Unit 214 District 214 (Region 2)
High, wild Continental Divide country with a small managed elk herd and public WMAs
Anaconda-Pintler / Continental Divide — Region 2 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
116
sq mi
Public land
56%
approx.
Elevation
5,800–10,600
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
District 214 is a high, rugged Region 2 unit along the Continental Divide in Deer Lodge and Granite counties, reaching over 10,000 feet in the Anaconda-Pintler high country. It carries a small, tightly managed elk herd — the count sits right at the FWP objective, so elk here are a limited-opportunity draw rather than the numbers game of neighboring 212/213. Mule deer and elk migrate down as weather turns, whitetail hold in the creek bottoms year-round, and public Wildlife Management Areas plus Block Management extend access below the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.
Terrain
Steep Continental Divide high country of dense forest, open alpine meadows, and rocky basins dropping to creek bottoms and foothills; some of the highest, wildest ground in Region 2.
Cover: Spruce-fir and lodgepole timber, alpine meadows and rockslides up high, grassy parks and burns mid-slope, willow and riparian brush along the creek bottoms.
Landmarks: Continental Divide · Anaconda-Pintler high country · Garrity Wildlife Management Area · Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
Access
Over half public — a large Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF block on the high country plus the ~6,700-acre Garrity WMA and the Christensen Block Management Area open substantial ground, while the eastern portions are predominantly private ranch. WMAs and BMAs tend to concentrate hunters later in the season.
Managers: USFS Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF, MT FWP (Garrity WMA), private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust
Access points: Garrity WMA · Christensen Block Management Area · Forest Service trailheads into the Continental Divide high country · Anaconda-area approaches
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited qualitySmall resident herd held right at FWP objective — a low-density, limited-opportunity elk unit where mature bulls exist but numbers are thin. Bulls start high and drop with the weather.
- →Hunt high early, then intercept elk moving to lower parks after cold and snow
- →Cover the big Forest Service high country on foot — this is a backcountry effort
- →Time hard-cold windows when elk shift onto more accessible ground and WMAs
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer range the high basins and open slopes, migrating down with the weather much like the elk.
- →Glass alpine basins and rockslides at first and last light
- →Follow deer down as snow pushes them to winter range
- →Hunt the WMA and BMA edges late season
Whitetail Deer
common opportunityWhitetail hold near the creek bottoms throughout the year.
- →Hunt riparian brush and bottom edges at dawn and dusk
- →Use Block Management to reach private bottomland
- →Work the November rut with calling
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose use the willow bottoms and subalpine drainages of the Anaconda-Pintler country in low numbers (limited draw).
- →Glass willow flats and beaver ponds morning and evening
- →Check subalpine riparian drainages
- →Be patient in the wet bottoms
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears work the high berry patches and timbered chutes into fall.
- →Glass avalanche chutes and berry slopes
- →Hunt burns and south-facing feed
- →Watch open parks at last light
Cougar
common opportunityLions follow deer and elk through the district; a winter tracking-snow hunt.
- →Cut tracks on roads and trails after fresh snow
- →Work deer-wintering drainages
- →Hounds and snow drive success
Pro tips
- →Treat elk here as a limited-opportunity draw hunt, not a numbers unit — manage expectations and hunt hard
- →Hunt the Garrity WMA and Christensen BMA for public access, but expect them to draw hunters later in the season
- →Time your effort to the first hard cold/snow that pushes elk and mule deer down out of the high basins
- →Be ready to hike and pack meat out of steep, high country
- →Carry GPS, topo maps, and extra fuel and provisions — services are far and weather is severe
Watch out for
- !Small elk herd at objective — low density and likely limited/special permit; know the rules before you go
- !Eastern portions are private ranch — verify Block Management boundaries before crossing
- !Severe, fast-changing Continental Divide weather at 10,000+ feet
- !Expanding grizzly range in the Anaconda-Pintler / western Montana high country — carry bear spray and handle meat carefully
Logistics
Base out of Anaconda for fuel, food, and lodging, with Butte nearby as a full-service hub. This is high, remote country — carry extra fuel and provisions, GPS, and topo maps, and plan for backcountry pack-outs.
Nearest towns: Anaconda, Philipsburg, Deer Lodge, 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 214 Profile · MTFWP Destination: Western Montana (Region 2)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 214 in Montana?
- Unit 214 (District 214 (Region 2)) covers about 116 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,800 to 10,600 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 214?
- Approximately 56% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF, MT FWP (Garrity WMA), private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 214?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Moose, 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 214 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.