Quick Tips
- Gaining permission to hunt private lands will greatly increase the odds of success
- Land ownership maps and software can be extremely helpful
- Expect competition in most of the publicly accessible areas
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Whitetail Deer | 110"-130" | 130"+ |
| Elk | N/A | 330"+ |
On The Ground
This district is found in west central Montana approximately one hour east of Missoula. This is a small sub-unit that was created for the 2016 season and is primarily used to control deer and elk populations on private lands. Most tags for antlered animals are distributed on a drawing basis while some “B” tags for antlerless deer and elk are granted as OTC tags. Private land and ranches dominate this area and will ultimately prove to be the ultimate hurdle for most hunters. Still, public land can be found and great hunting can be had.
This new district has not generated much talk as of yet, but some great bulls have been taken in this area and will surely start to raise some eyebrows in the coming years.
Terrain
For the most part this unit can be fairly easy to traverse. The northern part of the unit is typical prairie land comprised of rolling slopes of grass and some patches of pine trees. Towards the southern end of the unit look for the ridges to rise steeply off the valley floor and climb into heavily forested slopes.
Elevations range from 4,000-7,300 feet
Vegetation
This area has a very diverse mix of vegetation of which can lead to some great horn growth. In the northern end of the district the many agricultural fields can be found with lush crops leading to some incredible horn growth opportunities. In the more undeveloped areas looks for native grasses, sage, and patches of ponderosa pine and juniper trees to be present. As the elevation increases look for the open expanses to be taken over by stands of white pine, lodgepole, and red fir.
Access
With a large percentage of this area consisting of private land, the access can be difficult at times. Some of the hunting will be conducted through Montana’s Shoulder Season giving hunters the opportunity to hunt private though you must be called in to hunt and be given permission first. Some ranches also participate in Montana BMA program giving hunters public access to private lands. On the southern end of the unit where most of the public land is found, there are many logging roads giving hunters easy access into the high country. Because of the lack of public land, some areas will see a high number of hunters providing some stiff competition. Use of land ownership software for a GPS unit can be extremely effective.
Main roads of access will include Highway 1, Interstate 90, Princeton Road, and Jens Road
Hunter numbers will be very high on most public lands
Gaining access to private lands will be the best bet for success
Land ownership maps recommended
Camping and Lodging
Some modern lodging and grocery accommodations can be found in the towns of Drummond and Philipsburg though more options can be found outside of the district in the towns of Deer Lodge and Missoula. Sporting goods can also be found in Missoula or Deer Lodge.
Some modern lodging found in Drummond and Philipsburg
Sporting goods can be purchased in Missoula and Deer Lodge
Camping is permitted on public lands for up to 14 days
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