Quick Tips
- Grizzlies are heavily prevalent in this area and a sidearm or spray is recommended
- Clean campsites are a must when camping in bear country
- GPS, Maps, or a compass are highly recommended
- Off trail/road travel can be difficult due to vegetation and terrain steepness
On The Ground
This hunting district is found in west central Montana and covers an enormous tract of land. Some incredible scenery can be found here along with great hunting. Many bears, including a healthy population of grizzlies, will be found here and can reach a good size. Access in this area can be as easy or as hard as you make it. In the northern end of the unit, hunters will find far less roads and much bigger country, while the southern and eastern portions will provide more low lying private lands, logging access, and opportunity for anyone.
This area, like most of western Montana, has a high density of black bears and can provide a great chance at a mature bear.
Terrain
As stated before, this area is entirely what you make of it. For those venturing into the northern reaches of the district expect to put on a lot of elevation each day in order to reach high vantage points that will allow you to glass into some of the large high country parks. Here, the country will be steep and generally heavily vegetated. Public land will be found in abundance here but physically accessing the country can be the toughest part. On the southern and eastern ends of the district, expect more subdued terrain with the possibility of tough access. More roads and glassing opportunities will be present here, though the private land can be tricky to navigate.
Roughly 1,456 square miles
74.8% public land
Elevations range from 4,000-7,800 feet
Vegetation
A wide variety of vegetation will be found in great abundance in this district. On the northern end, the vegetation will be the most dense with the creek bottoms being choked with thick underbrush, willow, and alder. Tree cover will be heavy in these areas with the ever present ponderosa pine, red fir, and lodgepole all over. In the higher elevations, high country parks filled with natural grasses, alder, and subalpine fir can be found and can prove to be excellent places to locate bears later in the season. The lower elevations found throughout most of the southern border will be more open, though creek bottoms can still become choked with thick ground cover.
Access
This hunting district has quite a bit more private land than most surrounding areas. Hunters who primarily focus on the northern edges of the district, specifically the north western side, will find ample amounts of public land and easy access options, providing that they are willing to hike. Logging roads can be great options for most of the areas, however other areas will still require a huge amount of elevation gain to climb out of the treeline and into glassable locations.
Main roads for access include Highway 200, Highway 83, Monture Creek Rd, Copper Crk Rd, and Highway 141
Cross country travel can be difficult and a GPS is highly recommended
Crossing through creek bottoms and north facing slopes can prove to be very physically demanding in some areas, when planning cross country travel keep these areas in mind
Land ownership maps and software can be time saving
Camping and Lodging
With the exception of a few small town motels, there is very little modern lodging available. If you are planning on staying in the area then consider modern or primitive camping on public land, which is allowable for up to 14 days. If you are willing to travel, then Missoula or Helena, within an hour of most of the hunting ground, are both great options. Groceries and sporting good needs will need to be met prior to the hunt or during your travels in either Missoula or Helena.
Bear tags are not valid until 24 hours after the time of purchase, this can be important to remember for traveling hunters
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