LAST BEST MEAT HUNTS

If venison was currency, most eastern-Montana landowners would be deer-meat millionaires. Ranchland from Plentywood in the northeastern corner to Lewistown in the middle of the state is literally crawling with mule deer and whitetails, and while it sounds strange to say in this day of pay-to-play and drum-tight private-land access, the deer are yours for the taking.

For much of this region, antlerless deer tags are available over the counter for country rich in hunting access. All you need is a tag and a copy of Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Hunter Access Guide, plus a willingness to field-dress one or more deer. What you do with the venison—whether it becomes a year’s worth of burger or you transform it into jerky or sausage—is