2015 Elk Hunting in Montana

(11/2/2015)

What is this web page about?

This web page is about a hunting trip in Montana that I was NOT on. I went with my cousins Chip and Bruce, and a friend Steve Sanders. Kip and Karen Linder (also cousins) showed up with dinner Sunday night! Click here for a Google map with Crooked Creek Campground at Fort Peck (ignore some of the other locations in this map). Click on any picture for a much larger version. Here is the list of deer and elk hunting trips I have been on in the past:

1975 - I was not on these trips, but a collection of old family hunting photos featuring my relatives.
1995 - I got my first deer on my first hunting trip. Click here for the only picture I have (this was before ski-epic existed).
1998 - Montana Elk Hunt - No pictures exist from this trip. My brother Randy came on this, with Chip and Bruce.
2001 - Montana Elk Hunt - Chip and Steve and Bruce got three elk the week before I got there. Then nothin'.
2003 - Fort Peck Montana Deer Hunt 1 week (Chip, Bruce, Kip, Austin, Steve), then 1 week of Bitteroot Elk hunting near Sula, Montana.
2006 - Custer Forest in Montana Deer Hunting for 1 week, then 1 week of hunting at Elk camp (same link, scroll down)
2009 - Deer Hunt at Fort Peck Montana for 1 week, then helped setup Elk Camp near Sula, Montana.
2011 - Deer Hunt at Fort Peck Montana - Deer hunting at Fort Peck Montana for 1 week then fly directly out of Billings, Montana.
2013 - 2013 Deer Hunt at For Peck for a few days then fly directly out of Billings, Montana.
2015 - This Page - I was not on this trip! Chip, Bruce, Steve, Tony and Kyle did a spike camp up the East Fork of the Bitterroot in the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness and then moved to Eastern Montana for a deer hunt in the Custer National Forest.

On to the Pictures (by Steve, web page editing by Chip on 1/14/2023!):

