In the first week, you’re still hunting feed-to-bed patterns. Access Realities on Public LandMontana has more elk hunting opportunity on public land than almost anywhere in the lower 48, but the accessible stuff gets hammered fast. Honestly, the hunters who consistently kill early-season bulls aren’t necessarily going farther — they’re going quieter and smarter. If you’re going to bugle at all, use a location bugle to get a response and find out where bulls are holding. Backcountry archery elk hunting in units like the Anaconda-Pintler or the Bob Marshall is physically demanding, and hunters who show up undertrained struggle to capitalize when the moment comes.