Unit 312 District 312 (Region 3)
The steep Bridger Range on Bozeman's doorstep with strong public access.
Bridger Mountains — Region 3 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
495
sq mi
Public land
45%
approx.
Elevation
4,500–9,665
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
HD 312 is the Bridger Mountains district immediately north of Bozeman, a narrow, steep range that offers unusually good public access for southwest Montana. The east side of the Bridgers provides very good foot and gated-road access onto Custer Gallatin National Forest, while Bridger Bowl ski area sits on the eastern flank. Elk numbers are solid but public-land bull size runs small; the district also holds good whitetail bucks — mostly on private in the valleys and foothills — plus a special limited mule deer opportunity in the 312-50 subunit.
Terrain
A sharp, steep-sided mountain range with limited interior road access, topping out at Sacagawea Peak (~9,665 ft) and dropping to the Gallatin and Shields valley margins.
Cover: Douglas-fir and lodgepole on the slopes, spruce-fir near the crest, open grassy and rocky ridgelines up high, sage-grass foothills and ag/riparian bottoms below.
Landmarks: Bridger Range crest · Sacagawea Peak · Bridger Bowl ski area · Fairy Lake area · Gallatin Valley (west) · Shields Valley margin (east)
Access
The Bridgers offer very good public access, especially the east side, via gated logging roads, forest service trails, and access points off county roads. The high spine is national forest; the valley and foothill flanks are private ranch and ag where Block Management and walk-in permission open ground for whitetails and mule deer.
Managers: USFS Custer Gallatin NF, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust, BLM
Access points: Fairy Lake Road · Bridger Bowl / Bridger Canyon access · east-side gated logging roads and FS trailheads · county roads off MT-86 (Bridger Canyon Rd) · Block Management Areas (annual)
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityElk numbers are good on the range, but public-land bulls skew young with few mature animals harvested each year.
- →Hike gated roads and trails into the steep high timber
- →Glass the crest basins and forest openings early and late
- →Push farther than day-hunters to find undisturbed bulls
Whitetail Deer
common qualitySome very good whitetail bucks live here, most on private valley and creek-bottom ground with a few on public.
- →Secure Block Management or landowner permission on the foothill and bottom private
- →Hunt riparian and ag edges during the November rut
- →Glass field margins at dawn and dusk
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer range the foothills and high country; the 312-50 subunit is a special limited mule deer draw that can produce better bucks.
- →Glass foothill sage and timber pockets in the morning
- →Apply for the 312-50 limited mule deer opportunity
- →Work high grassy ridges and rock rims early season
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears use the timbered slopes and berry patches; grizzlies have begun expanding into the Bridgers in recent years.
- →Glass green avalanche paths and berry fields
- →Carry bear spray and identify bears carefully — grizzly presence is increasing here
Cougar
common opportunityLions follow the deer and elk through the range's timber.
- →Run hounds on fresh snow after storms
- →Check drainages holding wintering deer
Pro tips
- →Use the strong east-side public access — gated roads and FS trails — but be ready for steep climbs
- →For quality whitetails, line up Block Management or private permission in the valleys
- →Apply for the 312-50 special mule deer draw for a better-buck shot
- →Hunt the November rut on foothill and river-bottom edges for whitetails
- →Carry bear spray — grizzlies are expanding into the Bridger Range
Watch out for
- !Public-land elk run small — manage expectations for mature bulls
- !Best whitetail ground is private; secure access early
- !Grizzly presence increasing in the Bridgers — pack and know bear spray
- !Very steep terrain with limited interior roads makes retrieval hard
- !Bridger Bowl and the canyon corridor add non-hunting traffic and access nuance
Logistics
Bozeman and Belgrade offer full services minutes from the trailheads, making HD 312 one of the more accessible day-hunt options in Region 3. Bridger Canyon Road (MT-86) and Fairy Lake Road serve the east side; expect steep hikes off the roads and drifting snow on high routes late in the season.
Nearest towns: Bozeman, Belgrade, Wilsall, Bridger Canyon
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT — Montana Hunt District 312 Unit Profile · Visit Bozeman — Basics of Elk Hunting Near Bozeman · MTFWP Deer/Elk HD 312 Map
FAQ
- How big is Unit 312 in Montana?
- Unit 312 (District 312 (Region 3)) covers about 495 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,500 to 9,665 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 312?
- Approximately 45% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Custer Gallatin NF, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust, BLM. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 312?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, 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 312 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.