Quick Tips
- Be bear aware around campsite
- Practice shooting at extreme angles
- Quality optics recommended
On The Ground
This district is made up of portions of the Bob Marshall Wilderness in the Flathead National Forest, offering thousands of acres of public lands. Travel is limited to horseback or by foot on miles of Forest Service pack trails.
Wilderness travel, extreme vertical terrain and the presence of grizzly bears make this a very challenging hunt. The thickest and longest hair occurs during November but accessing the backcountry and alpine basins may not be possible. Horns typically range 8-9” long
Terrain
The Continental Divide, including the Famous Chinese Wall, establishes the eastern edge of the district. Other notable landforms are Elk Ridge, Limestone Wall, Lobe Butte, Wall Creek Cliffs and Dean Ridge. All of these help define the ruggedness of the area. Spotted Bear and White River are major drainages that flow towards The South Fork of the Flathead River. This is an extreme vertical backcountry experience.
Roughly 271 square miles
100% public land
Elevations from 4,366-8,900 feet
Vegetation
Above timberline alpine basins and ridges are covered with wildflowers, moss and lichens. Some barren ground willows grow near small lakes and streams. Dense forests consist of spruce, fir, pine and mountain shrubs. Open meadows have lush grasses during the summer months. Creek bottoms have large groves of willows along their banks.
Access
Meadow Creek Airport is maintained by United States Forest Service/Flathead National Forest along the South Fork Flathead River north of the northwest boundary of the district. Contact info is Spotted Bear Ranger District (406-758-5376) located in Hungry Horse. The Forest Service trail system provides miles of pack trails for travelers on horseback or foot. Montana Route 83 is roughly 20 miles west of South Fork Flathead River while U.S. Highway at Choteau is 50 miles to the east.
Camping and Lodging
Closest communities are Choteau to the east, Swan Lake to the west and Seeley Lake to the southwest. These towns provide motels, café and restaurants, medical facilities, gas and diesel. While hunting expect to backpack of horseback camp for multiple days.
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