Unit 215 District 215 (Region 2)
Timbered Continental Divide basins above private valley ranch ground east of I-90
Boulder Mountains / East Deer Lodge — Region 2 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
579
sq mi
Public land
49%
approx.
Elevation
4,500–8,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
HD 215 runs east of Interstate 90 from Garrison south to Butte, spanning Deer Lodge, Powell and Silver Bow counties. The eastern third climbs into the Boulder Mountains and toward the Continental Divide on Helena-Lewis & Clark National Forest, while the western third is private valley ranch and ag ground draining to the Clark Fork. Elk hold the high timbered basins and mule deer and whitetails work the foothills and bottoms, with public access split between the forest and Block Management/Wildlife Management Areas.
Terrain
Broad Clark Fork valley farmland rising through timbered foothills to Boulder Mountain basins and ridges near the Continental Divide.
Cover: Irrigated valley ag and grassland, lodgepole and Douglas-fir timber on the slopes, subalpine parks and open meadows in the high basins.
Landmarks: Boulder Mountains · Continental Divide · Clark Fork River · Warm Springs · Garrison · U.S. Highway 12
Access
The eastern third is walkable Helena-Lewis & Clark National Forest from US-12 to I-90; the western valley is largely private ranch and ag, but thousands of acres open via Block Management Areas and nearby WMAs. Verify BMA sign-in rules and boundaries — checkerboarded state trust and private lines are common along the foothill edge.
Managers: USFS Helena-Lewis & Clark NF, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust, MT FWP Wildlife Management Areas
Access points: Warm Springs / Warm Springs Creek drainage off I-90 · US-12 corridor onto national forest · Boulder Mountain forest roads from the east · FWP Block Management Areas in the valley
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityElk are prevalent through the district, wintering low on private valley ground and summering in the high Boulder Mountain basins and Divide timber.
- →Hunt the high timbered basins above 7,000 ft early, then drop to lower ridges and drainages as snow pushes elk down
- →Glass forest edges where public timber meets private hay ground at first and last light
- →Work the transition benches between the Continental Divide parks and the foothill timber during the rut
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer range from the valley croplands up into the foothills and high country, with some bucks holding near the Divide into late fall.
- →Glass foothill sagebrush and timber pockets at dawn as bucks return from night feeding in the ag
- →Push higher toward the Divide for mature bucks in October
- →Still-hunt timbered draws on the forest boundary during the rut and after fresh snow
Whitetail Deer
common opportunityWhitetails concentrate in the Clark Fork bottoms and the brushy drainages feeding the valley farmland.
- →Hunt cover-and-ag edges along Clark Fork tributaries mornings and evenings
- →Focus creek-bottom travel corridors during the November rut
- →Secure private permission or find a Block Management bottom for the best whitetail cover
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears use the timbered forest slopes and drainages; the district is on the fringe of expanding grizzly range in southwest Montana.
- →Glass avalanche chutes, burns and green foothill slopes in early fall
- →Hunt near berry patches and forest creek bottoms
- →Be certain of your target — treat any bear encounter as potential grizzly country
Cougar
common opportunityLions are well distributed through the timbered mountains wherever deer and elk winter.
- →Cut for tracks on forest roads and ridgelines after fresh snow
- →Focus deer wintering foothills and drainage bottoms
- →A houndsman or fresh snow is nearly essential
Pro tips
- →Learn the forest boundary cold — the productive line is where public Boulder Mountain timber meets private valley ag
- →Sign into Block Management Areas early to lock down valley whitetail and mule deer ground
- →Hunt high for elk until snow, then intercept them on the descent to lower drainages
- →After fresh snow, glass south-facing foothill slopes where deer and elk sun and feed
- →Carry GPS ownership maps — checkerboarded state trust and private lines lace the foothills
Watch out for
- !Western valley is largely private ranch — confirm access before hunting the bottoms
- !Southwest Montana grizzly range is expanding; be prepared for a possible grizzly encounter and identify bears carefully
- !Late-season snow near the Continental Divide can be deep and fast-moving
- !Foothill two-tracks turn to slick mud/gumbo when wet — carry recovery gear
- !Checkerboard state/private boundaries in the foothills — verify lines with GPS
Logistics
Interstate 90 splits the district, with Deer Lodge and Butte offering full services, fuel, lodging and dining. Forest roads climb east off US-12 and I-90 into the Boulder Mountains; carry chains and recovery gear for late-season snow and mud on foothill two-tracks.
Nearest towns: Deer Lodge, Butte, Anaconda, Garrison, Warm Springs
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: MTFWP Hunt Planner · MTFWP 2024/2025 Deer & Elk Legal Descriptions · LandTrust — Montana Elk HD 215 (East Deer Lodge) · GoHunt — Montana Unit 215 Profile
FAQ
- How big is Unit 215 in Montana?
- Unit 215 (District 215 (Region 2)) covers about 579 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,500 to 8,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 215?
- Approximately 49% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Helena-Lewis & Clark NF, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust, MT FWP Wildlife Management Areas. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 215?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail 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 215 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.