Unit 217 District 217 (Region 2)
Small, private-dominated Garnet Range sub-unit producing quality limited-permit bulls
Garnet Range — Region 2 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
143
sq mi
Public land
14%
approx.
Elevation
4,000–7,300
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
HD 217 is a compact sub-unit in the Garnet Range about an hour east of Missoula, carved out for the 2016 season to manage deer and elk on private land. Private ranches dominate — only roughly 14% is public — but scattered Forest and BLM ground and Block Management access exist, and the district has begun producing quality bulls that draw hunter interest. Antlered elk and deer are largely draw-only here (brow-tined bulls on limited permit), while some antlerless B tags are over-the-counter.
Terrain
Rolling Garnet Range foothills and timbered ridges rising from the Clark Fork/Blackfoot valley ground.
Cover: Dense conifer forest on the ridges, open grassy meadows and parks, and brushy draws and creek bottoms through private ranch land.
Landmarks: Garnet Range · Clark Fork River · Blackfoot River valley · Bearmouth / Drummond area
Access
Private ranches dominate this small district and are the main access challenge. Public ground exists in scattered Forest Service and BLM parcels, and Block Management can open ranch acreage — but securing private permission dramatically raises success odds. Use land-ownership mapping to find and stay on legal public and BMA ground.
Managers: private ranch + Block Management, USFS Lolo NF, BLM, MT DNRC state trust
Access points: Forest Service and BLM parcels within the Garnet Range · Block Management Areas (check current FWP roster) · Access roads off the I-90/Clark Fork corridor near Bearmouth/Drummond
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityThe sub-unit was created to manage elk on private land and has produced quality bulls; brow-tined bull opportunity is limited-permit rather than general.
- →Draw the limited permit, then focus the timbered Garnet ridges and park edges
- →Work the interface where public/BMA ground meets private holding cover
- →Hunt secluded meadow-timber edges at first and last light during the rut
Whitetail Deer
common opportunityWhitetails hold the Clark Fork and Blackfoot valley bottoms and brushy ranch draws.
- →Hunt cover-and-ag edges in the valley bottoms morning and evening
- →Sit travel corridors along creek bottoms during the November rut
- →Private permission or a Block Management bottom unlocks the best whitetail cover
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer range the Garnet foothills and open parks above the valley ranch ground.
- →Glass open foothill parks and timber edges at dawn
- →Push higher into the timbered ridges for mature bucks in the rut
- →Still-hunt after fresh snow along the forest-boundary draws
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears use the Garnet Range timber; grizzly are increasingly possible in western Montana as they expand from the nearby Blackfoot corridor.
- →Glass green slopes, burns and berry patches in early fall
- →Hunt forest creek bottoms and cover edges
- →Identify bears carefully — treat the area as potential grizzly country
Pro tips
- →This is a draw-based, private-dominated unit — line up private permission or Block Management access well before the season
- →Use land-ownership mapping constantly to stay legal on the scattered public and BMA parcels
- →The quality bulls that built this unit's reputation are on limited permit — apply if you want the antlered opportunity
- →Work whitetails in the valley bottoms and elk/mule deer up in the Garnet timber
- →Small district and rising interest mean pressure concentrates on the public ground — get off the beaten parcels
Watch out for
- !Only ~14% public — private ranches dominate and access is the central challenge; get permission first
- !Antlered elk/deer are limited-permit here — know the draw before you plan a hunt
- !Grizzly range is expanding from the nearby Blackfoot corridor; carry bear spray and identify bears carefully
- !Foothill and ranch two-tracks turn to slick mud when wet — carry recovery gear
- !Small, checkerboarded public/private lines — verify boundaries with GPS
Logistics
Missoula (about an hour west) is the full-service hub; Drummond offers basic fuel and food off I-90. Access is primarily via the Clark Fork/I-90 corridor onto scattered public parcels and ranch roads — much of the good ground requires permission or a BMA sign-in, so line up access before the trip.
Nearest towns: Drummond, Missoula, Bearmouth, Clinton, Philipsburg
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: MTFWP Hunt Planner · GoHunt — Montana Unit 217 Profile · LandTrust — Montana Elk HD 217 · MTFWP Species Hunting Guide — HD 217
FAQ
- How big is Unit 217 in Montana?
- Unit 217 (District 217 (Region 2)) covers about 143 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,000 to 7,300 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 217?
- Approximately 14% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: private ranch + Block Management, USFS Lolo NF, BLM, MT DNRC state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 217?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Montana agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 217 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.