Montana Big Game Hunting
Montana has a reputation of being the pre-eminent hunting destination in the western states. Out here, our days are long and so is our season. Our early and general season back country hunts are based from semi-permanent tent camps far from a trailhead. This gets us a long way from anyone and anywhere, indeed into the heart of elk and mule deer country. The early rifle season opens in mid-September and runs through the third week of October. We provide general season Montana big game hunts from the end of October through early November. The elk and mule deer herds overlap in these rugged areas, so we hunt either species from each camp. Additionally, we also have good populations of black bear and opportunistic wolf harvest. Towards the end of the general season we offer mule deer and big horn sheep hunts on public lands west of our ranch. These are great migration hunts to close out the season. Whichever hunt and season suits you best, you will find the Montana big game hunting opportunities in this area will be a very special hunting experience.
Classic Western Hunts with Circle 8
Early Season Hunts
Back country early season hunting in Montana is just about the earliest opening rifle season in the US. We operate in one of two districts that open in mid-September, and they are in rugged wilderness areas deep in the mountains. These areas are reached only by horseback, and we use horses and pack stock extensively to get all of the camp gear and your gear in, as well as harvested game out. We provide early season guided and unguided hunts in this area.
| Dates | Length |
| September 14 – 21, 2026 | 8 Days |
| September 24- Oct 1, 2026 | 8 Days |
| October 4 – 11, 2026 | 8 Days |
General Season Hunts
Our Two Medicine River hunting camp is in the far northeastern edge of the US Rockies, abuting Glacier National Park. From this camp we hunt elk, mule deer, and whitetail deer during the general rifle season. This is a rugged and remote of elk country as you’ll find anywhere in the US. It has a highly varied mix of timbered and open country, We hunt the valley anywhere from the basins under the Continental Divide to the open ridges in the valley.
| Dates | Length |
| October 23 – 29, 2026 | 7 Days |
| Oct 30 – Nov 5, 2026 | 7 days |
Late Mule Deer Hunts
The last two weeks of November are perfect for hunters who want to experience late season mule deer hunting in Montana. The late fall weather and snow usually push the deer out from the mountain valleys onto the front range, where they gather for the rut and then winter there. We hunt this time of year along the National Forest lands along the Rocky Mountain Front.
| Dates | Length |
| November 16 – 20, 2026 | 5 Days |
| November 21 – 25 2026 | 5 days |
Here’s what some of our clients have to say about Circle 8 Outfitters
A great adventure. Got my first muley. Excellent hospitality.
Great time as always! Never a dull moment!
Top drawer operation! The real deal – excellent!
Hunting Trip Rates 2026
Hunt Type |
Season / Location |
Duration |
Price |
| Guided Hunts 1 – 3 (elk, deer, bear, wolf combo) |
Early rifle season Wilderness |
8 Days | $7,100 |
| Guided Hunts 4 – 5 (elk, deer, bear,wolf combo) | General rifle season Wilderness | 7 Days | $6,300 |
| Guided Hunt (mule deer) |
Late rifle season – Rocky Mtn Front | 5 Days | $2,675 |
|
Guided hunt (Big Horn Sheep) |
Late rifle season – Rocky Mtn Front | 5 Days | $5,000* |
| Unguided Hunt 1 -2 – DROP CAMPS – (elk, deer, bear, wolf combo) |
Early rifle season Wilderness |
8 Days | $3,300** |
* 5 Day Minimum, price reflects 5 day hunt
** Unguided hunts require a 2-person minimum in party.
Frequently Asked Questions
How hard is the horseback riding?
This country is fairly rugged. On your trip you will most certainly cross mountain passes, ford rivers, and cover a wide range of terrain from rolling meadows to heavy timber to wide open high alpine basins. We stick to well maintained trails. These trails often have bridges over the bogs and strategic deep river crossings. We occasionally have to go around, over, or through downfall caused by the wind from a summer rainstorm. Howeve, mostly the trails are in good shape. If you haven’t ridden much, you will be a little saddle sore. However, we stop about every 2 hours to give everyone a chance to stretch their legs and relax the riding muscles. Usually about 2-3 days into the trip you get quite acclimated to the riding.
How far do we ride into camp?
It depends on the camp. Our early season caps at Strawberry Creek and Gateway Gorge are about 20 miles by horseback. This is a bit over 7 hours of riding. We take multiple breaks along the way. The Two Medicine camp is about 2 hours ride into camp.
Do I ride horses or mules on this trip?
Mule riding is popular in some areas of the west, but we use mules strickly for packing gear. They are the “pickup trucks” of the mountains. We and our guests ride horses. Our horse breeds are a mix of Quarter horse, and draft-crosses. We are picky about horses and keep the best natured, durable, most reliable stock for our outfit.
Can I bring my own saddle?
Definitely – if it’s a western saddle. If you ride a lot and are driving and have your own saddle that fits you right, this is a great place to bring it. You’ll be much more comfortable.
How many guests are on a trip?
The hunts are limited to 4 hunters per hunt. If you are an individual hunting solo, you may be paired up with another solo hunter unless we have made arrangements with you for a 1×1 hunt.
What if I've never ridden horses before?
That’s quite common for us. About 50% of our guests have never ridden before, and another 25% haven’t been on a horse in over 20 years. We’re used to having new riders. Our stock is very gentle, and well adapted to the trail. They get us from one camp to the next in a safe manner.
What gear to I need bring - and what is provided?
Our trips are all-inclusive. We provide all necessary camping gear, cooking gear, tack, etc. All you need to bring are your personal effects, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. The tents are not big enough to accommodate cots so we recommend thicker sleeping pads. Sleeping pads can be inflatable or foam. We recommend reviewing the nearby Recommended Hunting Gear list.
What about tents?
We provide wall tents for all of our hunts. These wall tents are equiped with cots, pads, and wood stoves. They are large enough for 2 people and all their gear.
Do we move camps or do spike camps?
During a given hunt we do not move camps. These are very involved and require a lot of mules, staff, and time to set up. We do not do spike camps unless we’ve worked that out in advance. While much lighter, these are still logistically a heavy lift to pull off deep in the wilderness.
What kind of food do we eat on the trip?
We have an excellent menu of western fare. We pack quite a bit of frozen fresh meat, and bring along fresh vegetables as well. Our meals include all manner of beef, chicken, pork, and fish. The breakfasts are hardy and include things like bacon, sausages, eggs, and the ever popular pancakes and french toast. Lunches are generally in the field, so they are portable but enough to get you through to dinner.
What kind of hiking do I encounter?
We use riding stock to get to most of our locations to optimize the time and endurance of our hunters. Once we are at our location, we do quite a bit of glassing. We will hike to different locations during the day but the distances are rarely more than a couple of miles. You will encounter mountains at 6,000ft up to 8,000ft.
Is wine, beer, or other alcohol permitted on a trip?
Yes, we certainly allow adult beverages. Happy hour before dinner is often a universal social event on any excursion. We only request that you bring aluminum cans for beer, and plastic bottles (or transfer to plastic bottles) any alcohol. We prefer boxed wine, but understand many wine preferences do not come in a box. We want to see glass wine bottles wrapped in towels or other clothing to prevent damage during packing.