Unit 285 District 285 (Region 2)
Big public-land elk and trophy whitetail country on the wilderness front above the Blackfoot
Monture / Seeley–Ovando — Bob Marshall Front — Region 2 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
662
sq mi
Public land
73%
approx.
Elevation
4,000–8,500
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
HD 285 (Monture) covers roughly 662 square miles of Missoula and Powell Counties on the timbered front between the Blackfoot valley and the Bob Marshall–Scapegoat high country, taking in the Monture Creek and North Fork Blackfoot drainages, Ovando Mountain, and the Swan-Clearwater divide up toward Wolverine Peak. It is one of Region 2's marquee big-game districts — heavily public national forest with a strong migratory elk herd, a reputation for large whitetail bucks, mule deer, and black bear. The district lies squarely in occupied grizzly country and butts against the Bob Marshall and Rattlesnake Wilderness.
Terrain
Blackfoot valley and Highway 200 bench rising steeply through timbered mid-slopes into the roadless wilderness front and high divides toward the Bob Marshall.
Cover: Douglas-fir, lodgepole, and larch on the slopes with spruce-fir and subalpine parks up high, willow and cottonwood along Monture and the North Fork Blackfoot, and grass-sage benches on the valley floor.
Landmarks: Monture Creek · North Fork Blackfoot River · Ovando Mountain · Swan-Clearwater Divide · Wolverine Peak · Bob Marshall / Scapegoat Wilderness front · Rattlesnake Wilderness boundary · Woodworth Road
Access
Overwhelmingly public: national-forest timber and wilderness-front country cover most of the district, so access up the drainages is strong via forest roads and trailheads. The lower Blackfoot bench and valley edges hold private ranch ground — the Ovando Mountain Block Management Area opens key foothill access, and DNRC state-trust sections are huntable with a recreational use license. Expect long, steep hikes to reach the best backcountry.
Managers: USFS Lolo NF, USFS Helena-Lewis & Clark NF, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust
Access points: Highway 200 corridor · Monture Creek Road 89 and Monture Creek Trail 27 · Woodworth Road · North Fork Blackfoot trailhead · State Route 83 (Clearwater) corridor · Ovando Mountain Block Management Area #27
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityA strong migratory elk herd summers in the wilderness-front high country and moves down the Monture and North Fork drainages toward Blackfoot valley winter range; classic backcountry elk hunting.
- →Hike well past the roads into security timber and wilderness-front basins
- →Call the September rut in the high parks and drainage heads
- →Learn the fall migration lines off the divide toward valley winter range
- →Time late-season hunts to snow that pushes elk downhill
Whitetail Deer
common trophyThe district is known for producing large whitetail bucks along the Blackfoot bottoms, timbered benches, and lower drainages.
- →Still-hunt cottonwood and willow river bottoms
- →Hunt the November rut on field-and-timber edges
- →Work brushy draws and benches where bucks hold in cover
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer use the open high benches, burns, and timber-edge ridges up the drainages.
- →Glass high open benches and burns at dawn and dusk
- →Hunt higher early, then follow deer down with snow
- →Spot-and-stalk the timber-to-park transitions
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears work spring green-up slopes and fall berry and old-burn benches — but grizzlies occur throughout this district, so identification is essential.
- →Glass south-facing green-up and avalanche chutes in spring
- →Hunt berry fields and old burns in fall
- →Positively identify every bear before shooting
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose frequent willow bottoms and beaver complexes along Monture Creek and the North Fork Blackfoot — a limited-draw tag.
- →Hunt willow flats and riparian meadows early and late
- →Work beaver-pond complexes and wet drainage heads
Mountain Goat
limited qualityMountain goats hold in the rocky high country of the wilderness front toward the Scapegoat and Swan-Clearwater divides — a coveted limited-draw tag.
- →Glass cliff bands and alpine ledges near the divides
- →Plan a committed backcountry pack trip for high, rough terrain
Pro tips
- →Go where the roads end — pressure drops fast past the trailheads on the wilderness front
- →Study the elk migration off the divide toward Blackfoot valley winter range and hunt the timing
- →Use the Ovando Mountain Block Management Area to reach foothill ground between public blocks
- →Whitetails are the sleeper trophy here — hunt the bottoms hard in the November rut
- →Carry bear spray and follow food-storage orders — grizzlies occur throughout the district
Watch out for
- !Occupied grizzly country (NCDE) bordering the Bob Marshall — carry bear spray and follow food-storage orders
- !Steep, remote wilderness-front terrain — plan for long pack-outs and weather
- !Wilderness boundaries are closed to motorized and mechanized access — know where the line is
- !Valley-edge private ranch ground — verify boundaries and use Block Management or permission
- !Early fall storms can close high country fast and turn valley roads to gumbo
Logistics
Ovando and Seeley Lake bracket the district on Highway 200 and State Route 83 with fuel, food, and basic lodging; Missoula, about an hour to an hour-and-a-half southwest, is the major resupply and outfitter hub. Forest roads and trailheads up Monture and the North Fork open the front, but the best backcountry requires horses or a serious hike-in.
Nearest towns: Ovando, Seeley Lake, Lincoln, Missoula
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 285 Monture) · MTFWP Hunt Planner · GoHunt Montana Unit 285 Profile · USFS Lolo National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 285 in Montana?
- Unit 285 (District 285 (Region 2)) covers about 662 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,000 to 8,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 285?
- Approximately 73% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Lolo NF, USFS Helena-Lewis & Clark NF, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 285?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Black Bear, Moose, Mountain Goat. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Montana agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 285 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.