	Walking up the East Fork, a short panoramic view near Orphan Creek, Highest Quality: Click Here.
	We have hunted the East Fork of the Bitteroot, and back into the Anaconda-Pintlar Wilderness since back in the 70s, and love this area. However, until now we've always camped in Martin Creek Campground and hiked in/out of the various trails on a daily basis. In particular, up the East Fork into the Wilderness area is a three mile hike before any hunting even begins. This year we decided to hike in about five miles and set up a spike camp, from which we could then hunt from. This put us well into immediate hunting ground. Here we are hiking in packing all our gear to set up the spike camp. This is roughly 1.5 miles up the trail where the valley opens up a little. A major wildfire passed through this area in the mid 90's and this is starting to grow back. Footnote: this area burned again (and worse) a year or two after this hunt - we haven't been back since to see what things look like.
	Further up the trail. Looking over to Orphan Creek and Carmen Creek.
	Same thing only different.
	More trail. This is wilderness, hence no motorized/wheeled traffic allowed. No chain saws. Horses are allowed, so outfitters bring clients up into this area.
	Tony Sanders taking a break along the way.
	A view back down the East Fork (looking roughly West) towards the trail head.
	Tony resting; Bruce coming up the trail.
	Bruce and Tony. Clifford Creek is in the background to the right.
	Chip bringing up the rear.
	Ok, Chip and Kyle (Menna) bringing up the rear. Kyle is Chip's wife's sister's son. This was his first hunting trip with us.
	Looking over and up Buck Creek - a favorite hunt, but a bit of a climb.
	Chip taking a break. Much of the hike is a gradual incline. However, there are several steeper sections.
	This is looking down-hill; we're climbing up.
	Five miles in we reach a camping site "in the middle of nowhere". Steve, Tony (in the picture), and Kyle actually hiked in and out the afternoon before and brought up some of our basics (tents). They located this spot for our spike camp.
	Bruce and Chip coming up the final climb into spike camp. Highest quality original: Click Here.
	Steve and Tony slept in this two-man tent.
	Tony and tent - note it is right on the main trail. There wasn't a great lot of flat space along here.
	Kyle making the final climb into spike camp. Highest quality original: Click Here.
	Tony and Steve Sanders making it to spike camp.
	We camped along the East Fork just below Star Creek. This is Star Creek that was our water source while in spike camp.
	Tony at Star Creek
	Tony scouting - day one of hunt - Tony and Steve headed up Alpine and Park Creek. This area had suffered in the burn and had some open views.
	Again.....
	Here's a view up Alpine Creek - just starting to recover from the fire.
	Good views, but nothing to be seen. Much of this is extremely difficult to move through.
	More views.
	In the foreground you can see the downfall from the fire. This makes hiking through this area very difficult and dangerous in the sense that it's very easy to slip, or twist an ankle/knee if not careful.
	Tony on top.
	This is a view back west down the East Fork. The Bitterroot Valley and the Bitterroot Mountains are in the far distance (I think).
	Telephoto shot of the same.
	Hunting gear.
	The Rockies in this area are granite.
	Panorama down the East Fork.
	360 view
	Can't get enough of the view.....
	Ok, now we're just playing with the camera.
	Another zoom.
	And another.
	Taking in all in while scouting for elk.
	Been here all day and the rocks haven't moved....
	Neither have the mountains....
	Tony headed out at the close of day 1. A look at some of the terrain we're moving through.
	Tony taking a break to enjoy the scenery.
	Alpine, or Park Creek
	In camp a couple evenings later - boiling water for freeze-dried dinner while snow comes down. Bruce, Chip and Kyle.
	Bruce, Chip, and Kyle. We had learned on a previous spike camp trip to NOT cook (or at least boil water) inside the tents - generates way too much moisture and everything ends up wet.
	Steve and Tony's tent.
	The primary spike tent. This is a 12'x12' Alaknak tent from Cabela's we picked up a couple years back specifically for spike camping.
	Spike camp near Star Creek on the East Fork of the Bitterroot.
	The main East Fork trail passes front to back in this picture on the right.
	We've seen zero sign in this area, so are planning on packing up and moving back to base camp.
	An old cabin in the woods.
	We don't recall up which creek we found this.
	Anyone looking for a fixer-upper?
	Tony looking it over.
	Tony with the former resident's favorite Vitamin C suppliment.
	This looks to be back out of the East Fork and up along the trail/hike to Copper Creek from the Clifford Creek trail head(maybe).
	Trapper Peak of the Bitterroot Range south of Darby.
	Looking across the Bitterroot Valley.
	Tony enjoying the view.
	Formerly some great hunting ground up near the top of Reynolds Creek.
	Montana mountain valley.
	Another.
	Tony next to a swinging "down-fall". Highest Quality Original: Click Here.
	More great hunting views.
	And more....
	Tony and Steve in snow storm waiting for Chip (Ralph III) to show up. Highest Quality Original: Click Here.
	The trail over to Copper Creek from the Clifford Creek trail head.
	Snow/rain - we like it just a bit colder so it's snow - rain gets you wet and cold!
	More along the ridge-top trail.
	And more....
	Snowfall along the trail to Copper Creek. Highest quality original: Click Here
	Trying to make it to Copper Creek - why? This is the trail and area where, in 2001, Chip, Steve, and Bruce all got elk. Hence, it's a favorite.
	Steve and Tony in camp.
	Steve and Tony.
	Steve and Tony.
	Base camp in Martin Creek Campground - same tent as has been used by the Wilson clan since the 1950s.
	This is an auxillary "T-P" tent we use for overflow sleeping. It is insulated and quite warm.
	Base camp.
	Base camp.
	Getting darker - base camp.
	We picked up camp from Martin Creek Campground and drove across Montana to the Custer National Forest south of Ashland, Montana. Here we're just about done setting up camp.
	In the back right you can see the "port-a-poty" Brian bought several trips ago. We generally try to camp in campgrounds with out-houses, but when the conditions require, this serves reasonably well - though, frankly, most of us prefer "playing bear" and using the woods.
	Our selected camping area.
	Eastern Montana "breaks".
	We were hunting deer - they seemed to be a bit scarce this year.
	Eastern Montana National Forest land.
	Not sure if this is a look down the Tongue River, or up Otter Creek.
	Contrary to popular opinion (at least in Montana), Eastern Montana is not "flat".
	Sandstone wash-outs
	Great mule deer country - now if we could see one!
	Likely a view of the Tongue River valley.
	Panoramic view of the same.
	Another.
	Eastern Montana "breaks".
	Steve found a deer early one morning just five minutes out of the truck.
	Small mule deer buck, but one of the only ones seen.
	Little Forked-horn.
	Chip, in camp.
	Again....
	Steve was the only one seeing deer, so Kyle went out with him on a subsequent morning and found himself a little three-point buck - great eating!
	Kyle and trophy.
	Kyle and Steve - the only success on this trip!
	Kyle and Steve with trophies.
	Bruce, Kyle, and Chip
	Bruce, Kyle, and Chip
	Packing up camp.
	Tent all cleaned out and ready for disassembly.

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