Quick Tips
- PLOTS properties, State Trust Lands, and the Little Missouri National Grassland create large, consecutive areas of public access in Unit 3-A's badlands
- Watch for antelope near water and feeding on agricultural fields and livestock pasture
- North Dakota's primary pronghorn range covers this entire unit
- Study maps and understand the unit's layout before opening day
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Antelope | 65"-70" | 75"+ |
On The Ground
This unit provides thousands of acres of public access properties in the state’s primary pronghorn range. There’s generally a huge amount of PLOTS property running consecutively with the Little Missouri National Grassland, creating huge parcels that are open to public hunting. This smaller unit is squeezed between the Little Missouri River and Montana’s state line.
Although this is a smaller unit, there’s no shortage of pronghorn and places to hunt them here.
Terrain
This unit consists of rolling hills and badland buttes in the northern portion. These rolling hills quickly turn into rough badland draws, many of which are difficult to cross in a pickup. As you head south, the terrain transitions to extremely rough badland draws and creek bottoms before turning back into grasslands and badland ridges. There are lots of creeks in this unit like Bull Run Creek, Williams Creek, and Cannonball Creek, as well as a few small ponds that provide water to the antelope.
Roughly 204 square miles
37.5% public land
Elevations range from 2,600 – 3,200 ft
Vegetation
The Little Missouri River flows through the east edge of the unit, creating a forested valley of deciduous trees, primarily aspen and oak, and some small stands of ponderosa pine. Drainages, valleys, and creek bottoms that branch off the river are forested with aspen and oak as well as some ash, elm, birch, and juniper. Thickets of brush are common in Unit 3-A as well. Blue grama grass is the primary prairie grass. Outside of the draws, valleys, and creek bottoms, there aren’t as many groves of trees as there are in the units north of here.
Access
For as rough as the majority of this unit is, it is still pretty accessible. For as rough as the majority of this unit is, it is still pretty accessible. Highway 12 heads west out of Marmarth, creating the unit’s southern boundary and providing access to many secondary roads. Old 16 Road/Marmarth Road branches off of Highway 12 heading north and runs the full length of the unit.
Camping and Lodging
Accommodations are limited in this area. Marmarth has a campground. Just north of the unit in the town of Golva, there’s another campground. Unless you drive from Bowman or another larger town, dispersed camping is about your only option.
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