Huntguide.Com Visits Armells Creek Outfitters

Since booking the hunt the prior spring, I had been looking forward to getting out to see Mark and Deanna Robbins, of Armells Creek Outfitters.  Four years ago I had enjoyed a great antelope hunt with them at their ranch in Roy Montana and had been impressed, not only with the quantity; but also with the quality of game I saw on their land.  Between the land they own and lease, they have over 70,000 acres to pursue elk, mule deer, whitetail deer and antelope.  Upland game hunting is also available. In addition, they also guide for mountain lion and bighorn sheep. Because of their high quality hunts they currently experience an approximate 50% rate for returning hunters.  Many hunts are booked a year in advance.  Their success rates also contribute to their high rate of repeat clients.  Mule Deer and Antelope hunters have experienced 100% success rates.  Exciting archery rut elk hunts are also offered.  This past season 14 archers took 3 elk.  The remaining 11 clients all saw bulls and had opportunities.  Mark and Deanna have been running Armells Creek Outfitters for 7 years and Mark has guided professionally since 1991.

Rick met me at the Lewistown airport the afternoon prior to my hunt beginning.  We got into camp after dark the evening before my five-day hunt was scheduled to begin.  Once in camp I met Roger Iverson, whom I would be hunting with.  Roger had been out the prior year on an archery elk hunt and on the second day had taken a 6x6 bull that scored 308 P&Y.  After getting unpacked and visiting with Mark, Deanna and Rick, I turned in after a long travel day with anticipation for the coming days.

After a hot breakfast, Rick took Roger and I to do some glassing. The temperature was in the low 30’s and the wind was calm.  The wildlife was abundant as we saw multiple herds of antelope, groups of mule deer and even a few elk across the other side of a large basin.  Since I had gotten in after dark and not had a chance to shoot my rifle we decided that Roger would get first choice at a deer. The morning passed quickly as we would stop, hike out some flats and glass the surrounding terrain for deer. We saw several 4 x 4 mule deer bucks. Rick considered them too small to take the first few days of the hunt.

After having a sandwich at the truck for lunch we drove to another area consisting of wooded draws that were shallower than we had hunted in the morning.  As we approached one small draw, we jumped a couple doe and a small buck.  We worked our way to the edge of the draw and the deer had startled a nice 4 x 4 that had been bedded down on the far side of the draw, approximately 100 yards away.  The buck was tall and we had to wait several minutes for him to turn sideways to check out his rack. When he turned and we could verify he was a nice 4 x 4.  Roger decided he’d take the buck and made a perfect shot behind the shoulder, dropping the buck immediately.  The buck is pictured in the article.  He had a 22” spread, nice mass, and a live weight of around 280 pounds.  As we had been watching the buck, there was another slightly smaller 4 x 4 with a chocolate colored rack standing 10 yards below him.  After briefly considering this buck we decided to hold out.  For the day we saw over 150 mule deer of which over 30 were bucks including 5 that were 4 x 4’s.

Over dinner that night, we got to know the other 3 hunters in camp for the week. Dan and Lew were from New Jersey and worked together.  Also in camp was their friend Luke from Michigan. The three of them had asked to hunt together so Mark would be guiding them.  They also reported seeing lots of deer and antelope on their first day in the field but they had held off on shooting to get an idea of the average deer they could expect to see.

The second day was very similar to the first in that we did a lot of glassing over assorted draws and coulees. Late in the morning while glassing we had a group of 5 bucks coming up the far hillside.  One buck had an impressive rack in height and width however he was a young deer lacking in antler mass.  Since we still had plenty of time left we decided to pass on this buck.   I trusted Rick’s advice.  Rick is a 4th generation Montanan and is a very skilled guide and hunter.  His incredible ability to spot game in the distance and judge their size was a huge asset to the hunt.  In addition to his hunting skills Rick is very personable and fun to be around.

We returned to camp that evening to find out that Dan had gotten his first big game animal, a beautiful chocolate antlered mule deer that would probably score in the upper 140 to 150 class (see attached photo). It was great to share in his excitement and hear the story of his hunt over another great dinner Deanna had prepared.

Wednesday was another beautiful day with clear skies and temperatures in the low 30’s. At first light Rick spotted a group of deer feeding in a clearing about ¾ of a mile away.   We glassed and found 2 bucks among them.  One looked to be a good sized 4 x 4 buck so we moved closer.  As we worked our way into position where we had originally seen the deer they had moved.  We hiked along the next 2 draws and saw a couple does down in the bottom of the draw but the big buck we were after had some how vanished without a trace.  Big mule deer bucks seem to be very good at that. 

After driving to another spot it wasn’t long before Rick spotted another 4x4 bedded up on the opposite hillside. After studying him with the spotting scope we decided he was worth going after.  As we made our stalk we encountered a different 4 X 4 buck working his way in our direction.  After a quick survey of this buck Rick was sure the original buck we spotted was larger.  We moved along the hillside into a strong headwind and crawled up a small ridge to bring us out above the buck. I finally got in good position about 150 away from the buck.  Despite strong head winds I was confident I could make a lethal shot.  I steadied on his shoulder and fired.  The bullet made solid impact breaking the shoulder of the buck.  Even though he rambled over the hillside I was confident that he wouldn’t go far.

We stalked up the hillside and before long spotted the buck close to the bottom of the next draw.  The buck was facing away from me.  I got down to one knee steadied the cross hairs at the back of his neck and fired.  He dropped instantly.  I was very happy with the shot I made.  Unfortunately the exit wound totally ruined my cape and any suitable photograph opportunities for this article.  I was very happy with the mule deer buck, a nice 4 X 4 that scored in the upper 130’s.     I decided to get him mounted; luckily Mark had an extra cape in camp, which will spare my taxidermist a lot of extra trouble.

When we got back to camp, Mark had finished caping out another nice mule deer buck that Luke had taken that morning (see photo). That afternoon, we took the four mule deer to Hilger to have them processed.  Later that evening and the following day Mark spent hunting whitetail deer with Lew.  It wasn’t long before Lew bagged the beautiful heavy horned 10-point buck pictured in the article. 

With the 5 of us tagged out, we spent Thursday afternoon on a relaxing pheasant hunt, pushing out birds along a seemingly endless creek bottom not far from the house. It was a nice way to close out the hunt followed by another excellent dinner. The next morning, Roger and I headed down to Billings to get an early start on the way home. Dan had expressed an interest in shooting at some prairie dogs, so Rick was taking them out to pursue that Friday morning.

I strongly feel that Mark and Deanna’s operation is first class and offered at a very reasonable price.  To support this ESPN Outdoors rated Armells Creek the best value in Montana for mule deer. Roger already rebooked for the 2006 hunting season planning to bring his son.  All of us were impressed with both the quantity and quality of the deer we saw.  The combination of a vast hunting area and very limited hunting pressure allow hunters to see an abundance of game.  I am confident if you book a hunt with Armells Creek you will truly enjoy both the hunt and the company.   

 

For more detailed information on Armells Creek Outfitters please visit their website at www.armellscreekoutfitters.com.   If you contact them be sure to let Mark and Deanna know that you found them on Huntguide.Com.

Visit their web site at Armells Creek Outfitters

 

Sincerely

Jim Hegeman

Huntguide.Com
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