Unit 302 District 302 (Region 3)
Elk-heavy Idaho-border range above Clark Canyon and the Red Rock country
Tendoy Mountains — Region 3 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
599
sq mi
Public land
60%
approx.
Elevation
5,500–9,700
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
HD 302 (Tendoys) covers the Tendoy Mountains of southern Beaverhead County, running roughly 25 miles north from Big Sheep Canyon to Clark Canyon Reservoir, northwest of Lima and Dell along the Idaho border. It is a mix of Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, BLM, ranch land, and the Hidden Pasture Creek Wilderness Study Area. Elk numbers here run well above objective — bolstered by animals moving in from neighboring HD 303 and from Idaho — making it a strong elk district alongside good mule deer, pronghorn on the flats, and whitetails in the bottoms.
Terrain
A compact, rugged range rising from sagebrush valleys and the Red Rock/Clark Canyon basin to timbered ridges and rocky peaks topped by Dixon Mountain (9,674 ft).
Cover: Sagebrush and grass benches and canyon bottoms grading into Douglas-fir and juniper on the slopes, limber pine and rock near the crest, with willow and riparian cover along Big Sheep and Medicine Lodge Creeks.
Landmarks: Tendoy Mountains · Dixon Mountain · Clark Canyon Reservoir · Big Sheep Creek · Medicine Lodge Creek · Hidden Pasture Creek Wilderness Study Area · Ellis Peak · Lima Peaks (to the south)
Access
A working mix of Forest Service and BLM public land threaded with large private ranches. Access reaches the range from Medicine Lodge Road on the west, I-15 and Clark Canyon on the east, and Big Sheep Creek and Garfield Canyon from the south. Block Management and cooperative access projects (RMEF-partnered easements near Ellis Peak, for example) open otherwise pinched public — check FWP for current Block Management ranches and secured routes before relying on a two-track.
Managers: USFS Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF, BLM, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust
Access points: Medicine Lodge Road (west side) · Big Sheep Creek Road (south) · Clark Canyon Reservoir / I-15 (east) · Garfield Canyon · BLM and Forest roads into Hidden Pasture WSA
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant qualityThe headline species — the Tendoy herd sits well over population objective, boosted by elk moving in from HD 303 and across the Idaho line; access to public and Block Management ground is the main hurdle.
- →Hunt the September rut with bugles in the timbered canyon heads
- →Glass sagebrush-timber edges at first and last light
- →Work Block Management and BLM ground where herds pack onto private
- →Push higher into the forest for pressured elk mid-season
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer are strong in the Tendoys, with post-season surveys showing above-average buck-to-doe ratios and quality bucks in the high sagebrush and timber breaks.
- →Glass open sagebrush faces and canyon rims at dawn
- →Hunt the high timbered ridges and rock near Dixon Mountain early
- →Spot-and-stalk bucks bedded in mid-slope pockets
Pronghorn
common opportunityPronghorn range the sagebrush flats and benches of the Red Rock/Medicine Lodge and Clark Canyon country below the range.
- →Glass the open flats and spot-and-stalk with a flat-shooting rifle
- →Watch water sources and fence lines on the sage benches
- →Use terrain folds to close the distance across open ground
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityWhitetails hold in the creek bottoms and irrigated ranch corridors along Big Sheep Creek and the Red Rock drainage.
- →Hunt willow and cottonwood bottoms at first and last light
- →Work ag-field edges near private during the November rut
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears use the higher timber and berry slopes; grizzlies are expanding through southwest Montana, so bear identification is increasingly important near the Idaho border.
- →Glass green-up meadows and old burns in the high timber
- →Positively identify any bear — grizzly range is expanding into this country
Pro tips
- →Elk numbers are high, but access is the puzzle — line up Block Management or private permission and map the public/BLM checkerboard before you go
- →Glass the sagebrush-timber edge hard at dawn and dusk for both elk and quality mule deer bucks
- →Hunt higher and deeper mid-season as pressure pushes elk off the accessible lower ground
- →Add a pronghorn plan for the flats below the range if you draw or hold a tag
- →Carry recovery gear and extra fuel — services and help are far apart out here
Watch out for
- !Public/private checkerboard with pinched public access — verify boundaries and secured routes (some rely on short easements) before crossing
- !Expanding grizzly range in southwest Montana near the Idaho border — carry bear spray and identify bears before shooting
- !Dirt and clay roads turn to greasy gumbo when wet or snowy; long distances between services
- !High, open, windy country — cold and exposure are real; come prepared for winter conditions
Logistics
I-15 runs the east edge past Clark Canyon Reservoir, with Lima and Dell offering fuel and basic services and Dillon (about 30-45 minutes north) providing full amenities. West-side access is via Medicine Lodge Road and south via Big Sheep Creek. Distances between services are long and cell coverage is thin — come self-sufficient.
Nearest towns: Lima, Dell, Dillon, Clark Canyon Reservoir
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: MTFWP 2025 Elk Count (Tendoy EMU / HD 302 above objective) · MTFWP Deer/Elk Hunting District 302 Map — Tendoys · Tendoy Mountains — Southwest Montana / BLM Hidden Pasture WSA
FAQ
- How big is Unit 302 in Montana?
- Unit 302 (District 302 (Region 3)) covers about 599 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,500 to 9,700 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 302?
- Approximately 60% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF, BLM, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 302?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Whitetail 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 302 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.