Montana Wildlife
Whether you’re interested in visiting Willow Ranch for the world famous
Montana Elk Hunting, fly fishing trips, or just to spend some time in one of the most beautiful wildernesses in the world, you are sure to see an abundance of native wildlife. Montana has a wider variety of wildlife than any other of the lower 48 states. It is truly a nature lover’s paradise.
Elk Of course one of the main reasons people come to Montana is
to hunt elk, perhaps Montana’s favorite game species. During “rut”, or mating season, which usually runs from late September to early October, it is common to hear the bugling of elk bulls, a hunter’s favorite sound, as they challenge each other for the right to breed with the females. These bulls can have impressive
5 or 6 point antlers when mature, and drop their antlers each year during March or April. Montana Elk are usually seen in herds, but are quite elusive.
Goat Another popular game species in Montana, although a rare site, is the
mountain goat. This species is more at home on the rocks than any other animal in Montana. They move about the rocky terrain and sheer cliffs with effortless skill. It’s hard to tell a difference between the male billies and the female nannies, they both have horns and at a distance they look very similar.
The way to tell them apart is the males tend to keep to themselves while the females tend to stay in small herds. The goats are usually found in
Southwestern Montana, and they are the only mountain big game species that winters at high mountain elevations. The lucky few who get to enjoy a goat hunt in Montana carry the experience with them for the rest of their lives.
Moose The moose is the largest antlered animal in the world, with males reaching easily 1,000 pounds. They are characterized by their huge antlers, which can sometimes span
6 feet from tip to tip. Moose spend most of their time in meadows and marshes, eating mainly underwater vegetation. A little known fact is that moose can keep their heads submerged underwater for more than
3 minutes, and they are fantastic swimmers. Moose can be very aggressive and protective of their young, and their size makes them quite dangerous. All these factors make a
moose hunt in Montana one of the most exciting adventures you can have at Willow Ranch.
Aside from the big game species in Montana, there are a wide variety of other animals to enjoy during your time in the wilderness. It is not uncommon to see mountain lions, grizzly bears, coyotes, foxes, antelope, wolves, and even more. Sometimes you’re lucky enough to spot the majestic bald eagle, golden eagle, or red-tailed hawk soaring through the sky searching for prey.
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information.
Of course one of the main reasons people come to Montana is
to hunt elk, perhaps Montana’s favorite game species. During “rut”, or mating season, which usually runs from late September to early October, it is common to hear the bugling of elk bulls, a hunter’s favorite sound, as they challenge each other for the right to breed with the females. These bulls can have impressive
5 or 6 point antlers when mature, and drop their antlers each year during March or April. Montana Elk are usually seen in herds, but are quite elusive.
Another popular game species in Montana, although a rare site, is the
mountain goat. This species is more at home on the rocks than any other animal in Montana. They move about the rocky terrain and sheer cliffs with effortless skill. It’s hard to tell a difference between the male billies and the female nannies, they both have horns and at a distance they look very similar.
The way to tell them apart is the males tend to keep to themselves while the females tend to stay in small herds. The goats are usually found in
Southwestern Montana, and they are the only mountain big game species that winters at high mountain elevations. The lucky few who get to enjoy a goat hunt in Montana carry the experience with them for the rest of their lives.
The moose is the largest antlered animal in the world, with males reaching easily 1,000 pounds. They are characterized by their huge antlers, which can sometimes span
6 feet from tip to tip. Moose spend most of their time in meadows and marshes, eating mainly underwater vegetation. A little known fact is that moose can keep their heads submerged underwater for more than
3 minutes, and they are fantastic swimmers. Moose can be very aggressive and protective of their young, and their size makes them quite dangerous. All these factors make a
moose hunt in Montana one of the most exciting adventures you can have at Willow Ranch.
