This hunting district is found in northwestern Montana and falls in the famous Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. Hunters will be greeted with some of the best views the state has to offer and some truly remote adventures. This area is considered a backcountry district with zero road access; most of the area is only available to those with livestock or those willing to shoulder a pack and put on the miles. This area has an extremely high density of black bears, as well as the ever growing grizzly.

While this is most commonly known for elk hunting, there is still some incredible hunting and adventure in store for those looking to pursue bear.

This country is truly remote and something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Hunters can expect extreme elevation changes, very dense vegetation, and dangerous cliffs that can appear out of nowhere. The area is well established with trails, but traveling off trail can be very difficult until one reaches the high country and can escape some of the underbrush, though the relief is minimal. Due to the extreme nature of the access requirements, most hunters will need a fair amount of physical conditioning, even when hunting off of horses or mules.

This area is completely roadless and hunters will have little trouble finding real estate to hunt. The primary issue for most hunters will lie in the remote nature of the unit and a healthy hike to access any huntable terrain. Hunters on horseback will find little trouble escaping the crowds but may still be required to hike on foot to reach remote locations to hunt. Hunters interested in backpack hunting will find themselves at home and shouldn’t have much of a problem when it comes to escaping pressure.

This area is home to an extremely large array of vegetation which provides excellent feed opportunities for bears, though it can cause glassing difficulties later in the spring. In the creek bottoms you can expect to find a typical arrangement of leafy plants and grasses along with cedar, yew, and various pines. In spots, the creeks bottoms can also become impassable with huge patches of alder and willow. As the elevation climbs, the ground cover will remain largely the same but hunters can expect to encounter more fir and lodgepole. Very little reprise from the constant ground cover will be found until reaching some of the highest elevations and periodic areas of alpine type county. Here you can expect to encounter subalpine fir, native grasses, and rock. In some of the wetter avalanche chutes, the ever present willow and alder will grow heavily. Most of the high elevation bowls will open up enough to provide some great glassing opportunities.

Any hunters interested in modern lodging will be forced to look for options outside of the district; Both Seeley Lake and Kalispell provide lodging. Groceries and sporting goods can also be found in either of these towns. When backcountry camping, it will be important to practice clean camp practices due to the amount of Grizzly in the area.