Unit 314 District 314 (Region 3)
The west wall of Paradise Valley, from cottonwood river bottoms to the alpine Gallatin crest
Upper Yellowstone / Gallatin Range — Region 3 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
542
sq mi
Public land
55%
approx.
Elevation
4,500–10,300
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
HD 314 (Upper Yellowstone-West) covers the western side of the upper Yellowstone valley in Gallatin and Park Counties, from Livingston and Interstate 90 south to the Yellowstone National Park boundary, rising west across the entire north Gallatin Range. It pairs private ranch bottoms along the Yellowstone River with a huge block of Custer Gallatin National Forest on the mountain — including the Gallatin Petrified Forest and Ramshorn Peak country. Elk, both deer species, and a full slate of high-country game make this a classic mixed public-private Region 3 district.
Terrain
Yellowstone River bottom near Livingston climbing west through foothill benches and timbered canyons to the alpine spine of the northern Gallatin Range.
Cover: Irrigated ag and cottonwood galleries on the valley floor, sagebrush and grass benches, dense Douglas-fir and lodgepole on the slopes, whitebark and subalpine parks near the crest, willow-choked creek headwaters.
Landmarks: Gallatin Range crest · Ramshorn Peak · Trail Creek · Rock Creek · Gallatin Petrified Forest · Yellowstone River · Livingston
Access
The Gallatin Range half of the district is largely Custer Gallatin National Forest with good trail access up the drainages. The valley bottom along the Yellowstone River is private ranch, where Block Management agreements and public river access are the keys to legal ground. Trail Creek, Rock Creek, and the Petrified Forest roads are the main arteries onto the forest.
Managers: USFS Custer Gallatin NF, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust, BLM
Access points: Trail Creek Road · Rock Creek Road · Goose Creek Road · U.S. Highway 89 / East and West River Roads · Custer Gallatin NF trailheads on the Gallatin front · Interstate 90 at Livingston
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityElk summer high in the Gallatin Range and shift to lower timber and private winter range as snow builds. The forest holds general-season opportunity, but the best bulls often winter on private valley ground.
- →Hunt the high dark timber and parks early, then follow elk to lower benches with snow
- →Work the Custer Gallatin drainages — Trail Creek, Rock Creek — well back from the road
- →Pin down Block Management bottoms for late-season migrating herds
- →Locate bugling bulls at dawn from high glassing points during the rut
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer occupy the foothill benches, sage draws, and open timber of the Gallatin front, with mature bucks pushing into the high basins in early season.
- →Glass sage benches and burn edges at first light
- →Hike into high alpine basins for early-season bucks before pressure
- →Follow deer down to winter range and rimrock as snow arrives
Whitetail Deer
common opportunityWhitetails concentrate in the Yellowstone River cottonwood bottoms and irrigated valley fields near Livingston and Emigrant, mostly on private land.
- →Hunt river-bottom edges and field margins at dawn and dusk
- →Use Block Management river frontage for legal bottom access
- →Target the mid-November rut when bucks cruise in daylight
Moose
limited trophyA few moose use the willow bottoms and subalpine creek heads of the Gallatin Range; any tag is a rare once-in-a-lifetime limited draw.
- →Glass willow flats and beaver complexes at the drainage heads
- →Hunt mornings and evenings when bulls feed in the open
- →Scout the same wet pockets across seasons — moose are highly localized
Mountain Goat
limited trophyMountain goats inhabit the alpine cliffs and rockslides along the high Gallatin crest — a coveted limited-entry hunt in steep, remote terrain.
- →Glass the high rock faces and ledges near Ramshorn and the crest
- →Plan a multi-day backcountry effort at elevation
- →Study escape terrain — goats hold near cliffs and slide rock
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears range the timbered Gallatin slopes and creek bottoms. This is Greater Yellowstone grizzly range as well, with grizzlies present on the mountain.
- →Glass green avalanche chutes and south faces in spring
- →Hunt fall berry and whitebark pockets
- →Confirm species carefully — grizzlies share this country
Pro tips
- →Split your strategy: public national forest on the mountain, Block Management or river access in the bottoms
- →Hunt elk high and early on the Gallatin front, then chase snow to the lower benches
- →The Yellowstone River bottoms hold the best whitetails — line up private access before the rut
- →Limited-draw goat and moose tags here are worth the point investment for the terrain and quality
- →Carry bear spray and hunt grizzly-aware throughout the Gallatin Range
Watch out for
- !Greater Yellowstone grizzly country on the mountain — carry bear spray and manage meat and gut piles carefully
- !Valley bottom is private ranch — confirm Block Management or public boundaries before crossing
- !The Gallatin crest is steep, remote, and weather-exposed — high-country hunts demand fitness and preparation
- !Snow and wind on the Gallatin front can strand vehicles on gravel roads
- !Some limited-entry species require drawing a permit — check current regulations
Logistics
Livingston, right on I-90, is the full-service base with fuel, lodging, and outfitters; