Unit 213 District 213 (Region 2)
Above-objective elk on a big Forest Service road network near Anaconda and Deer Lodge
Flint Creek Range / Deer Lodge Valley — Region 2 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
496
sq mi
Public land
49%
approx.
Elevation
4,800–9,000
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
District 213 straddles Granite, Powell, and Deer Lodge counties around Anaconda, running from the timbered Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest on the west up against the private ranchland of the Deer Lodge valley on the east. Its Flint Creek elk herd sits above the FWP objective, and a dense network of Forest Service roads makes much of the public country drivable for passenger cars. Note: Region 2's first chronic wasting disease (CWD) detection came from HD 213 near Deer Lodge — sample your deer.
Terrain
Forested ridges, alpine lakes, and Forest Service road country on the west grading east into open foothills and the ranchland floor of the Deer Lodge valley.
Cover: Lodgepole and Douglas-fir timber with grassy ridgetop parks up high, sagebrush-grass and mixed foothill cover lower, willow and riparian brush along Warm Springs, Racetrack, and Flint creeks.
Landmarks: Flint Creek Range · North Fork Flint Creek · Racetrack Creek · Warm Springs Creek · Thornton Ridge · Deer Lodge valley
Access
Roughly half public: the Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF dominates the western portion with miles of drivable Forest Service roads, while the eastern half toward Deer Lodge is largely private ranch. Block Management Areas and state trust ground extend access onto otherwise private valley bottoms — carry the current BMA map.
Managers: USFS Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF, MT DNRC state trust, private ranch + Block Management, BLM
Access points: Forest Service road network off the west side of the range · Racetrack and North Fork Flint Creek roads · Warm Springs / Anaconda approaches · Block Management Area sign-in boxes
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant qualityFlint Creek herd running above FWP objective; elk hold along North Fork Flint and Racetrack creeks and the timbered ridges above.
- →Drive the Forest Service road network to access country, then hike off it to escape crowds
- →Glass timbered parks and burns at the creek heads
- →Hunt the private/public timber edges where elk shift onto ranchland after pressure
Whitetail Deer
common opportunityWhitetail concentrate along Warm Springs and Modesty creeks and the valley bottoms.
- →Hunt creek-bottom brush and ag edges at first and last light
- →Use Block Management to reach private bottomland
- →Work the November rut with rattling and calling
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer inhabit Thornton Ridge and the open slopes above Foster Creek; regional numbers are down but buck harvest has stayed steady.
- →Glass open ridges and sage benches morning and evening
- →Hike above the road-hunted first slopes
- →Hunt does during the rut for a trailing buck
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears work the timbered slopes and berry patches on the forest side of the district.
- →Glass burns, chutes, and berry-heavy south slopes
- →Hunt near carcasses late season
- →Watch open parks at last light for feeding bears
Cougar
common opportunityLions follow the deer and elk; a winter tracking-snow pursuit.
- →Cut tracks on forest roads after fresh snow
- →Work deer-wintering drainages
- →Hounds and fresh snow drive success
Pro tips
- →Have your deer tested for CWD — HD 213 near Deer Lodge is where Region 2's first case turned up
- →Use the drivable road net to cover ground, then hike off it to get away from the early-season crowd
- →Hunt the western public timber edges where elk push onto private ranchland under pressure
- →Pull the Block Management map to legally reach valley whitetail bottoms
- →Expect company early season — go deeper or hunt weekdays
Watch out for
- !Chronic wasting disease is present in the district — handle and test harvested deer accordingly
- !The eastern half is private ranch — verify Block Management enrollment before crossing
- !Winter road travel needs four-wheel drive; conditions turn fast
- !Expanding grizzly range in western Montana — carry bear spray and cache/handle meat carefully
Logistics
Anaconda and Deer Lodge sit right on the district with fuel, lodging, and groceries; Butte is a short drive for a full-service hub. Winter road travel on the range can require four-wheel drive — carry extra water, food, and fuel.
Nearest towns: Anaconda, Deer Lodge, Philipsburg, Butte
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: MTFWP 2025 Elk Count (Flint Creek EMU) · GoHunt Montana Unit 213 Profile · MTFWP Destination: Western Montana (Region 2)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 213 in Montana?
- Unit 213 (District 213 (Region 2)) covers about 496 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,800 to 9,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 213?
- Approximately 49% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF, MT DNRC state trust, private ranch + Block Management, BLM. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 213?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, 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 213 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.