Unit 250 District 250 (Region 2)
The southern Bitterroot's remote high country — a hard-earned, permit-driven elk hunt in wolf-and-bear wilderness.
West Fork Bitterroot — Region 2 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
555
sq mi
Public land
85%
approx.
Elevation
4,000–9,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
HD 250 is the West Fork of the Bitterroot, the deep southwest corner of the valley around Sula, Painted Rocks and the Nez Perce Fork, wedged between the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness and the Anaconda-Pintler. It is almost entirely Bitterroot National Forest — steep, timbered and roadless in its western half. Elk here crashed during a well-documented decade of predation and hard winters (the subject of a three-year radio-collar study that found three distinct herds), and elk hunting has been the most restrictive in the Bitterroot with tightly limited permits. Deer, bear and lion opportunity remain solid for those willing to work high, wild country.
Terrain
West Fork Bitterroot drainage rising from river and reservoir bottoms into steep timbered mountains and the wilderness crests of the Selway-Bitterroot and Anaconda-Pintler.
Cover: Ponderosa and Douglas-fir on lower slopes and burns; heavy lodgepole, spruce and subalpine fir in the high country; scattered mountain parks, meadows and old burn regrowth.
Landmarks: West Fork Bitterroot River · Painted Rocks Reservoir / Lake · Nez Perce Fork · Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness · Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness · Sula
Access
Predominantly Bitterroot National Forest and open to the public; roughly half the elk unit is moderately roaded via forest roads up the West Fork and Nez Perce Fork, while the western half is steep roadless/wilderness. Private ground and a few Block Management parcels cluster along the valley bottom and Sula basin — check the FWP Block Management map before counting on them.
Managers: USFS Bitterroot NF, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust
Access points: West Fork Road (MT 473) · Nez Perce Fork Road · Painted Rocks Reservoir area · Sula / Highway 93 corridor · Selway-Bitterroot & Anaconda-Pintler trailheads
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited qualityA recovering but still-thin elk herd that suffered a documented decline from predation and hard winters; historically the Bitterroot's most restrictive district with limited-draw permits, so tags are hard to come by but pressure is low.
- →Hunt the roadless timbered pockets and old burns where elk hold away from roads
- →Focus on north-slope security cover and remote basins
- →Plan for a limited-permit draw and low elk density — success favors persistence and deep access
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer occupy the higher open ridges and burns; bucks summer high near the crests before dropping with snow.
- →Glass open burn slopes and high ridges early season
- →Push into roadless country for less-pressured bucks
- →Hunt snow-driven movement toward lower timber late season
Whitetail Deer
common opportunityWhitetails hold in the West Fork river bottom and lower creek corridors, often on or near private valley ground around Sula.
- →Hunt riparian bottoms and brushy creek edges
- →Secure permission or Block Management access for private bottomland
- →November rut pulls bucks into the river corridor
Black Bear
common opportunityStrong black bear numbers through the drainages; excellent spring green-up glassing and fall berry-slope action, with many color-phase bears.
- →Glass south-facing green-up and old burns in spring
- →Work huckleberry and mast slopes at mid-elevation in fall
- →Check logging roads and reservoir edges at dawn and dusk
Cougar
common opportunityHealthy mountain lion population supported by abundant deer; primarily a winter tracking-snow hunt.
- →Cut tracks on West Fork and Nez Perce Fork roads after fresh snow
- →Focus on deer-wintering slopes and drainage mouths
Moose
limited qualityScattered Shiras moose use willow bottoms and spruce swamps in the upper drainages; a coveted limited-permit opportunity.
- →Glass willow flats and beaver ponds in the high creek bottoms
- →Expect a hard-to-draw permit
Pro tips
- →Draw odds and low elk density mean this is a low-pressure, high-effort elk hunt — treat a tag as a chance at solitude, not easy success
- →Hunt the roadless half where elk find security away from the road grid
- →Old burns are magnets for deer, bear and elk feed — key on regenerating slopes
- →Time bear and mule deer hunts to early-season high country before deep snow
- →Fuel and provision in Darby; services thin out fast heading up the West Fork
Watch out for
- !Remote, steep, high-elevation terrain with early and heavy snow — weather can trap or turn back the unprepared
- !Elk numbers are low and permits limited; set expectations accordingly
- !The Bitterroot is a grizzly recovery area with growing occurrence — grizzlies remain uncommon but are documented, so carry bear spray and handle carcasses defensively
- !Robust wolf and lion presence in the drainage
- !Valley bottom around Sula is private; verify access before hunting there
- !Wilderness travel rules apply in the western half
Logistics
Darby is the last full-service town heading south; Sula has minimal services, and Hamilton is the regional hub. Access is up the West Fork Road (MT 473) and Nez Perce Fork; the western half is wilderness requiring foot or stock travel. Long drives on gravel forest roads — fuel up in Darby and plan pack-out for backcountry elk.
Nearest towns: Darby, Sula, Conner, Hamilton
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: FWP Deer/Elk Hunting District 250 Map — West Fork Bitterroot · Montana FWP looks to less restrictive elk hunting in southern Bitterroot (Missoulian) · 'The perfect storm' for elk decline in HD 250 (Bitterroot Star)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 250 in Montana?
- Unit 250 (District 250 (Region 2)) covers about 555 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,000 to 9,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 250?
- Approximately 85% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Bitterroot NF, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 250?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail 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 250 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.