Quick Tips
- Tire chains recommended if there is a heavy snowfall
- Limited cell phone service
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 130"-140" | 150"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | N/A | 140"+ |
| Elk | 300"-330" | 370"+ |
On The Ground
Located between Helena and Butte this unit is managed for trophy elk. Public access is great with many non-motorized areas for the hunter looking for short overnight type trips. High mountain parks and burns keep the ground open enough to glass and spot elk from long ranges.
With as much pressure as the hunting district gets for elk with spike and cow hunters in the rifle season, targeting a particular bull is very difficult.
Terrain
This unit varies from a low elevation of 4,000 feet to a high of nearly 9,500 feet. The majority of the unit is mountainous and timbered, with rolling grass hills and parks mixed in at all elevations. The valley floors have farm ground which is mostly private. Up high you will find rock and scree slopes which elk will utilize.
Roughly 1044 square miles
42% public land
Elevations from 4,000-9,414 feet
Vegetation
The higher elevations and northern slopes are timbered with pine and fir. Grasses dominate the parks and open hillsides. In the southern end there are mixed pine and sagebrush giving way to sagebrush and juniper flats. A major fire in the north has left numerous standing dead trees making access and hunting challenging.
Access
Public access in this unit is excellent. Trails into the more remote sections take off from both the east and west sides of the Elkhorn range. Roads are common in the southern half of the unit. Accessing Tizer Basin most years requires an ATV, along with accessing some of the higher jumping off points. Many of the roads are too rough for a highway vehicle.
Camping and Lodging
Lodging is available in Helena, Townsend, Boulder and Three Forks. Camping is allowed on National Forest ground up to 14 days in a row. Forest Service cabins can be reserved.
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