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Hunt District 417

Last Updated: Sep 1, 2024

Quick Tips

  • Bring extra fuel with you, nearest gas stations can be hours away
  • Avoid driving when roads are wet, they are impassable
  • Look into the Block Management program for hunter access
speciesgeneral Sizetrophy potential
Mule Deer120"-140"160"+
Whitetail DeerN/A130"+
Elk290"-300"340"+

On The Ground

This hunt district is on the western edge of the Missouri River Breaks and on the south side of the Missouri River. This very broken terrain offers plenty of opportunity to cover many miles on foot, and spend a whole lot of time behind your optics. Mule deer hunting can be done with a general deer license but bull elk is a draw for both archery and rifle hunting.

Compared to other hunting districts in the Missouri River Breaks, this district does not produce the quantity of elk, but there are a few good bulls. This is a general mule deer district with high hunting pressure; most bucks are harvested at a younger age class.

This hunt district is on the western edge of the Missouri River Breaks and on the south side of the Missouri River. This very broken terrain offers plenty of opportunity to cover many miles on foot.

  • Roughly 900 square miles

  • 38% public land

  • Elevations from 2,250-3,500 feet

The Missouri River, stock ponds and a few streams are the main water source for many of the animals. The Vegetation is ponderosa pine, juniper and Douglas fir in the draws and on some of the slopes. The ridges along with south and west aspects mainly consist of sagebrush and grass which are fairly open.

Inside this hunt district lies the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge which has no motor vehicle access other than the Knox Ridge road and can provide some more remote hunting opportunities. River access by boat is another option early in the season, and opens up a lot of access points that are inaccessible by vehicle or foot. Late in the season ice may limit this access as well, it is all dependent on the weather. There is a lot of public access on both BLM and state land, but some of the better areas for hunting are along private land, a GPS with a land ownership is very helpful.

  • Missouri River is the best access on the north end of the unit, boat access is best

  • Knox Ridge road runs through the middle of the unit and is graveled except for the portion on the CMR wildlife refuge, with precipitation CMR portion is not passable

  • Private land can cause access problems

  • ATVs could be useful to drive established roads

Lewistown is the nearest city with accommodations, but is a 1.5 hour drive to the unit. There are multiple places for lodging in Lewistown along with a grocery stores and gas stations. If camping is more your style Fred Robinson Bridge where highway 191 crosses the Missouri River is a large developed campground, and would reduce your drive time to about 5 minutes. Camping is also allowed on public lands.

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March 2025


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