Quick Tips
- Pheasant, Sharptail grouse and Hungarian partridge are spread throughout the district as well
- Some cell phone coverage, but can be spotty
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 120"-130" | 140"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | N/A | 120"+ |
On The Ground
This district covers a large portion of north central Montana west of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, and is open prairie where deer and antelope will greatly outnumber any elk. This area held some of Montana's best whitetail bucks, but disease did a number on them a few years back and they haven't quite recovered fully.
Historically this part of the state put out some tremendous whitetail, as well as really good mule deer. In the past few years mule deer numbers seem to have declined, along with trophy quality. The Marias River Wildlife Management Area is a big prairie whitetail hotspot, but requires you to draw permit for access.
Terrain
This is Missouri River Breaks country. While the elevation changes aren't all that dramatic the steepness of the draws will test your stamina if covering numerous draws in a day. Rain can bring your hunt to a screeching halt as this ground turns into a nightmare with the lightest moisture.
Roughly 707 square miles
8.7% public land
Elevations from 3,500-4,000 feet
Vegetation
Dry land farming and cattle range are your main types of vegetation. On CRP or unleased state ground native and invasive grasses dominate. Some sage is present but in very light coverage and finding a tree other than ornamentals and wind breaks around ranch houses is rare.
Access
Public ground is minimal, though a large tract of publicly accessible private land is available on Marias River WMA which requires a permit to access with the drawing in June. Some block Management Areas are available most years and state parcels not associated with the WMA are also available.
Camping and Lodging
Conrad, Shelby and Valier all offer lodging and amenities. Camping is available on state ground in some instances, with the recreation areas around Lake Frances just south of Valier for a developed campground.
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