Montana region 7 antelope numbers?

[MTGunner]

I drew an antelope tag for region 7 for upcoming fall hunt. The 'loper numbers have been down but have they improved to any extent? I hunted region 7 in 2012 and did take a reasonable buck after a lot of glassing and a long stalk. BTW, it was one of my most memorable hunts to date. I do enjoy a good but difficult stalk. I have been booked onto a large ranch via block management near Forsythe. Just looking for input. Thanks in advance for the help. MTG

 

[Schaaf]

As far as I've noticed the speedboat numbers have been increasing every year since the winters of 10-11. Still not what they were prior to that but they have been rising. I can't speak for the Forsyth area as much as much as more eastern Montana.

How entrenched are you in the Forsyth area?

 

[The Hedgehog]

Not sure about all of the region, but the area in region 7, from Custer and east to Forsyth and north to Jordan took a beating like no other. It wasn't just the bad winter, it was several years of EHD, starting in 2006, and a half dozen years of continued over hunting on a pummeled herd. It'll take a decade of good weather to recover -The last 2 year's I've been seeing fewer than 10% and fewer of what that place was in 2005. I'd suggest leaving it be up north. South of the interstate is doing ok.