Quick Tips
- Bring good optics, open country, lots of glassing from high points
- Be cautious of wet roads mud can make driving impossible
- Bring a shotgun the bird hunting in portions of the unit is very good
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 130"-160" | 170"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | N/A | 130"+ |
| Elk | 280"-310" | 340"+ |
On The Ground
This hunt district is located between the Tongue and Powder rivers. This is a beautiful place to hunt with rolling prairies, large sagebrush flats, forested timber buttes and steep river breaks.
Elk seem to be in isolated pockets, but there are some great bulls in this hunting district. Mule deer numbers are on a low cycle, but can be found throughout the district. Whitetail deer are also on a low cycle and can be found throughout the area. Private land has some of the better populations.
Terrain
This area has many isolated parcels of BLM land on the north and central portions of the unit, with a large part of the Custer National Forest on the southern end of the unit. The Custer National Forest contains timbered ridges with some large grass and sagebrush valleys. This unit is very diverse and contains everything from high timbered ridges, cottonwood river bottoms, sagebrush flats, rolling grass prairie and chalky cliff breaks.
Roughly 5,414 square miles
30.5% public land
Elevations from 2,250-4,400 feet
Vegetation
Some of the ridges and plateaus at higher elevations are heavily timbered with ponderosa pine, Douglas fir and juniper trees. The north slopes and some of the draws are also heavily timbered. There are large expanses of sagebrush and rolling prairie with little to no trees present. The major river and creek bottoms have large cottonwood trees and numerous grass species.
Access
There are a lot of isolated pieces of BLM, National Forest and state lands. In order to access these lands a GPS with landownership is a must. Many landowners are part of the Block Management Program which will allow public access with permission. Check with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks for which landowners are part of this program.
ATVs are recommended but not a necessity
Camping and Lodging
If planning on hunting the north or central portions of the unit, Miles City would provide the best accommodations. This is a great city with many options for lodging, restaurants, gas, groceries and a sporting goods store. If hunting the southern end of the unit, Broadus would be a good option, this small town is busy during hunting season but does provide lodging, gas, groceries and a few restaurants. Lodging does book up early during hunting season, so call ahead.
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