Lion hunting in SE Montana

r_cordell · Post by **r_cordell** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 4:27 pm

Does anybody out there know anything about hunting the Pryor Mountains. I live in the SE corner of Montana and am looking for some new country to hunt since we don't have too many cats around here, mostly the younger toms coming out of the Black Hills. I Know the Ashland Hills have some cats, but I've heard that it's already hunted pretty hard. If anybody knows about lion numbers in the Missouri Breaks, I'd like to hear from them. I've heard that there's some lions up there, but the country is too rough for a lot of guys. Any info on the Eastern half of Montana or the northeastern part of wyoming would be appreciated.

Spanky · Post by **Spanky** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:41 am

you may want to try and get a hold of Dean Carrol, Bill Ziegler or Cory down in Worland, Wyoming. There not gonna just tell you there spots but I am sure they have tried most areas on the border.

Badlandcat · Post by **Badlandcat** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 12:37 pm

Where you located? I hunt around Baker.

r_cordell · Post by **r_cordell** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 5:06 pm

I hunt south of Baker down around Ekalaka, but we usually do more driving than hunting. There's quite a few bobcats on some private ground, but not too much for lions except the occasional one we stumble on.

treemup44 · Post by **treemup44** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:12 pm

Badlandcat where do you hunt around Baker? I just moved to Baker from Western Montana and am looking for some cats to chase. Thanks

Badlandcat · Post by **Badlandcat** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 8:37 pm

Long pines, pine unit, 10 mile hill, Limber pines area. mostly along the Little Missouri river.
Like cordell said they are far a few inbetween, but if you talk to the locals they claim they are around very corner and killing everything in sight(LOL)
I think most of the lions that are found in that area are just moving thru to better habitat.

Mike Leonard · Post by **Mike Leonard** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:18 pm

Chalk Buttes so west Ekalaka. Long Pines like you said. Head further down towards Capital on the way to Alzada. North of Ismay. If you can get Access down toward Powderville and Bell Creek. Don't forget to check crossings on smaller creeks if you have some snow cover. Fallon Creek, Cabin Creek, . Go out towards Little Beaver on the 101 and then angle back towards. the country right along the line on the Beaver around Mike Lesters if you can get permission.

Some may wonder why I know this country so well. I was raised right there and no about spot in it. Lions were hunted out when I was growing up there and only occasionaly would one drift up the Little Missouri and you would find a track now and then in the Long Pines.

treemup44 · Post by **treemup44** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:59 pm

Thanks for the info fellas, Im working on a ranch about 5 miles south of Baker. Quite a change from Western Montana. Thanks again

Mike Leonard · Post by **Mike Leonard** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 11:50 pm

Five miles south is where the old Bechtold Ranch use to be.Here's a little trip for you. Just as you pull out of Baker and go up the first hill, there is a little congregation of farm buildings and houses and such. This was known as Gundersonville. There is an old light green two story in the south end of that lot. If it was about 33 years ago and you pulled in that place you would have seen some dogs kennels on the west side of that house and some chewed up bluetick hounds bellowing at you. And more than likely if the season was right you would have seen fresh skinned coons and cats hanging off that line to the west of the house.

This is where my two sons were started out and learned what it was like to have a hound dog lick them in the face. A lot fur processed in the basement of that old cold, poorly insulated farm house. But a lot of good memories.

Mike a former Baker Spartan

treemup44 · Post by **treemup44** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 12:14 am

Mike, my boss Dean Wang owns the Bechtold place now and I live on the old Munsel place from what I have been told. Where was the best coon hunting when you were over here.

r_cordell · Post by **r_cordell** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 1:16 am

Mike, where was it that you grew up around here?

r_cordell · Post by **r_cordell** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 1:34 am

Hey badlandcat, next time somebody tells you there's a lion behind every bush waiting to kill livestock, tell them to get all their friends as they want to and go looking for a track and see how amny they can find! We've put on tons of miles down here but haven't had a whole lot of luck. Good thing gas is cheap!

Do you ever go over around Miles City. I was wanting to get up there this year, but ran out of snow/time.

uncle Brisco · Post by **uncle Brisco** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 7:48 am

hey bud my trashy lot dropped off a bob about 2 months ago up in the custer forest over by Short pines,and they picked upon a friggen bohemuth male and run that muther pert near clear too Alzada,bayed up at least once,anyway i caught dogs and quietly slipped back into SD ,there is some toads in the north end of the Black hills on up into bear lodge but yer not going to find them in the hills they been skirting the hills more,they get run hard in Bear lodge so i would be looking in the breaks

r_cordell · Post by **r_cordell** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 11:42 am

Hey Brisco, why don't you talk the SD lawmakers into letting us run hounds in the Black Hills, then they wouldn't have to worry about deer and elk hunters shooting the first 80 pound female that they see. Seems like the obvious solution to me, must be too obvious for the politicians! That way, you could just turn your hounds loose in the morning and go take your pick of the lions they'd tree!

Got about six inches of new snow last night, but I'm too busy calving to go burn any gas!

uncle Brisco · Post by **uncle Brisco** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 11:53 am

brother we been sending fellas too Peierre as fast as we can ,whats cool, i think,is a few of the groups that were so anti,are so mad they figure that if we are going to have it than use hounds and do it right,so now they are shouting HOUNDS as well,someone will listen eventualy