Quick Tips
- Listening or calling into remote canyons can be a great way to locate packs
- Locating packs can be easier during periods of heavy snow
- Four wheelers and snowmobiles can excellent for late season use
On The Ground
This hunting district is found in west central Montana and covers an enormous tract of land. Located just north of Missoula, hunters will find plenty of options for accommodations as well as travel. A huge array of terrain will be encountered here with plenty of historic and mining logging activity, which will provide access into some of the deepest corners of the district. Anyone looking to hunt this district will be pleased to find that there is a little something for everyone.
A decent density of wolves is found in this unit and hunters will have plenty of access options when it comes to hunting.
Terrain
Generally speaking, this district can be very steep and, at times, extremely physically demanding. On the western end of the unit, you can hunt the Rattlesnake Wilderness, a huge section of 34,000+ acres that is totally roadless. Just to the north, you can also hunt the extreme southern end of the rugged Mission Mountains. In the central portion of the unit you will see that there was once heavy logging and mining activities in years past. All of this industrialization has provided a plethora of roads and trails for access into hunting areas. Additionally, much of this country is burned, logged, or otherwise open, which can lend itself to great glassing opportunities. The eastern side of the unit will house large tracts of private lands which can pose some obvious access issues.
Roughly 2,700 square miles
53% public land
Elevations range from 4,200 - 7,600 feet
Vegetation
Vegetation will be widely distributed, diverse, and nearly impassable at times. On the western end of the district expect to encounter quite a bit more heavy vegetation cover and a more diverse mixture of trees, ranging from your typical pines and firs to cedar and birch. Previous logging and mining activities along with old burns have opened the terrain up in recent years and some great glassing opportunities can be found. The creek bottoms can become overrun with immature pines, alder, and willow making it nearly impossible to navigate at times. On the eastern side, the ground cover will thin out considerably though timber coverage will remain mostly the same; lodgepole, ponderosa pine, and red fir will be found in abundance here.
Access
This area has a good amount of public land; most of the region’s private lands are found on the eastern end. Large tracts of timber land, still accessible by the public, will be found throughout much of the western and central portions of the unit. Currently, there are no access permits required for the timber lands but this could change in the coming years. Accessing most of the area by foot will not be difficult thanks to the many logging roads. Mountain bikes can also be extremely beneficial in this area. Accessing some of the roadless areas on the western end can be very physically demanding.
Camping and Lodging
Modern lodging options can be found in Missoula and Drummond. There are also several primitive campsites through the unit. Groceries, sporting goods, and other amenities will be best met prior to leaving for the hunt or in Missoula, a large city located on the south east corner of the unit.
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