Unit 141 District 141 (Region 1)
Roadless South Fork backcountry south of Glacier — grizzly country for the fit hunter
Flathead & Great Bear Wilderness — Region 1 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
339
sq mi
Public land
90%
approx.
Elevation
3,287–8,705
feet
Motorized
wilderness
access
Overview
HD 141 wraps the Middle and South Forks of the Flathead and the upper end of Hungry Horse Reservoir just south of Glacier National Park, with much of the district locked inside the Great Bear Wilderness. This is rugged, roadless, physically demanding country holding backcountry elk (populations near historic lows), thinly scattered mule deer, and a strong grizzly and wolf presence. It rewards the horseback or backpack hunter willing to earn unpressured animals far from the road.
Terrain
Steep, glacially carved Flathead high country rising from river bottoms near 3,300 ft on the Middle Fork to over 8,700 ft on Great Northern Mountain, deeply dissected by the Middle and South Forks of the Flathead.
Cover: Thick lodgepole and spruce-fir forest, dense alder and avalanche chutes, subalpine parks and rock above timberline.
Landmarks: Great Bear Wilderness · Hungry Horse Reservoir · Middle Fork Flathead River · South Fork Flathead River · Great Northern Mountain · U.S. Highway 2 corridor
Access
Overwhelmingly public — Flathead National Forest with a large wilderness core. Trailhead access is good off U.S. Highway 2 south of the reservoir and along the Hungry Horse Reservoir roads, but the interior is foot- or horseback-only. Block Management is not a factor here; the story is public land and effort.
Managers: USFS Flathead National Forest, Great Bear Wilderness (non-motorized), MT DNRC state trust
Access points: U.S. Highway 2 south of Glacier · Hungry Horse Reservoir loop roads (FR 895/38) · Middle Fork trailheads · South Fork / Spotted Bear approaches
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited qualityLow-density backcountry elk; South Fork counts are near historic lows and bull harvest is below the long-term average, but mature bulls persist in unpressured basins.
- →Ride or backpack deep past the trailhead crowds
- →Glass high avalanche parks and burn edges at first and last light
- →Hunt the timbered benches above the river forks during the rut
- →Be prepared to pack meat miles by horse in grizzly country
Mule Deer
limited opportunityThin mule deer numbers scattered through the high basins and open ridges; a bonus more than a target.
- →Glass alpine parks and rock benches above timberline
- →Focus the highest open faces early season
- →Combine with an elk hunt rather than targeting deer alone
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityCold winters, deep snow and limited winter range hold whitetail numbers down; a few hold in the lower river bottoms.
- →Still-hunt the Middle Fork and reservoir-edge bottoms
- →Hunt low after snow pushes deer down
- →Look for river-bench browse and old burns
Black Bear
common qualityGood black bear numbers including color-phase animals on green spring slopes and berry fields; grizzlies are also present and must be identified before any shot.
- →Glass green avalanche chutes and south slopes in spring
- →Hunt huckleberry benches in fall
- →Positively identify every bear — grizzlies share this ground
Mountain Goat
limited trophyGoats inhabit the rugged cliffs and high peaks around Great Northern Mountain; a rare draw-only trophy opportunity.
- →Glass high cliff bands and rock faces
- →Plan a physical multi-day approach
- →Scout escape terrain before committing
Cougar
common opportunityHealthy lion numbers follow the deer and elk through the drainages; primarily a winter houndsman's pursuit.
- →Cut tracks on fresh snow along drainages and roads
- →Focus deer wintering bottoms
- →Hunt with hounds after storms
Pro tips
- →Treat this as a wilderness expedition, not a road hunt — the fit and horse-equipped hunter has a huge edge
- →Get well past the trailheads to find unpressured elk in the roadless core
- →Carry bear spray and hang or store all food and meat — this is dense grizzly country
- →Glass high avalanche parks and old burns for elk and color-phase bears
- →Watch the weather; early storms can strand you or close access over the passes
Watch out for
- !Grizzly bears are common throughout — carry spray, hunt alert, and manage meat and camp carefully
- !Great Bear Wilderness is strictly non-motorized; no vehicles, e-bikes or game carts
- !Extreme physical demands and remoteness — self-rescue may be your only option
- !Deep snow and cold arrive early and can trap the unprepared
Logistics
Base out of Hungry Horse, Coram or Columbia Falls for fuel, groceries and lodging. The reservoir roads give vehicle access to trailheads, but interior hunts demand horses or a strong back and multi-day camps. Kalispell is the nearest full-service hub.
Nearest towns: Hungry Horse, Martin City, Coram, West Glacier, Columbia Falls
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: MTFWP Hunt Planner (Region 1) · MTFWP Region 1 White-tailed Deer / Elk staff reports · Flathead National Forest — Hungry Horse Reservoir & hunting
FAQ
- How big is Unit 141 in Montana?
- Unit 141 (District 141 (Region 1)) covers about 339 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,287 to 8,705 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 141?
- Approximately 90% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Flathead National Forest, Great Bear Wilderness (non-motorized), MT DNRC state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 141?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Mountain Goat, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Montana agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 141 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.