Unit 280 District 280 (Region 2)
Wilderness elk summer range on the Continental Divide north of the Blackfoot
North Blackfoot / Scapegoat Backcountry — Region 2 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
305
sq mi
Public land
90%
approx.
Elevation
4,300–9,200
feet
Motorized
wilderness
access
Overview
HD 280 (North Blackfoot) is the high, roadless headwaters country straddling the Continental Divide and Flathead-Blackfoot Divide in Powell and Lewis & Clark Counties, north of Highway 200. It is dominated by the Scapegoat Wilderness and the Bob Marshall complex — Monture Creek, the North Fork Blackfoot, and Landers Fork drainages. This is prime summer and early-fall range for elk that later drift south and west, plus a full mountain fauna. It is a physically demanding, trail-access backcountry hunt in occupied grizzly habitat.
Terrain
Steep glaciated peaks, timbered ridges, and deep drainages falling from the Continental Divide and Scapegoat Wilderness toward the North Fork Blackfoot and Monture Creek.
Cover: Dense lodgepole and Douglas-fir on mid-slopes, spruce-fir and whitebark near timberline, willow-lined creek bottoms and high alpine meadows and rockslides above.
Landmarks: Scapegoat Wilderness · Continental Divide · Triple Divide Mountain · North Fork Blackfoot River · Monture Creek · Landers Fork · Red Mountain · Arrastra Mountain · Heart Lake · Camp Pass
Access
Overwhelmingly public national forest, much of it designated Scapegoat Wilderness where no motorized or mechanized travel is allowed. Access is by trailhead and horse/foot only into the interior; a few valley trailheads (North Fork Blackfoot, Monture Creek) are the primary gateways. Little private land inside the HD, so Block Management is not a major factor here.
Managers: USFS Helena-Lewis & Clark NF, USFS Lolo NF, Scapegoat Wilderness (USFS), MT DNRC state trust
Access points: North Fork Blackfoot Trailhead (Trail 32) · Monture Creek Trailhead (Trail 27) · Lake Creek Trail 61 · Heart Lake Trail 478 · Landers Fork access off Highway 200
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityMarquee species — high wilderness basins hold summering and rutting elk before migration; mature bulls in the roadless interior for hunters willing to pack in.
- →Backpack or pack-string into wilderness basins away from trailheads
- →Glass alpine parks and burn edges at first and last light
- →Hunt the September rut with bugles in the high timbered benches
- →Follow migration timing — elk push down and out with early snow
Mule Deer
common qualityHigh-country mule deer on alpine ridges and rockslides above timberline through the early season.
- →Glass timberline basins and scree slopes at dawn
- →Hunt the highest ground early before bucks drop with snow
- →Spot-and-stalk on open alpine benches
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityWhitetails hold in the lower creek bottoms and valley fringes along Monture Creek and the North Fork Blackfoot.
- →Hunt willow bottoms and river benches at the HD's lower edge
- →Still-hunt timbered draws near the valley trailheads
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears throughout the drainages on spring green-up and fall berry slopes — but this is core grizzly habitat, so bear identification is critical.
- →Glass avalanche chutes and berry fields in the evening
- →Positively identify every bear — grizzlies share this ground
- →Focus on green-up benches and old burns
Mountain Goat
limited trophyMountain goats inhabit the high cliffs and peaks along the Scapegoat and Continental Divide crest — a rare, coveted limited-draw opportunity.
- →Glass cliff bands and high rock near the Divide
- →Plan a multi-day wilderness pack trip if drawn
- →Judge nannies vs billies carefully before committing
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose use willow bottoms and beaver complexes along the North Fork Blackfoot and Landers Fork — a limited-draw tag.
- →Hunt willow flats and riparian meadows at dawn and dusk
- →Work beaver-pond complexes in the lower drainages
Pro tips
- →This is a horse or backpack hunt — plan for multi-day, self-supported trips deep from the trailheads
- →Get above the crowds: pressure fades fast a few miles past North Fork Blackfoot and Monture trailheads
- →Watch weather windows — an early storm can both trigger elk movement and strand you
- →Carry bear spray and run a clean, food-stored camp in this grizzly core
- →Time it to migration: mature bulls funnel through predictable saddles as snow builds
Watch out for
- !Core grizzly country (Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem) — carry bear spray, store food properly, and identify bears before shooting
- !Scapegoat Wilderness prohibits motorized and mechanized travel including game carts and e-bikes
- !Severe, sudden mountain weather and deep snow can trap backcountry hunters
- !Long pack-outs — have a realistic plan for getting meat out before it spoils or wildlife claims it
Logistics
Access from Highway 200 to valley trailheads at Ovando/North Fork Blackfoot and Monture Creek; stock trailers and packing gear are the norm. Nearest full services are Lincoln, Seeley Lake, and Ovando; Missoula is roughly two hours for major resupply. Cell coverage is nonexistent in the backcountry.
Nearest towns: Ovando, Lincoln, Seeley Lake, Helmville
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: MTFWP 2024-2025 Hunting District Legal Descriptions (HD 280 North Blackfoot) · MTFWP Hunt Planner · USFS Helena-Lewis & Clark National Forest / Scapegoat Wilderness
FAQ
- How big is Unit 280 in Montana?
- Unit 280 (District 280 (Region 2)) covers about 305 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,300 to 9,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 280?
- Approximately 90% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Helena-Lewis & Clark NF, USFS Lolo NF, Scapegoat Wilderness (USFS), MT DNRC state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 280?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Mountain Goat, Moose. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Montana agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 280 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.