Elk timber in the Bitterroot, mule deer in the breaks and pronghorn on the open country east of Billings make Montana a place where a light rifle earns its keep. Every pound counts on a long climb out of a drainage with a pack on.

Fierce Firearms built the Mini Rogue family for youth, women and smaller-framed hunters, and the CT Mini Rogue XP weighs about 6 lb with a 12.75 in length of pull. Carbon fiber stocks, C3 carbon barrels on the XP, Mini Rogue 2 and CT models, and TriggerTech or Bix'n Andy triggers keep it light and accurate. Choose 6.5 PRC or 308 Winchester for elk, or 6.5 Creedmoor for deer, pronghorn and coyotes on the ranch. An integral bipod rail helps on the long prairie shots.

Under the carbon stock sits Fierce's stainless steel dual-lug action with a 70-degree bolt throw and a spiral-fluted bolt. The trigger is a Bix'n Andy Dakota, adjustable, and the barrel is match grade and hand lapped.

22 Creedmoor is a fast, flat-shooting varmint and predator round with very little recoil, which makes it a favorite for new and young owners who want to stretch their range.

This rifle has a 20 in threaded barrel, 4+1 capacity, and weighs about 5.8 lb. Finish: Sonora Carbon Camo.

Out on the plains or in elk timber, a young hunter may shoot prone, off a pack or kneeling. Length of pull decides whether the rifle fits in all those positions, so go shorter rather than longer. Set the comb so the eye finds the scope without hunting for it. Learn with a 25 or 6.5 Creedmoor first; the 308 and magnums can wait.

Montana has no purchase permit, no waiting period and no registration. Name the licensed dealer nearest you at checkout, in Billings, Glendive, Libby or anywhere between, and the rifle ships there for the federal background check. Ammunition, optics and parts come straight to your door.

Questions buyers ask: What Mini Rogue caliber is best for Montana elk? 6.5 PRC, 7mm-08 Remington or 308 Winchester with a quality bullet are sound choices. Keep shots within the range the shooter has practiced. How does pickup work in Montana? The rifle ships to the Montana dealer you name. There is no permit or waiting period, and the dealer runs the federal check at pickup. What caliber is this Fierce rifle? 22 Creedmoor, 4+1 capacity.

Specifications come from Fierce Firearms' published data for part number ROGM22CM20BRS, UPC 853418908105.