Quick Tips
- It appears moose numbers are improving and there is a reasonable chance to harvest a mature bull
- Bring good optics even though much of the unit is forested and maps showing land ownership if hunting down low
- In the wilderness you are in grizzly bear habitat, so hunt with a buddy and pack bear spray, be bear aware
On The Ground
This unit is located in south central Montana and the southern boundary is near the Wyoming state line. A majority of the moose reside in the Absaroka–Beartooth Wilderness and it is truly a backcountry moose hunt. The best areas are 10 miles in and moose numbers are low. There are some moose scattered along the foothills and the riparian areas.
Moose numbers are lower than historic levels but currently stable and may be slightly increasing. After the wolf introduction moose numbers declined and tag numbers were reduced. With three bull tags now the harvest has had varied success the last three years. There is a chance to kill a mature bull in the 40 inch category and maybe better.
Terrain
The unit is highly varied from the riparian areas along the streams and rivers to peaks of 12,000 feet in the Absaroka–Beartooth Wilderness. The riparian areas are gentle terrain and even the Stillwater River for 20 miles into the wilderness is gentle terrain. There is some foothills terrain that is moderate slopes at the edge of the wilderness. Most mountain slopes in the wilderness are extremely steep and rocky.
Roughly 424 square miles
64.1% public land
Elevations from 5,000-12,800 feet
Vegetation
The riparian area along the main streams are cottonwoods, willow, rose, red-osier dogwood and other shrubs. The drainages have numerous open meadows of grass, forbs and shrubs with some wet boggy areas. There are some agricultural fields adjacent to these riparian areas in some of the lower elevations. The upper basins have some lush meadows with dwarf willow and other shrubs that are good browse. The majority of the foothills are forested with fir, pine, spruce and some quaking aspen.
Access
Moose located in the foothills can be found on national forest lands with decent access but there is private ground at the lower elevations and moose will be found here also, so know where you are at. The wilderness area is easily accessed but horses would be highly recommended. The area is easily accessed by highways and county roads. The national forest lands have numerous trails into the unit. Some of the private land is closed to all hunting.
ATVs would not be of much use in this unit
Most of this unit should be hunted by horseback and back into the wilderness
Interstate 90 will get you access to the major highway heading south into the unit, Highway 78 and from these you can access the numerous county and forest roads but the main Stillwater is the main access, others are the Rosebuds and the West Fork of the Stillwater
Camping and Lodging
There are numerous places to camp throughout the unit on the national forest in the wilderness and there are Forest Service campgrounds as well as other campgrounds in the unit. Most trailheads have camping. Columbus and Absarokee have numerous motels, gas and restaurants.
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