In Montana, there are two basic types of whitetail habitat: conifer-covered mountains (west) and prairie drainages (east and central). The hunting is easier in the prairies, where deer are concentrated in smaller cover and access to them is typically on private land.
We offer Montana whitetail deer hunts on large blocks of private land in the northwest region of the central plains grassland area of Montana. Most of our leases are north and/or east of the town of Havre. We have under lease over 70,000 acres, and we manage our hunts to control the number of animals taken each year ensuring that we sustainably manage wildlife numbers. For this reason we only allow a very limited number of hunts on each of our leases each year.
The current Montana Whitetail state record 252 1/8 was taken in the heart of our leases, less than 5 miles from one of our ranches.
We offer both whitetail archery and rifle hunts. Archery season begins the first Saturday in September and runs through mid October. The general rifle season opens the last Saturday of October and runs through the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The rut for the whitetail typically occurs the last two weeks of the general rifle season, and these are the first hunts to sell out each year. True of Mule Deer more so, the whitetails do migrate back and forth from Canada into the US. While we tend to have great local deer in the beginning of the season to hunt, we have the addition of the migrating deer during the rut which dramatically increases the sheer number of deer in the area.
Our whitetail deer hunts access our leases via vehicle since they are spread out all over the region, but we will primarily hunt off of foot. Guests should be prepared for long periods of walking. The landscape lends itself to a spot and stalk technique which is one of the most exciting ways to hunt big game. This usually involves long periods of glassing followed by strategically planning and executing a stalk. We can accommodate handicapped hunters and those that have difficulty walking on a select number of our leases by more directly accessing vantage points using ATVs, or situating hunters at crossings and strategic locations and they can wait for the animals to come in.
Our hunts are typically 4 days in duration, but you can add more days if you would like to be extra choosey. Hunters can combine their Montana whitetail hunt, with any number of other species we offer. This includes pronghorn antelope, upland game birds and waterfowl. In our areas, you always have the option of taking a trophy mule deer if you see one and would prefer. Your Montana deer tag is good for either species, and you don’t need to choose until you are in the field. Hunters are encouraged to put in for the drawing for the pronghorn antelope, as we have some very impressive antelope in our area.
Find out why Swan Safaris is your family’s best choice for Montana Whitetail Deer Hunts!
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