Week Two First Big Game Hunt- Hunter Takes an Elk and Deer

Joseph joined us for his first big game hunt and hunted with guide Jason Warren. The two covered some ground and connected on Joseph's first elk. They had spotted the elk from a ways out and moved in on them. They knew the elk were in the timber on the other side of the ridge near the edge of a meadow. The two moved in and waited patiently for the elk to come out and present a shot. There were over 100 elk in the group but luckily the bull came over right where they wanted him too. Joseph got steady and took the bull.

Later in the week Joseph and Jason set up in a ground blind in the evening to try and take a whitetail. at last light a one horned buck stepped out. Joseph made a great shot and harvested his first buck.

Montana Guided Rifle Elk Hunt

After having multiple close encounters on an archery hunt with us two years ago, Mike Marchese decided to come back and hunt with a rifle in his hands this time. Mike had a great week of hunting getting in on quite a few bulls before connecting on his first bull elk. He also saw lots of elk, seeing elk every day of the trip.

"I can honestly say I have never had a more exciting hunt in my life. I was in elk and ended up shooting my bull at close range. It was really exciting. Even if I had not got the bull, just getting into elk all week was worth the trip. Not to mention I had some of the best meals I can remember." -Mike

Montana Guided Elk Hunts- Opening Week

Guide Jason Warren (left) and Jim Moore with Jim's opening week bull.

Jason's meadow strikes again. After a week of hunting hard and keeping after it, Jim and his guide Jason had many close encounters and saw lots of elk but did not connect until the evening they were sitting the same meadow Mark shot his bull opening morning.

"I knew the bulls were coming out in that meadow still so we decided to sit it till dark, no matter what." Jason said.

 Jason's hunch was right when a bull came out early in the evening. Jim took aim and dropped the bull in the meadow.

Putting in some Miles for an Opening day bull

Opening Morning found guide Remi Warren and hunters Andrew and Joe Ekstein waiting on a high mountain meadow where Remi had been watching a large herd of elk with multiple bulls the entire week before. Unfortunately the elk did not show according to plan so the group hiked to the top of the mountain and down the timber on the other side where they had seen some elk in the morning.

It was a long strenuous hike but it paid off as a bull bugled in the canyon. The hunters set up and one of the bulls came out in an opening in the trees 500 yards away. Andrew set up on the bull and made an excellent shot dropping the bull immediately.  While they were skinning the elk another bull continued to bugle to the cows just up the ridge.

Remi packed half the meat out that night planning to hunt the area for Joe's bull the following day. That next morning there were two bulls within range but the high gusting winds and trees made getting a shot impossible. they cut the elk off in the timber with the majority of the cows walking within 30 yards of the hunters. Unfortunately the bulls slipped out a different way bugling as they moved through the timber and disappearing.

Andrew and Joe enjoying a rest in the backcountry meado

Opening Morning Bull

After watching a bachelor group of five bulls enter a meadow every morning for over a week, Guide Jason Warren was excited to take his hunters Jim and Mark into the meadow now dubbed Jason's meadow to try and ambush one of the bulls first thing.

As they moved in on the meadow, true-to-form the bulls were out. The hunters snuck in and the first bull to give Mark Sicles an opportunity went down with a perfect shot. They had a bull down just after sun-up on opening day. The rest of the day was spent packing the bull out of the meadow.

Montana Elk Hunt - Opening Week Trophy Bull

Brian Secrest took his first bull with guide Darren Steel while hunting a herd of elk the Montana OutWest Crew had been watching before the season. A few days prior Mike Marchese and Brian had got into a big herd of elk and had some fleeting shots as the elk moved through the trees at close range. Not connecting, the group kept after it and got back into a big herd of over 100 animals a few days later. Brian was able to anchor the largest bull in the herd.

"After the bull went down we were all jumping up and down!" Brian said, "It was one of the most exciting moments I have experienced, my legs were tired but I sprinted up to the bull after I shot him. I could not believe it I finally got my first bull!"

After taking pictures, the crew made quick work of packing the bull back to the truck.