Quick Tips
- Hunt weekdays
- Use up-to-date GPS maps
- Watch for sudden storms
- Be prepared to quarter/transport a bull moose
On The Ground
Butte-Basin includes portions of Jefferson and Silver Bow Counties all within Deerlodge National Forest which offers thousands of acres of public access for tag holders. The Continental Divide is along the western boundary with excellent access via the Continental Scenic trail. BLM lands close to Boulder provide access at lower elevations. Limited license for antlered bulls are issued through the draw for residents only.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and parks indicates that bulls might be found anywhere in the district. Predation continues to have an impact on the number and quality of bulls in the area. Recreational users create additional pressure on weekend ends so plan to hunt weekdays if at all possible. A 125” Boone and Crockett class bull may be the best trophy on the mountain so don’t pass him up unless you have seen something bigger during your scouting trips.
Terrain
Along the Continental Divide is Thunderbolt Mountain with an elevation of 8,597 feet. It is joined by a number of peaks with elevations between 7,000 and 8,500 feet. Boulder River and Basin Creek are the main drainages that flow eastward ending up at the Jefferson River miles to the east. Cataract Basin, Occidental Plateau, Bluebird Flats, Champion Pass, Boulder Chief Park and many named gulches create a very rough terrain. Many of the mountains have been mined leaving behind large areas of tailings and rocky slopes.
Roughly 222 square miles
81.8% public land
Elevation from 5,200-8600 feet
Vegetation
Mountain slopes especially the north facing ones are covered with dense forest of spruce, fir, lodgepole and ponderosa pine. Ridges and foothills have a mixture of mountain shrubs; mountain mahogany, sagebrush, bitterbrush and pine. Aspen grooves can be found nestled in moist basins and draws. Boulder River is lined with willow, stands of cottonwoods and hay fields. 6,000 feet and below are short grasses mixed with areas of pinyon/juniper, sagebrush, willow and cottonwood.
Access
Deerlodge National Forest maintains a secondary road system with a number of four wheel drive tracts. Watch the weather to be prepared for heavy snows late October or the month of November. Secondary roads may become hard to travel without the aid of four wheel drive traction. National Forest campgrounds along the Boulder River are easily reached by cars and suv’s. Boulder River Road, Basin Creek, Lowland Road and Kit Carson Road are maintained by both county and Forest Service.
Major highway: Interstate 15
Camping and Lodging
Deerlodge National Forest offers a number of developed campgrounds along the Boulder River, Basin Creek and Lowland Road. Camping in an area, campsite, or developed campground is limited to 16 accumulated days within any 30 day period. Helena, Montana State Capital is north of Boulder and offers a variety of lodging choices, restaurants and café, a regional medical facility and airport and Interstate 15 access. Butte, located along Interstate 94 and 15 provides a wide variety of motels, café and restaurants, services including medical facility, a regional airport and gas and diesel. Boulder is a smaller community on Interstate 15 providing limited food, motels and gas or diesel.
Boulder: O-Z Motel, Boulder Hot Springs, Elkhorn Café, Mountain Good, Joe’s Pizza
Butte: National Chain Motels; Holiday Inn, Hampton, Best Western, and the Finlen Hotel, Up Town Café, Park & Main Café, Gamer’s Café, Chicken Shack
Helena: Lincoln Road and Helena RV Parks, Wingate and Radisson Hotels, Hampton Inn, Lamplighter Motel, Barrister, Carolina and Sanders-Helena a noted B&B’s, Breakfast; Steve’s Café and No Sweat Café, Lunch; Murry’s, Benny’s Bistro, Diner; Brewhouse Pub & Grill, Steve’s Café, Lucca’s
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