Quick Tips
- GPS maps recommended
- Extra food and clothing
- Be prepared for bears, its grizzly country
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 120"-140" | 160"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | N/A | 130"+ |
| Elk | N/A | 290"+ |
On The Ground
This district includes portions of Carbon, Sweet Grass and Park Counties south of the communities of Livingston and Big Timber. Yellowstone National Park and the Wyoming State line create the southern boundary. There are over 100,000 acres of public lands shared between Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and Custer Gallatin National Forests. Elk and mule deer numbers have decreased due to predation and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks indicate low number of whitetails in the area.
Alpine trophy class bucks hang out above 10,000 feet in pristine basins dropping lower only when weather and lack of high energy forage drives them down. Expect some of the better bucks to be in the most isolated areas. Mature bulls are typically found near timberline or down along the Stillwater or Broadwater River close to Yellowstone Park.
Terrain
Rocky, steep sloped ridges and mountains, barren ridges, deep drainages, hundreds of alpine lakes and basins, along with large portions of Absaroka Range and Beartooth Mountains ranges above timberline create a demanding and challenging district. Granite Peak on the Beartooth Plateau in the northeast corner is the highest point in Montana topping out at 12, 799 feet. Castle Mountain along the eastern boundary has an elevation of 12,612 feet. These peaks set a backdrop for other 12,000 foot peaks with many other peaks between 10,000 and 11,000 feet. Hellroaring, Slough Creek, Stillwater River and Clark Fort of the Yellowstone all have their headwaters in these mountains.
Roughly 466 square miles
98.4% public land
Elevations from 6,400-12,600 feet
Vegetation
Thousands of acres of alpine plateaus are carpeted with wildflowers of all varieties, moss and lichens including large expanses of tundra. Much of the mountain slopes are solid rock faces with little vegetation. The slopes with cover are made up of dense stands of spruce, fir and pine. Willows line creek bottoms and small parks have lush grasses. Ridges below 10,000 feet like Buffalo Plateau have stands of pine and spruce surrounding wide open parks of grasses and flowers. Mountain shrubs hang on slopes and ridges below 8,000 feet.
Access
Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness is extremely hard to access even with a network of over 180 miles of hiking and pack trails. A system of Forest Service roads lead to trailheads heading into the wilderness. Severe weather can shut down access trails and strand hunters in the backcountry. Know the weather reports for the timing of your hunt.
Please be aware of the wilderness regulations for hiking and stock before entering the wilderness area
Major roads near district are U.S. Highway 89 & 212 (Beartooth Scenic Byway), Montana Route 298
Camping and Lodging
Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness/Custer Gallatin National Forest restricts camping up to 16 days. The communities of Red Lodge, Gardiner, Big Timber, and Livingston provide a variety of motels, cafés and restaurants, medical facilities and gas and diesel. The distance from the wilderness area to towns may exceed 40 miles.
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