sulphur Springs that can take care of your processing, shipping, and taxidermy needs, and are reasonably priced. We prepare all hides, heads, and capes for mounting.

There is a fine fishing stream at the Rock Creek camp. If you are a fisherman, you will need a light spinning rig or fly rod, and a small assortment of spoons, spinners, or flies. These trout will be mostly rainbows, with a few browns and brookies mixed in.
I will help you as much as possible on your travel arrangements. Transportation will be provided whether you drive or fly. Reservations are made on request. Helena is the closest commercial airport, with White Sulphur Springs being the closest town.
We suggest a 270. caliber rifle or larger with a minimum of 130 grain bullets for elk. In the Big Belt Mountains (area 446) a bull elk must have brow tines to be legal. We also ask you to not shoot any buck deer 3 points or under (western count) on these leases. We have had good results with this type of management, and with your cooperation will continue to do so.

2012 Elk/Deer Combination Rifle Hunts

1 Guide for 2 Hunters
$6600.00 per person
$3300.00 deposit to hold reservation
$3300.00 final payment on Oct 15, 2012
1 Guide for 1 Hunter
$7800.00
$3900.00 deposit to hold reservation
$3900.00 final payment on Oct 15, 2012
(6 full days actual hunting)
1st hunt - October 21 thru October 26
2nd hunt - October 28 thru November 2
3rd hunt - November 4 thru November 9
4th hunt - November 11 thru November 16
5th hunt - November 18 thru November 23

I am often asked the advantages/disadvantages of early hunts versus late hunts. In the early weeks, elk will be spread out more on the ranches. Some of the bulls are still with cows and more vulnerable. The elk have not been hunted a lot, and are easier to locate and walk to. The weather is warmer as a rule. The deer rut has not started yet, and big bucks are hard to find.

As the season progresses, many of the bulls will be alone or in small groups away from the cow herds. The elk will feed more during daylight hours due to snow and colder weather. We have had several weeks to hunt and glass the ranches and find where groups of bulls are staying. November snows also help locate and pattern bulls. The later hunts produce some very nice bulls, and offer great deer hunting. Many of the largest mule deer and whitetail bucks are seen and taken during the rut in late November.

We hold reservations after receiving a full deposit. Deposits for all hunts are non-refundable, but can be applied to other available dates or a replacement within the same year. Final payment is due on October 15th of the year you are scheduled to hunt.

This is the 2012 licensing proposals as stated to us by the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. 17,000 licenses will be sold to non-resident hunters through a drawing process. You can apply for your license directly on line. We will also send applications by mail to booked and deposited hunters around January 20 if you prefer. Applications need to be filled out, and with license fee enclosed, mailed back to the Fish, Wildlife and Parks State Office in Helena, before the March 15 deadline. No powers' of attorney will be accepted.

The 2012 Big Game Combination License fee is $944.00, and entitles you to fish, game birds, 1 deer, 1 elk and a conservation number. Starting in 2012, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will use a preference point system in the non-resident General Elk License drawing. 75% of the 17,000 total non-resident general elk tags will be issued to hunters with one or more preference points. Preference point cost is $50 per point.

*If you are unsuccessful in the license drawing, your deposit will be refunded in full immediately.


Hunters
Nice Group of Trophies

Meagher County
Overlook

Our camp offers enjoyment, relaxation, modern facilities, good cooking, professional services, references, magnificent scenery, and great hunting. We are booking the 2012/2013 seasons at this time. Please give us a call for the dates you are interested in. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Doug and Zita Caltrider



If you have any questions, please Contact Us or phone (406-547-3962). © Copyright Avalanche Basin Outfitters. All rights reserved.

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