Quick Tips
- To avoid the crowds look for obscure and out the way areas that may have been overlooked by other hunters or difficult to access
- Mountain Bikes can be extremely beneficial in distancing yourself from roads
- Average age of animals will be very low and trophy animals will be rare
- Tire chains recommended with the elevation of this hunting district and heavy snow can be common
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 120"-130" | 150"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | 110"-120" | 130"+ |
| Elk | N/A | 300"+ |
On The Ground
This hunting district is found in west central Montana on the eastern side of the town of Missoula. Because of its close proximity to a large city this area will see heavy numbers of hunters. This district does feature some difficult terrain to traverse, yet logging or mining roads are everywhere and can help with covering ground. Whitetail and elk can be hunted on a general tag but those wishing to hunt mule deer will need to apply for an unlimited quota permit. The average age class of animals found in this district will be very low thus bringing trophy potentials down to a very low quality.
This area consistently sees high numbers of hunters throughout the season. Most guys won't put in the effort to hike more than a mile off the road so willing hikers still have the opportunity to find unpressured deer and elk. Hunters looking to hunt trophy quality animals should look into different districts.
Terrain
Overall, this district has quite the array of terrain. On the western and northern sides of the district hunters will encounter steep hillsides covered in dense forest cover broken intermittently by clearcuts and some natural openings. As you continue to the east look for the ground to begin opening up and the severity of elevation between ridges to drop considerably. Some agricultural lands can be found on the western and southern borders.
Roughly 448 square miles
61.2% public land
Elevations from 3,300–6,800 feet
Vegetation
This area features a wide array of vegetation that is commonly represented in most of the districts on the western half of the state. Look for the areas in the west and north to be largely dominated by ponderosa pine trees in lower elevations and lodgepole, Douglas fir, red fir and tamarack. As you move east ponderosa pine will become more apparent and sage and juniper bushes will begin gaining density the further one moves east.
Access
This area is comprised largely of BLM, state, timber company and Forest Service lands that are all currently open to the public. Many mining claims, both state and privately owned, can be found in this district and land ownership maps can be incredibly useful in navigating around some of these. With the sheer amount of logging and mining activities in the past, there really isn't an inch of of this country that can't be easily accessed. Look for 90% of the hunting pressure to be found within 1 mile of drivable roads. Mountain bikes can be a great way to cover ground quickly and distance yourself from other hunters.
Main roads of access will include Highway 200, Interstate I-90, Ashby Creek, Garnet Range Road, and Cramer Creek Road
Hunter numbers will be very high is easily accessible areas and drivable roads
Focus on areas far away from driveable roads but don’t expect to ever completely escape any outside pressure
Camping and Lodging
A few primitive campsite can be found within the area but 95% of the lodging options will be found in Missoula. Primitive camping can be done on public lands for up to 14 days. Gear, groceries and other amenities can all be purchased in Missoula while some grocery purchases can be made in any of the smaller towns found along Highway 200 and Interstate I-90.
Modern lodging can be found in Missoula
Bearmouth RV Park, Blue Slide Campground, Beavertail Hill Campground
Great fishing found on the Blackfoot and Clark Fork Rivers
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