Elk Hunting Montana:
Book Review

Finding Success on the Best Public Lands

Elk Hunting Montana: Finding Success on the Best Public Lands So many dream hunts involve elk, and yet so often those dreams don't come true because of excessive expense, or just plain not knowing where to go. But Elk Hunting Montana can make the hunt a reality by offering a thorough and detailed explanation of where to find public access in Big Sky, and also find good elk. If you're the do-it-yourself hunter who's resourceful and willing to give the boots a workout, this book helps you plan for success in a state known for good bulls and a lot of public acreage. Author Jack Ballard is a long-time Montana resident and elk hunter, and lives by the information he provides.

Elk Hunting Montana: Finding Success on the Best Public Lands is a book designed to be used for deciding where to hunt successfully on public lands in Montana. Jack Ballard writes from Billings, Montana. (This book is a Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation book.)

The First Three Chapters

• When to Hunt

• How to Hunt and

• Where to Hunt

The When to Hunt chapter covers the periods of the rut and the onset of cold weather.

How to Hunt discusses just that, the ambush, still hunting, tracking and drives.

Where to Hunt introduces the various public lands available for public land elk hunting in Montana, with contact information for public land information. Everyone who plans to elk hunt Montana will benefit from those first chapters.

19 Regions of Montana

Each of these chapters includes discussions about that area’s:

• Geographical Overview

• Elk Distribution

• Where to Hunt and

• Hunting Strategies

The author provides a map for each geographical section and sub-chapters breaking down each area into smaller areas within each chapter. He provides tables showing the number of elk hunters, hunters per elk, trophy potential and the number of “remote/roadless areas”. All of this information is well researched and described for each sub-section of all areas of Montana.

Elk Hunting Montana thoroughly covers exactly that, while completely focusing on elk hunting on public land. Since I live in Montana and have my own hunting areas already scoped out, I found it interesting to read what Ballard says about my hunting areas. I found myself, thinking, “So that’s why…!” The book helped to motivate me to explore other areas of the Big Sky State beyond my favorite hunting grounds.

If you’re considering hunting in Montana, or even if you already do, this book is a valuable resource to spend time with.

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