Quick Tips
- 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
- You are in grizzly bear habitat, pack bear spray and be bear aware
On The Ground
This district is located in southwest Montana and is just south of Bozeman. It incorporates several drainages that flow into the Gallatin River from the east. This district has been combined with the district immediately to the south.
Moose numbers are low but currently stable. Historically only fair harvest success and mediocre quality were reasons for combining the two districts. Moose can be found anywhere in the district and are scattered. There is good access to this district throughout the entire season.
Terrain
The district starts at the Gallatin River and rises to peaks of over 10,000 feet. There are a lot of timbered mountain slopes and areas that have been logged in the past. All the drainages except one have roads up them and numerous old logging roads are in every drainage that has road access. Terrain is relatively steep, but there are good hiking conditions throughout.
Roughly 399 square miles
71% public land
Elevations from 5,500-10,300 feet
Vegetation
The riparian area along the Gallatin River as well as most of the streams are mostly willows and brush. The drainages all have numerous open meadows of grass, forbs and shrubs with numerous wet boggy areas. The upper basins have some lush meadows with dwarf willow and other shrubs that are good browse. The majority of the district is forested with fir, pine and some spruce. Many of the logged areas have grown in with good brush growth that is also utilized by moose.
Access
Most of this district is national forest lands with roads up all of the drainages except Cottonwood Creek. The rest of the drainages from south to north are Squaw Creek, Bear Creek and Hyalite Creek. There are also lots of old logging roads throughout the district. There are several Forest Service trails that traverse the district as well.
ATVs will be handy and are allowed in most of the drainages, but check the regulations at the Bozeman Forest Service office
Most of this district can be hunted on foot via vehicle access but horses could save a lot of hiking
Highway 191 will get you access to all the trailheads in this district
Camping and Lodging
There are numerous places to camp throughout the district on the national forest and there are Forest Service campgrounds in the district. Hyalite has a paved road, campground and a reservoir with good fishing. Big Sky is just south and has gas, food and lodging. Bozeman is just a few miles north and has numerous motels, gas, restaurants and sporting goods stores.
Historical Temperatures
High
Low
Moon Phases
March 2025
23
24
25
26
27
28
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5