Unit 201 District 201 (Region 2)
Ninemile and Petty Creek timber north of the Clark Fork, backed against the Rattlesnake Wilderness.
Ninemile — Region 2 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,046
sq mi
Public land
65%
approx.
Elevation
2,700–7,500
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
HD 201 (Ninemile–North Superior) covers the country north of the Clark Fork River and I-90 in Mineral, Missoula and Sanders counties — the Ninemile valley, Petty Creek, Fish Creek headwaters, and the forested ridges running up to the Rattlesnake Wilderness and National Recreation Area boundaries. It abuts the Flathead Indian Reservation near Evaro on the east and the Idaho/Lolo–Bitterroot NF divide on the south and west. Big Lolo National Forest holdings make it a genuine public-land district, mixing productive whitetail bottoms with backcountry elk, bear and lion in the high timber.
Terrain
Rolling to steep forested mountains cut by the Ninemile and Petty Creek drainages, rising from the Clark Fork valley on the south to the high Rattlesnake and Reservation Divide country on the north and east.
Cover: Mixed conifer — larch, Douglas-fir, lodgepole, cedar in wet draws — with ponderosa and grassy south slopes, willow and cottonwood riparian along Ninemile and Petty creeks, and huckleberry brush in old burns and cuts.
Landmarks: Ninemile valley · Petty Creek · Fish Creek headwaters · Rattlesnake Wilderness boundary · Rattlesnake National Recreation Area · Sheep Mountain · Wisherd Ridge · Lockwood Point · Clark Fork River · Flathead Indian Reservation boundary near Evaro
Access
Mostly Lolo National Forest in the uplands with an extensive road system; the Ninemile and Petty Creek valley floors hold private ranch and rural residential ground where much of the winter deer range sits. Block Management (FWP Region 1–2) can open valley private parcels — check the current BMA maps. The Rattlesnake Wilderness portion is non-motorized backcountry, and the Flathead Reservation edge near Evaro is CSKT tribal land closed to non-tribal hunters.
Managers: USFS Lolo National Forest, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust, tribal (CSKT Flathead Reservation — separate, not FWP)
Access points: I-90 Ninemile exit and Frenchtown/Huson exits · Ninemile Road (USFS) · Petty Creek Road / County Rd 489 (Petty Creek–Grave Creek Rd) · USFS Trail 242 (Cascade Campground crossing) · Rattlesnake NRA trailheads (non-motorized) · US Highway 200 along Tamarack Creek
Species notes
Whitetail Deer
abundant qualityThe dominant deer — whitetails fill the Ninemile and Petty Creek bottoms, ag edges and lower timbered draws in strong numbers.
- →Work creek-bottom brush and field edges at dawn and dusk
- →Hunt the mid-November rut when bucks cruise the open valley margins
- →Glass logged benches and burns on the lower slopes
- →Use Block Management or landowner permission for the private valley floor
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityElk are the headline draw in the Ninemile/Fish Creek high country. Numbers are moderate and the district sees heavy pressure given its closeness to Missoula.
- →Push deep into roadless timber toward the Rattlesnake boundary to escape crowds
- →Still-hunt north-slope dark timber and old burns
- →Ride early snow that drops elk toward mid-elevation benches
- →September archery on the high divides before rifle pressure
Mule Deer
common opportunityMuleys use the higher, more open ridges and south faces above the whitetail zone in smaller numbers.
- →Glass high open slopes and rocky ridgelines
- →Hunt the November rut as bucks drop to mid-elevation
- →Separate them from whitetails by staying up on the open faces
Black Bear
common qualityGood black bear numbers in the Ninemile and Fish Creek timber, with excellent spring green-up on south chutes and heavy fall berry crops.
- →Spring: glass avalanche chutes, old burns and green south slopes
- →Fall: hunt huckleberry and mountain-ash draws
- →Check grassy logging landings early and late
Cougar
common qualitySolid lion population tied to the whitetail herds; a productive winter houndsman district.
- →Cut fresh tracks on snowy USFS roads after storms
- →Focus on lower-elevation deer winter range
- →Partner with a licensed hound outfitter if needed
Moose
limited opportunityA scattered, permit-limited moose presence in the wetter willow bottoms and higher timber.
- →Check willow creek bottoms and beaver ponds
- →Glass wet meadow edges at first light
Pro tips
- →This is a Missoula-adjacent pressure district — hike beyond the roads toward the Rattlesnake boundary for undisturbed elk.
- →Whitetails winter on the private Ninemile/Petty Creek floor; arrange Block Management or permission before the season.
- →The Rattlesnake Wilderness/NRA is non-motorized — plan a backcountry-style hunt if you go in there.
- →Time the November rut on the valley edges for your best mature whitetail.
- →Do not cross onto the Flathead Reservation near Evaro; it is CSKT tribal land.
Watch out for
- !GRIZZLY COUNTRY: the Ninemile is a documented grizzly connectivity corridor between the Cabinet-Yaak and NCDE recovery zones, with regular grizzly activity. Carry bear spray, verify your target, and manage carcasses/gutpiles carefully.
- !Much of the low deer winter range is private or reservation land — secure access before hunting the valley floor.
- !Snow shuts down the high USFS roads quickly; carry chains, traction and recovery gear.
- !Steep timber and short daylight demand a planned pack-out and exit route.
Logistics
Very close to Missoula, so it draws local pressure but is easy to reach and resupply. I-90 with the Ninemile and Frenchtown exits is the spine; Ninemile Road and Petty Creek Road branch into the drainages. Full services in Missoula; fuel and basics in Frenchtown and Alberton. The Rattlesnake corner requires foot or horse travel.
Nearest towns: Frenchtown, Huson, Alberton, Missoula, Superior
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/Antelope Legal Descriptions (HD 201 Ninemile–North Superior) · MTFWP Deer & Elk Hunting Districts (2026–2027) GIS · MTFWP Block Management — Western Montana (Regions 1 & 2)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 201 in Montana?
- Unit 201 (District 201 (Region 2)) covers about 1,046 square miles, ranging from roughly 2,700 to 7,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 201?
- Approximately 65% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Lolo National Forest, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust, tribal (CSKT Flathead Reservation — separate, not FWP). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 201?
- Whitetail Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Black Bear, Cougar, Moose. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Montana agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 201 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.