HUNT TURKEYS IN CENTRAL MONTANA

Howdy!  I’d like to help give you an idea of the turkey hunting opportunities in central Montana.  My name is Joe Bauman.  I was fortunate to have been born and raised right here in the heartland of Montana.  I’ve been hunting turkeys for about fifteen years.  Turkeys in our area can be hunted in both the spring and fall.  My favorite season is the spring season however.  We have so many other fall hunting opportunities that it’s hard to find time to do them all.  Spring turkey is the only hunting season open.  Spring is such a great time to be in the woods as nature is awakening from its winter slumber.  Then if you’re lucky you get to hear the male gobbler sounding off for the ladies!    

Lewistown is the county seat of Fergus County.  It is in the geographic area referred to as the Judith Basin. This basin is formed by the island mountain ranges consisting of the Little Belts, Highwoods, North and South Moccasins, Judiths, and the Big Snowy Mountains.  The Judith Basin is drained by the Judith River which flows from the Little Belt Mountains into the Missouri River.  The Judith River was named by Lewis and Clark on their expedition up the Missouri River.

Most turkey hunting opportunities are in the foothills of these mountain ranges.  Unfortunately there is not a lot of public land in these foothills.  There are scattered parcels of state land and BLM land.  A good land map will show where these parcels are.  Maps are available from the Regional BLM office in Lewistown (406-538-2233) or at the local sporting goods stores.  The people at these stores have always been very willing to provide helpful information.  In addition there are turkeys in the Little Snowy Mountains and the Missouri River Breaks.  There are more public lands available in these areas so access is easier.

Having been raised here it is difficult for me to advise you about gaining access to private land.  Having grown up here I’ve got to know and develop relationships with landowners over the years.  These landowners have been very accommodating, for which I’m very grateful.  I just don’t have a sense of their willingness to grant access to everybody who seeks permission.  I would guess that like most areas there are landowners who are willing to allow turkey hunting and those who won’t for their own reasons.  My best advice regarding private land hunting would be to find a potential area, knock on some doors and try and develop a relationship with those landowners gracious enough to let you hunt.  Give yourself plenty of time in advance of your planned hunt to do this.  I’ve actually had landowners tell me that they’ve had people (I won’t call them sportsmen or hunters) knock on their doors at sunup of opening day and ask permission to hunt.  Needless to say they were turned down.  Obtaining permission to hunt on private land is not easy but then again if it was everybody would do it!  Be persistent and courteous and you should find access.

A website that you should find useful for maps is www.nris.state.mt.us and for rules and regulations go to www.fwp.mt.gov/hunting.

I can be reached by e-mail at baumans@ttc-cmc.net or by phone at 406-374-2375.  I would be glad to try and answer any questions you might have.