Spring Black Bear Season Opens In Montana

The routine changes so drastically with the different seasons on the Petrich Ranch. The calves are almost all born now and a good old fashion branding took place over the weekend. Calves are roped on some of the same horses that have packed so many to successful hunts. They are dragged by their hind legs to a branding fire where two ambitious workers wrestle and hold them down. This is an event that involves all the family and some area friends.

Montana’s elk hunting season is right around the corner, and preparation is key to a successful trip. Whether you're a first-time hunter or a seasoned pro, here are some essential tips to get ready for your adventure with Rising Son Outfitters.

Montana is known for world-class fly fishing, and our private access to some of the best trout waters in the region makes Rising Son Outfitters the perfect place for your next fishing adventure. 1. Private Access to Trophy Waters

Hunting in the Montana wilderness is an experience like no other, offering vast, untamed landscapes and the opportunity to pursue trophy-class game in their natural habitat. However, accessing these remote, game-rich areas can be challenging without the right approach. One of the most effective and rewarding ways to navigate Montana’s rugged terrain is on horseback. At Rising Son Outfitters, we rely on well-trained horses and pack mules to transport hunters deep into the backcountry, far beyond the reach of roads and crowds.

Montana is home to some of the best big game hunting in North America, offering vast wilderness, healthy wildlife populations, and incredible opportunities for trophy elk, mule deer, black bear, and mountain goat. Here’s why hunters from all over choose Montana and Rising Son Outfitters for their next big hunt.

Finally, after a long hot summer, archery elk season has arrived. The elk sign looks promising and the bulls are bugling. The elk had actually even broke into my luscious green hay pile just before we arrived at camp, and had left behind the lingering aroma of their presence. This is such an exciting time of year to actually live among the elk and to really get a feel for how awesome and majestic they really are.

Rising Son Outfitters was saddened recently to receive news of the passing of a long time client and friend, Dave Miller of Cedarburg, WI. There aren’t words to describe the kind of person Dave was. Our first meeting with Dave was in 1984, when he unexpectedly drove into our yard during elk season and immediately fell in love with our ranch. When he found out that I was considering going into the outfitting business, he helped spread the news and was responsible for sending numerous clients our way.

The month of May was very exciting as we enjoyed another spring bear season. The hunting was great and the company was even better. Zane joined us this year in his first spring season and guided a client to her first bear harvest. We renewed some acquaintances with some past clients and friends and were delighted to spend time afield with them. Our clients harvested two fine bears, both of which were classic color phase in appearance. The largest bruin squared just under seven feet and had an interesting story behind his fifteen year old stature.

The bone collectors hiked their tails off again this spring in pursuit of elk, deer and even a few moose sheds. The amount of bulls they observed looks very promising for elk hunting this fall! The bear hunters have arrived and they are off this morning to begin their search for beautiful spring bears. It’s an early spring here in the MT mountains. With the snowpack below normal, the countryside is very green with lush, tender feed, which makes for great bear hunting.