Unit 303 District 303 (Region 3)
High, rugged divide country on the Idaho line southwest of Dell — border-crossing elk, mule deer, and lonesome peaks.
Beaverhead Mountains / Continental Divide — Region 3 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
327
sq mi
Public land
85%
approx.
Elevation
6,500–11,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
District 303 (Lima Peaks-Nicholia) covers the far-southwestern corner of Beaverhead County, wrapping the Beaverhead Mountains and Continental Divide from Big Sheep Creek south past Nicholia Creek to Italian Peak on the Montana-Idaho border. It is steep, high, remote timber-and-alpine country in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, with sagebrush benches falling away toward the Red Rock and Centennial valleys. This is part of the Tendoy elk management landscape, and many of its elk shuttle back and forth across the state line into Idaho. Access is overwhelmingly public but the country is big and vertical.
Terrain
Rugged Beaverhead Mountains rising along the Continental Divide to peaks near 11,000 ft, with deep timbered creek drainages dropping to sagebrush valley floor around 6,600 ft.
Cover: Douglas-fir and lodgepole timber on the mid-slopes, whitebark pine and alpine tundra along the divide, and big sagebrush-grassland benches and willow-lined creek bottoms lower down.
Landmarks: Continental Divide / Montana-Idaho border · Italian Peak · Nicholia Creek · Big Sheep Creek · Lima Peaks · Monida Pass (I-15) · Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
Access
Predominantly Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and BLM along the divide, so public access is excellent once you reach the high country. Private ranchland and DNRC state trust parcels dominate the lower Big Sheep and Meadow Creek bottoms and the valley approaches — some private ground is enrolled in FWP's Block Management program for free public hunting, so check current BMA maps. State trust parcels are open with a conservation/recreation permit.
Managers: USFS Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF, BLM, MT DNRC state trust, private ranch + Block Management
Access points: Big Sheep Creek Road (from Dell off I-15) · Nicholia / Deadman Creek roads · Meadow Creek Road · Monida Pass / I-15 exits (Dell, Monida) · numerous Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF spur roads and trailheads
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityA marquee species here — elk hold in the high timber and basins along the divide and cross the Idaho line seasonally as part of the Tendoy-area herd.
- →Glass high timbered basins and divide parks at first and last light
- →Be ready to hunt near the state line where elk shuttle into Idaho
- →Get above the trailheads early; the good country is a climb
- →Work north-slope timber pockets for midday bedding
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer are the backbone deer here, scattered from sagebrush benches to alpine basins with mature bucks in the high, broken country.
- →Glass sage benches and creek heads at dawn
- →Push high to rocky rims and alpine pockets for older bucks
- →Still-hunt timbered stringers between open slopes
- →Late season, watch lower sage as snow pushes deer down
Pronghorn
limited opportunityPronghorn use the open sagebrush flats and benches on the valley margins near Dell and Monida, thinning quickly as the ground steepens.
- →Glass the wide sage flats near the valley floor
- →Spot-and-stalk using terrain rolls
- →Focus on the lower, open eastern edge of the district
Moose
limited opportunityShiras moose scatter through willow bottoms and wet drainages — a coveted limited-permit animal.
- →Hunt willow flats and beaver complexes along the creeks
- →Glass wet meadows at dawn and dusk
Mountain Goat
limited qualityMountain goats inhabit the rugged high peaks and cliffs along the divide; a rare limited-permit tag.
- →Glass rock faces and alpine cliffs near Italian Peak and the high divide
- →Plan for steep, technical country and a hard pack-out
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear work the berry brush, avalanche chutes, and timber; solid spring and fall opportunity.
- →Glass green-up slopes and avalanche paths in spring
- →Key on berry patches and creek bottoms in fall
- →Confirm color phase and species carefully
Cougar
common qualityMountain lions follow the deer and elk through the timbered drainages; a winter track-and-snow pursuit.
- →Cut fresh tracks along ridges and roads after snow
- →Follow deer and elk wintering concentrations
Pro tips
- →Hunt the state line deliberately — elk move between Montana and Idaho, so know exactly where the border is
- →Glass from the sage benches up into the high basins rather than grinding blind through timber
- →Late-season storms are your friend for pushing deer and elk to lower, more accessible ground
- →Check current Block Management maps before counting on the lower private bottoms
- →Come prepared for a serious climb and a long pack-out from the divide
Watch out for
- !Big, steep, remote high country — physically demanding with long pack-outs
- !Sudden mountain snowstorms can close roads and passes quickly
- !Lower creek bottoms and benches are private/DNRC; verify Block Management or trust access before crossing
- !Grizzly bears are expanding through the southern Beaverheads/Centennial linkage — carry bear spray and treat it as bear country
Logistics
Dell and Lima (both on I-15) offer fuel and very limited services; Dillon to the north is the full-service hub for lodging, groceries, gas, and an FWP regional office. Expect long, rough Forest Service and BLM roads to reach the high country, and carry recovery gear — help is far away.
Nearest towns: Dell, Lima, Dillon, Monida
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: MTFWP 2026-2027 Legal Descriptions (HD 303 Lima Peaks-Nicholia) · MTFWP Region 3 Southwest Montana Big Game Forecast · MTFWP Region 3 (Southwest Montana)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 303 in Montana?
- Unit 303 (District 303 (Region 3)) covers about 327 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,500 to 11,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 303?
- Approximately 85% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF, BLM, MT DNRC state trust, private ranch + Block Management. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 303?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Moose, Mountain Goat, Black Bear, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Montana agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 303 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.