Along towards the first part of September, when the first signs of frost are hitting the high mountain valleys, we begin to feel the excitement of the coming of the fall hunting season. There is a sound that stirs man’s primitive instincts when it is heard. It is the deep gutteral roar of a herd bull elk rising from the dark of a north facing spruce and lodgepole forest. Long and drawn out the sound comes from deep within the bull’s chest and carries through the frosty morning air.

Exciting as well is the return bugle from your guide when he sends the challenge down the mountainside and has his answer within seconds.

Chuck Blixrud of the SEVEN LAZY P GUEST RANCH, has been offering WILDERNESS HUNTS by horseback into the Middle Fork of the Flathead and North Fork of the Sun River since 1958 under the same ownership. These hunts are from tent camps deep inside the BOB MARSHALL WILDERNESS in western Montana. Hunts are of ten days duration, with the first day spent riding into camp, eight days hunting, and the last day for riding out. Each camp is a ride of about five hours.

Our camp consists of a main cook and dining tent, with smaller sleeping tents, equipped with cots and foam pads, with wood stoves for heat. Quite often hunters and guides move out from camp on foot, but horses are kept up the night before for an early start if the hunting is to be done a distance from camp.

We limit our camps to no more than six hunters on any one hunt. We provide the food, a cook, and a guide works with each two hunters. Dave Hovde, who will run the hunt, has been with the Seven Lazy P for over 30 years. Our other guides have been with us for some time and know the area very well.

Hunting licenses must be purchased early for Montana hunting. We need to have applications completed in February for the March 15 deadline of the year you plan to hunt. Cost for the guaranteed non-resident hunting license is $1500, and that entitles you to hunt elk, mule or white tail deer, upland game birds, and to fish.

• Two hunters per guide.
• You should arrive the day before the hunt.
• We require a 30% deposit for the hunt at time of booking.
• You would be responsible for the processing and shipping of your game.
• We will meet you at the Great Falls airport and bring you to the ranch and return you after the hunt.