More elk on the landscape doesn’t automatically mean more elk in the freezer. So what makes the difference?
This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast, Downrigger Dale welcomes FWP Region 2 Access Manager Trenton Heisel for the next stop in **The Search for a Better Hunt**. They explore central-western Montana’s elk country, deer outlook, black bear, mountain grouse opportunities, and the details hunters should check before heading out.
Why does the Upper Clark Fork keep coming up in the elk conversation? What should mule deer hunters watch for in their district’s season dates? And how could this year’s berry shortage change what you encounter in bear country? Click here for the answers!
Then Trenton puts Dale behind the controls of the Montana Hunt Planner—and the conversation becomes a practical lesson in finding a place to hunt. From Block Management maps to access corridors and lesser-known private-land opportunities, they uncover tools that deserve a closer look before your next trip.
You’ll also hear why a simple thank-you can help keep a gate open for the next hunter.
**Watch or listen this week’s Montana Outdoor Podcast before you plan your Region 2 hunt. The opportunity you’re looking for might begin with a map layer you’ve never switched on.**
Links:
- 2026 Region 2 Big-Game Forecast
- 2026 Upland Game Bird Forecast
- FWP Hunting Regulations and Corrections
- Montana Hunt Planner
- Hunter Access Programs
- Region 1 & 2 Block Management Maps, Rules and Contacts
- Other Private-Land Opportunities, Maps and Rules
- Public-Land Opportunities and Access Corridors
- Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program Access
- 2026 Region 2 State of the Elk Report
- Region 2 Wildlife Annual Reports and Updates
- Hunter-Landowner Stewardship Program
- Rigger’s Conversation with Greg Lemon: “It Really is Up to Us! Protect the Hunt
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
Downrigger Dale downrigger@montanaoutdoor.com
Trenton Heisel Trenton.Heisel@mt.gov
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
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Check current regulations, quota status, property rules and closures before heading out. The episode’s discussion is a planning resource; the current official rules govern your hunt.
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