Unit 124 District 124 (Region 1)
Whitetail-thick river bottoms where the Flathead meets the Clark Fork
Lower Clark Fork — Region 1 (Northwest Montana) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
129
sq mi
Public land
40%
approx.
Elevation
2,400–6,800
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
A compact Sanders County district wrapped around Plains, Paradise and the lower Clark Fork valley, running up to the confluence with the Flathead River. Warm, low-elevation valley bottoms and dry, timbered breaks make this classic Region 1 whitetail country, with elk and mule deer scattered on the higher benches. Public timber and state land climb the ridges while the valley floor is a patchwork of private ranch and hayfield.
Terrain
Broad Clark Fork/Flathead valley floor around 2,400 ft rising into steep, dry-timbered breaks and low ridges of the Cabinet and Coeur d'Alene fringe.
Cover: Cottonwood and willow river bottoms, agricultural hayground and pasture on the flats, ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir on south slopes, denser fir and larch in the draws and higher timber.
Landmarks: Clark Fork River · Flathead River confluence (Paradise) · Plains · Thompson Falls area · Lolo National Forest breaks
Access
The valley floor is heavily private ranch and irrigated ag; the timbered slopes above are public Lolo NF and DNRC state trust (state land open to hunting). Some valley ranches enroll in FWP Block Management for free walk-in access — check the current BMA maps before the season. Corporate timberland in the surrounding hills is often open to walk-in.
Managers: USFS Lolo National Forest, MT DNRC state trust, private ranch + Block Management
Access points: State Route 200 corridor along the Clark Fork · State Route 28 (toward the Flathead Reservation) · Forest Service roads climbing off the valley into Lolo NF · River access sites near Paradise and Plains
Species notes
Whitetail Deer
abundant qualityThe signature animal here — whitetails hold in the river-bottom cottonwoods, ag edges and brushy draws in strong numbers.
- →Hunt cottonwood bottoms and ag/timber edges at first and last light
- →Rut in November pulls mature bucks into the open along field edges
- →Glass benches above the valley then still-hunt the transition timber
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer use the higher dry breaks and open south slopes above the valley, fewer than whitetails but reliable on the ridges.
- →Glass open south-facing slopes and rock outcrops mid-morning
- →Push higher into the breaks away from the whitetail bottoms
- →Watch saddles and finger ridges during the November rut
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityElk work the timbered ridges and Lolo NF backcountry above the valley; numbers are moderate and they favor security cover on public timber.
- →Get into steep public timber away from valley roads
- →Hunt north-slope dark timber where elk bed during warm early-season weather
- →Follow fresh sign to wallows and benches in the upper drainages
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears are common in the wet, brushy drainages and old cuts; spring green-up and fall berry crops concentrate them.
- →Glass avalanche chutes and old clearcuts for feeding bears
- →Work berry-heavy slopes in early fall
- →Check drainage bottoms with lush spring forage
Cougar
common opportunityHealthy deer numbers support a solid mountain lion population through the timbered breaks; a winter-track pursuit hunt.
- →Cut fresh tracks on FS roads after a fresh snow
- →Focus on deer-wintering breaks and river-bottom edges
- →Most success comes with hounds and a tracking snow
Pro tips
- →This is a whitetail district first — plan around the November rut in the bottoms.
- →Knock on doors early or lock down Block Management access before opening weekend; the best deer ground is private valley bottom.
- →For elk, trade the crowded valley for steep public timber and hunt security cover.
- →Glass the south-facing breaks at dawn for mule deer before they bed in the timber.
- →A tracking snow late in the season opens up both mule deer on the breaks and lion hunting.
Watch out for
- !Valley floor is largely private ranch — get permission or use verified Block Management, don't assume access.
- !Grizzly bears are expanding into the lower Clark Fork and Sanders County; carry bear spray and treat this as bear country.
- !The Flathead Indian Reservation borders the district to the east — its lands are closed to non-tribal hunters, know the line.
- !Forest roads turn greasy and impassable when wet and snow closes higher routes early.
Logistics
Base out of Plains or Thompson Falls on Highway 200; both have fuel, lodging and groceries. Missoula is the nearest full-service hub, roughly 60-70 miles east. Forest roads off the valley can be rough and snow closes higher routes early.
Nearest towns: Plains, Paradise, Thompson Falls, St. Regis
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: MTFWP 2026/2027 Deer/Elk/etc. Legal Descriptions (HD 124) · MTFWP Region 1 (Northwest Montana) · Montana Outdoor — Region 1 hunting, deer everywhere / elk not so much
FAQ
- How big is Unit 124 in Montana?
- Unit 124 (District 124 (Region 1)) covers about 129 square miles, ranging from roughly 2,400 to 6,800 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 124?
- Approximately 40% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Lolo National Forest, MT DNRC state trust, private ranch + Block Management. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 124?
- Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Black Bear, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Montana agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 124 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.