Quick Tips
- Bring a fishing setup to fish the nearby Bitterroot River
- Bring a shotgun to hunt waterfowl along the rivers
- Have a GPS with landownership boundaries
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 160"-180" | 180"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | N/A | 120"+ |
| Elk | N/A | 320"+ |
On The Ground
Located in the west central part of the state, on the east side of the Bitterroot Valley, this unit has been strictly managed for trophy-quality mule deer.
This hunting district has really taken off with trophy sized mule deer the last couple years. The district holds elk, mule deer and whitetails with quality animals found throughout the district. Usually the bigger bulls and bucks come off the private ranches located lower in the valley during the rut. Look for extra whitetail and mule deer doe tags to fill the freezer.
Terrain
This unit begins at the top of the Rock Creek Divide, where its thickly timbered, extremely steep and rugged. It is mainly road less but as you make your way towards the valley floor it begins to turn into nice gradual rolling foothills, which turn into large sage flats and agricultural farm fields, orchards and dairies.
Roughly 223 square miles
60% public land
Elevations from 3,200-8,500 feet
Vegetation
High up along the divide, the back country consists of thick Douglas fir and ponderosa pine forests, with intermittent patches of burnt timber and clear cuts. The lower you get the more open it becomes and the bigger the sage flats and meadows get. The valley floor is made up of cottonwood bottoms and agricultural fields planted with alfalfa, corn and winter wheat.
Access
Private land greatly limits your total available ground to hunt, but access to the public land that is within the unit is actually pretty good. There are quite a few well-maintained roads that wind throughout the unit. Off of these designated roads are many different trail heads for back country access.
Skalkaho, Willow Creek and the Burnt Fork are your main roads
Camping and Lodging
Missoula, Hamilton and Stevensville all offer several options for lodging. All three of these locations have sporting goods stores, groceries, gas and other amenities. Camping is allowed on all national forest land for up to 14 days in one location. There are also a few designated campsites located throughout the unit.
Burnt Fork, Anglers Roost, and Black Bear are all public campgrounds
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