Quick Tips
- Don't overlook smaller isolated portions of BLM near private land, these can hold some good animals
- Good optics and boat if hunting off of the Missouri River are helpful
- Be certain of land ownership
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 130"-150" | 170"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | 110"-120" | 130"+ |
| Elk | 260"-330" | 350"+ |
On The Ground
Located in the heart of the Missouri River Breaks, this hunt district provides a lot of hunting opportunities in a very scenic setting. This area is known for its great elk, and provides some of the better bulls eastern Montana has to offer. Steep timbered breaks mixed with open ridges, and two rivers with cottonwood bottoms provide plenty of opportunity for some great spot and stalk hunting.
This district provides good opportunities for mule deer and whitetail deer, but is most well known for their elk herds. Archery pressure can be frustrating with a lot of archery hunters focused on public lands. The quality of bulls has decreased over the last several years, but there are still great bulls harvested every season. The deer hunting can be good with quality mule deer and whitetail deer scattered throughout the district.
Terrain
Containing a portion of the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, this piece of the CMR runs along the Missouri River throughout most of the northern end of the unit. Access is more limited, and the the terrain is very broken with steep draws and some heavy pockets of timber. This unit contains several areas that are very rugged with large steep ridges that will drop 500-750 vertical feet in a short distance. The rest of the unit is fairly mild terrain, with long ridges that have gradual elevation gain or loss.
Roughly 1,596 square miles
47.1% public land
Elevations from 2,250-3,500 feet
Vegetation
The unit varies in vegetation significantly. On the north end along the Missouri River there will be large cottonwood bottoms with a thick understory, the vegetation along the Musselshell River on the east side of the unit is very similar. Some of the ridges and draws have dense juniper and ponderosa pine stands with a mix of Douglas fir. Large openings are found throughout the unit mainly of sagebrush and grass, with some agriculture on the private land.
Access
Access is good. There are many small isolated pockets of BLM, along with some larger tracts of BLM and State land especially on the north end of the unit. There are several roads throughout the area that provide good access. A GPS is recommended to find the access points, and land ownership overlay is highly recommended. There is also Block Management areas available throughout the unit.
Camping and Lodging
Winnett is the nearest town on the south end of the unit. There is not much for accommodations, but they do provide gas and some grocery needs along with minimal lodging. The Marina off of Crooked Creek Road provides some cabin rentals. Grass Range and the Bohemian corner will both provide fuel. There are some camp sites located throughout the unit.
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