Anyone know where I can hunt near Missoula?

[Poopers]

I just moved to Missoula and want to do some small game hunting with my new 17hmr. Squirrel, rabbit..whatever. Im surrounded by wilderness but Im unsure which sections are protected and which can be hunted. The FWP website is too vague for my tates. Anyone from the area know where I can just park my truck, walk into the woods and shoot at fuzzy yum yums?

P.s. I could use a huntin'/hiking buddy!

Thanks

[Cottonwood]

You have a ton of National Forest around Missoula, it is all public land and can be hunted with no restrictions.  Contact your local US Forestry Office for maps of surounding areas.  I also would suggest any colorized maps that you can probably get at Sportsman's Surplus by the Mall, or the sporting goods store on Reserve and Mullen.

I also live north of you up in Kalispell.

[Anduril]

I'm not sure how tasty those red squirrles are going to be.
Bunnies are good. No license, no seasons, no limits.
Get a surface ownership map from the BLM or Forest Circus, a tank of gas & go explore.
..

[Cottonwood]

The squirrels are plentiful for sure....

[Poopers]

Actually Cottonwood, there are restrictions in the forests. I think it was the Blue Mtn Rec area specifically where the FWP site claimed one could only hunt on the west side of Road 365 ( or whatever road it was ). Thanks, I'll see about talking to Wholesale Sports on reserve about a map. Its just a few blocks from me 

[Double D]

How about posting us a link to the  FWP page you found restricting hunting and we will help you understand it and maybe educate ourselves.   The way you describe it, it sounds more like a hunting districto,species restriction than a general closure to hunting,

[Double D]

I think I found what you are referring to.  Here is a link to the Blue Mountain Recreation Area  The 4300 acre recreation area has some hunting restrictions.  Big game and bird Hunting allowed only in the west zone.

Whether small game hunting is allowed is unclear. You need to ask The Forest service to find out.

Lolo National Forest Supervisor's Office
Fort Missoula Bldg. 24
Missoula MT 59804
406-329-3750

Blue Mountain RA isn't the National forest.  

[HogFan]

How about going to a local MT FWP office and asking them about the program they pay land owners (Block Management Areas)  $10 a head to let you hunt. When I lived in MT, that was how I did the majority of my hunting.

[Mt_Sourdough]

Id stay away from Blue Mt all together. Missoula has an extremely active outdoor community and many are not keen on shooting.  Another place to avoid is the Rattlesnake area, there are just too many people. There are a lot of better places to go.  Miller creek is a good place, but you gotta go several miles(past the Spangler ranch) before you get to forest service.  The Beavertail area has some decent squirrel and gopger gettin areas.  Beavertail is about 30 miles East of town off of I-90.  There are some decent areas up along the Blackfoot and Gold Creek.  You can go up deer creek and take one of the logging loads to the East side of the road.  I wouldnt shoot in the pattee canyon area.  All in all,  I would say Miller Creek will offer the closest hassle free area to shoot.  Rock Creek also has some decent area for shootin and plinkin.  The bottom line, stay away from Missoula's recreation areas if your fixn to shoot.  The Deep creek and deer creek ranges should be visited as often as possible.

[Double D]

MY Sourdough, you still down in AZ?  Hows your pa?

[Mt_Sourdough]

Thank you for asking about my pa.  He is hanging in there, but he isn't coping well with his condition.  He gave up on therapy in December and he is feeling defeated.  I need to get him out shooting, it is just about the only thing that will get him out of his house.  I bought a rifle rest that allows him to shoot more easily.   

This is a pic of him shooting since his strokes and brain surgery.


I am still in Arizona, but during this time of year I am not complaining so much.  I'll be back in Montana in May to clear out some storage spaces and then I hope to get back for good in July.  I cant wait to get back to scouting the elk and preparing for hunting season.  A year without hunting should be a crime.