Quick Tips
- Grizzly and wolf area, food storage regulations apply, keep a clean campsite
- Late in the season roads can become very snow packed -tire chains are recommended
- GPS with landowner overlay
- Allow plenty of time to hunt the district
On The Ground
North Blackfoot district lies in portions of Powell and Lewis and Clark Counties northeast of Missoula and west of Great Falls. Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex; Scapegoat Wilderness Area within Lolo National Forest offers tag holders thousands of acres of public lands. Continental Divide provides snowmelt to feed the North Fork Blackfoot and Landers Rivers. Only residents may apply for a limited antlered bull license.
Realize that wolves and bears have had a dynamic impact in the populations of elk, deer, moose and other critters that live in the “Bob”. Spend some time on the phone with a District biologist and game manager to get an update on moose populations. Neither Powell or Lewis and Clark Counties have any entries in the Boone and Crockett record book for Shiras moose.
Terrain
The Continental Divide travels along the eastern edge with peaks reach 9,000 feet. The tremendous snowmelt helps create the North Fork Blackfoot and Lander Fork Rivers. Rugged vertical ridges, deep rocky drainages, steep densely forested slopes and scattered open parks describe this wilderness backcountry. The terrain is unforgiving so be prepared if you plan to hunt far from established trails.
Roughly 304 square miles
100% public land
Elevations from 4,700–9,000 feet
Vegetation
Above tree line are open alpine meadows covered with a variety of wildflowers, moss, and lichens. The Talus slopes are rocky with some short grasses sticking out between rocks. Small groups of willows surround the many alpine lakes. Dropping below the tree line dense forests of spruce, fir, ponderosa, and lodgepole pine cover the mountain slopes. Drainages are choked with mountain shrubs, pines, and some clusters of aspen. Foothills have open meadows on the south facing slopes, mountain shrubs, and fingers of pine.
Access
Over 30 miles of Forest Service trails allow travel deep into the wilderness backcountry areas. Forest Service roads lead to a number of well-defined trailheads making convenient to pack up and head out. During periods of heavy rain or snow some of these roads may require four wheel-drives to reach jumping off locations. The closest main highway is Montana Route 200.
Camping and Lodging
National Forest lands allow 14 consecutive days of camping within the wilderness area. The community of Lincoln offers a limited number of motels, cabins or lodges, cafés and restaurants, a medical center, and gas and diesel. Missoula some 60 miles southwest and Great Falls about 60 miles east provide a wide variety of motels, hotels, RV camping, Bed & Breakfast, café and restaurants, medical facilities, regional airports and 24/7 gas and diesel.
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