Quick Tips
- Clean campsites are a must when camping in bear country
- GPS, maps, or a compass are highly recommended
- Grizzlies are found in a large density in this area and bear spray or a sidearm is recommended
On The Ground
This hunting district is found in central Montana and is home to the famous Crazy Mountain Range. Most of the area is made up of private lands, but some great backcountry opportunities can be found in the Crazy Mountains on the west end of the district. Because of the small amounts of available public land here, many hunters may opt to head into surrounding areas, though there is still plenty of opportunity to find seclusion in the backcountry. The public lands here also see a large amount of recreational use.
Good bear hunting can be found here but the lack of public opportunities can sometimes send hunters into surrounding units.
Terrain
With the exception of the western half of the unit, this area mostly consists of open prairie lands. These areas are largely cultivated with agricultural fields and almost entirely private. Small sections of public can be found here, however, most of these will be landlocked by private and otherwise inaccessible without permission. On the western side of the district lies the Crazy Mountains, rising sharply off the valley floor and climb into intimidating rock peaks complete with cliffs, large basins, and some mountain lakes. This area will provide the most public access options and quite a few trails can be found here. This area is largely comprised of wilderness and access can be difficult for some hunters. The northern end of this range will be more mild in comparison due to less extreme elevation changes and a more gentle slope pitch.
Roughly 7,770 square miles
11.6% public land
Elevations range from 3,500-11,000 feet.
Vegetation
There will be very little change in vegetation throughout this area with the exception of the Crazy Mountain Range. Nearly all of the eastern two thirds of unit will be comprised of sage, natural grasses, cactus, rock, and patches of juniper. Mixed throughout these areas will be large tracts of agricultural lands. This area is very conducive to glassing, but it can be very hard to find public land that isn’t landlocked by other parcels of private land. The Crazy Mountains will see a somewhat wider array of vegetation as sporadic juniper patches are replaced with mature stands of white pine, ponderosa pine, fir, and subalpine fir. The creek bottoms and drainages will also see patches of willow and other leafy plants. Large avalanche chutes can be found throughout these drainages providing good food and the best glassing opportunities for bears.In the highest elevations, the treelines will end abruptly as large scree fields and rock slides become the norm.
Access
As stated, a huge portion of this district is comprised of private lands and landlocked public parcels making access very difficult. The Crazy Mountains are almost entirely public but the sheer ruggedness of this area can keep many hunters out. Physical conditioning will be important prior to leaving for this hunt. This mountain range has a great trail system making for good access points for those looking to hunt the backcountry, though cross country travel can still be difficult. The northern end of this range will see a few more access roads and make for easier access for those who are looking for quicker day or evening hunt options.
Main roads for access include Interstate 90, Interstate 94, Highway 89, Highway 12, Highway 191, and Highway 3
Accessing some of the high elevation bear habitat can take some extreme physical effort
Land ownership maps and software can be time saving when hunting lower elevations
Camping and Lodging
On the eastern end of this district the towns of Billings, Laurel, Columbus, and Roundup will offer hunters plenty of options for lodging, groceries, and gear. The same needs can also be met on the western end of the district in Big Timber, Livingston, and White Sulphur Springs. With the size of this district, it will be important to plan your lodging accordingly to avoid unnecessarily long drives to the hunting area. Primitive camping is permitted on public land for up to 14 days.
Bear tags are not valid until 24 hour after the time of purchase, this can be important to remember for traveling hunters
Modern lodging options can be found in Billings, Laurel, Columbus, Roundup, Big TImber, Livingston, and White Sulphur Springs
Historical Temperatures
High
Low
Moon Phases
March 2025
23
24
25
26
27
28
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5