Unit 309 District 309 (Region 3)
Bozeman's weapons-restricted valley — whitetail and mule deer on private ag ground with a wintering elk herd.
Gallatin Valley — Region 3 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
173
sq mi
Public land
12%
approx.
Elevation
4,500–6,500
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
District 309 (Gallatin Valley Weapons Restriction Area) is the developed valley and foothills around Bozeman in Gallatin County, bounded roughly by Cottonwood Road, South 19th, Nash Road, and Sourdough Canyon up to the national forest edge. It was created to manage deer and elk in a fast-growing residential and agricultural landscape, and it carries a weapons restriction (no centerfire rifles) for safety near homes and subdivisions. Deer are the mainstay — whitetail in the creek bottoms and ag land, mule deer on the benches and foothills — and elk from the Hyalite/Gallatin herd winter down into the valley. Access is mostly private, so relationships and Block Management matter here.
Terrain
Broad, flat Gallatin Valley farmland around 4,500 ft rising gently to grassy benches and timbered foothills near the Custer Gallatin National Forest boundary around 6,500 ft.
Cover: Irrigated hay and grain fields, cottonwood-willow creek bottoms, grassy foothill benches, and Douglas-fir timber edging up toward the forest boundary.
Landmarks: Bozeman · Sourdough (Bozeman) Creek · Cottonwood Road corridor · Gallatin Valley farmland · Custer Gallatin National Forest boundary · Gallatin Range foothills
Access
This is predominantly private agricultural and residential land, so public opportunity hinges on landowner permission and FWP's Block Management program — check current BMA rosters for enrolled parcels. A thin band of Custer Gallatin National Forest and some DNRC state trust ground touches the southern, upper edge. Because it's a weapons-restriction area drawn around subdivisions, hunters must use legal weapons only (no centerfire rifles) and mind the Sourdough exclusion zone described in FWP's boundary language.
Managers: private ranch + ag (with Block Management), MT DNRC state trust, USFS Custer Gallatin NF (upper edge), City of Bozeman lands
Access points: Sourdough Canyon Road · Cottonwood Road · Nash Road / South 19th corridors · Custer Gallatin NF boundary trailheads (upper edge) · Block Management access sites (verify current enrollment)
Species notes
Whitetail Deer
common qualityWhitetail thrive in the creek bottoms, shelterbelts, and irrigated ag land of the valley floor — the district's signature quarry and a real management focus.
- →Hunt cottonwood creek bottoms and ag edges, especially during the November rut
- →Glass field edges at first and last light
- →Secure private permission or use Block Management ground
- →Remember: legal weapons only — no centerfire rifles in this district
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer favor the grassy benches, foothills, and coulees on the valley margins, mixing with whitetail along the ag-to-timber transition.
- →Glass foothill benches and draws above the fields at dawn
- →Work the transition where ag land meets timbered foothills
- →Hunt higher toward the forest edge for bucks holding off the valley
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited opportunityElk from the surrounding Gallatin/Hyalite herd drop into the valley to winter, and the district uses hunting to manage numbers and defray conflict — largely special-permit.
- →Focus on the foothill fringe and forest boundary where elk enter and exit the valley
- →Time late-season hunts to winter movement onto lower ground
- →Coordinate with landowners; wintering elk sit on private ag land
Pro tips
- →Confirm the weapons restriction — no centerfire rifles; plan for archery, shotgun, or muzzleloader as legal
- →Nail down private-land permission or Block Management access well before opening day
- →Hunt the November rut for the valley's best whitetail action
- →Study the Sourdough exclusion zone and district boundary carefully — the lines are drawn tight around development
- →Be respectful and low-impact; you're hunting among homes and working ranches
Watch out for
- !Weapons-restriction area — centerfire rifles are not legal; know the rules before you hunt
- !Overwhelmingly private land — access requires permission or Block Management enrollment
- !Residential/urban interface: mind property lines, safe zones of fire, and the Sourdough exclusion zone
- !Occasional bear and even wandering grizzly activity along the foothill fringe near the forest — stay aware
Logistics
Bozeman anchors the district with a regional airport, full services, and an FWP regional office — you can hunt this ground and sleep in town. The real logistical work is access: line up private-land permission early or map current Block Management sites, and know the weapons-restriction and exclusion-zone boundaries before you hunt.
Nearest towns: Bozeman, Gallatin Gateway, Four Corners
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 309 Gallatin Valley Weapons Restriction Area) · MTFWP Region 3 Elk Management Plan (HDs 301 & 309) · MTFWP Region 3 (Southwest Montana)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 309 in Montana?
- Unit 309 (District 309 (Region 3)) covers about 173 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,500 to 6,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 309?
- Approximately 12% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: private ranch + ag (with Block Management), MT DNRC state trust, USFS Custer Gallatin NF (upper edge), City of Bozeman lands. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 309?
- Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Montana agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 309 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.