The size of Ford Creek Outfitter’s hunting areas is vast and very impressive.  The area is broken into three large hunting areas.  Area one is currently the area we are offering; all the hunts are from our headquarters at Ford Creek Guest Ranch that is approximately 120 square miles (approx. 77,000 acres) of Lewis and Clark National Forest. Area two is the country available when we set up backcountry tent camp in the Scapegoat Wilderness and that area is approximately 80 square miles (approx. 51,000 acres), also on the Lewis and Clark National Forest.  The third area we hunt is approximately 150 square miles (approx. 96,000 acres) and is our hunting territory in the Bob Marshall Wilderness on the west side of the Continental Divide and is a wilderness back country tent camp in the Flathead National Forest.  Note: A small portion of the country quoted above is a quiet zone of Sun River Game Preserve located on the Lewis and Clark National Forest on the east side of the Continental Divide.  This area is effectively the transition area for elk and deer migrating from portions of the Bob Marshall Wilderness and the Scapegoat Wilderness to our hunting area. (Currently Ford Creek Outfitters is offering big game hunts in area one)

We describe the hunting terrain in our area as “open country with scattered timber”.  Game is found up close (40 yards) and at longer ranges (300 yards) but may be shot beyond that distance, so that is why the low power scopes are suggested with an option to dial them up at longer ranges and higher power. Over the years we have literally lost hundreds of super high-quality bulls and bucks when hunters have inadvertently used high power scopes and could not find their target at close range!  Our professional guides share their years of hunting knowledge with our guests to provide each hunter with excellent advice well in advance of pulling the trigger. Trophy wild game animals simply don’t allow for human mistakes…they are super intelligent and don’t stick around long when they see you or you miss. So, shoot your rifle a lot at the range before you get to Montana, practice and know how your gun shots at 40 yards to 400 yards.

We will be using two modes of transportation to reach our hunting areas, 4-wheel drive vehicles and our seasoned  mountain horses.  The hunting area from the guest ranch is vast and is located on the Lewis and Clark National Forest and portions of the Scapegoat Wilderness that is east and north of Benchmark and the Bob Marshall Wilderness. 7 large mountain drainages are the focus of our hunting area.  They point north and east toward the Sun River Game Range and select private properties where approximately 3000 elk (plus or minus) spend the winter and early spring.  Your hunt is a migration hunt for elk and deer combined.

Our hunting areas are 422 and 424.  There are 7 major hunting districts in Montana.  The 400 series have the most elk in them out of the 7 districts so our areas offer a good chance for spot and stock hunting. It is not rare to see herds of 100 plus elk. Backcountry winter weather encourages the elk to start their migration out of the Rocky Mountain Wildernesses on their way to winter range.  The most common sightings of elk numbers are in groups of one to twelve.

You will be hunting the Lewis and Clark National Forest and it is as much wilderness as the Wilderness is. Weather can change 10 times a day in October and November. So, bring outdoor hunting clothing that will keep you warm and dry, plan on changing weather.

Each hunter must shoot his or her own game animal.  Absolutely no shooting for other hunters in camp!

Every hunter must read the entire booklet of Montana Hunting Regulations and understand the regulations.  PROOF OF SEX must be left on and attached to all harvested big game animals.  If you cut off PROOF OF SEX you risk the chance of trophy being confiscated by Montana FWP law enforcement. Your Montana Big Game license must be attached to the carcass of the harvested animal following the kill.

On days we hunt by vehicle you will use your rented/private vehicle to drive to and from hunting areas with your professional guide, parking your vehicle and hunting slowly on foot. We will be using guest ranch vehicles along with your vehicle.  We do not expect you to transport any game in your rental or private vehicle back to the guest ranch after it is downed.  We use Ford Creek trucks, trailers and livestock to retrieve your elk and deer from the kill sites when game cannot easily be dragged to a vehicle access point.  We supply saddle horses when departing from the guest ranch to hunting destinations available from the guest ranch. For hunters who are in good physical condition we may walk right from the guest ranch, rather than ride saddle horses depending on the hunting conditions and location of the game.  It is not uncommon for our hunters to shoot game in close proximity to the guest ranch on the nearby open grassy hillsides.  That is a key reason we do not fire rifles on our rifle range during the hunting season, so make sure your gun is sighted in prior to arriving at Ford Creek Guest Ranch.

You will be staying in private cabins at Ford Creek Guest Ranch.  Our cabins are setup very nicely with comfortable beds, 110 power outlets and propane or electric heat. Everyone will be based out of Ford Creek Guest Ranch for your hunt. Your hunt is not a backcountry tent camp. Summer sleeping bags will be part of your equipment you will want to bring to layout on your bed.  Please bring a comfortable sleeping bag that gives you a good night’s rest.  If you have a favorite pillow please throw that in as well.

All meals are provided each day of your hunt starting with breakfast from 4:00 to 4:30 depending on your hunt dates. Ford Creek Guest Ranch will pack you a hardy trail lunch for your day in the field with extensive snacks and fruit. A family style ranch dinner will be served following your day of hunting in the evening back at Ford Creek Guest Ranch. You are welcome to bring your personal beverages to dinner.

The elevation at Ford Creek Guest Ranch is 4961 feet.  Most our hunting is between 5,000 feet and 7,600 feet.  Warm and/or windy weather may or may not result in marginal hunting conditions.  We are looking for snow and relatively cold weather for good hunting (+ 10 to + 25 air temperature and calm skies).

If you or any of your hunting party will be in Montana on other vacations or business during the warmer months in Montana and would like to drive to the Ford Creek Guest Ranch, I would like to welcome you and whomever you are travelling with to stop by for a look around to see what Ford Creek Outfitters has to offer, you are welcome to come and check us out.  We have a handful of hunters that visit us in the offseason each year so please take advantage of this offer if you are visiting Montana. If you are headed across Montana, we are half way between Yellowstone and Glacier Parks.
 
If you weigh over 230 pounds there may be some limitations on horse travel. We have fabulous places to hunt by truck where elk migrate if horseback is not your deal.  You may want to hunt via vehicle rather than horseback and we can make that happen with success, just let us know prior to your arrival at Ford Creek Guest Ranch.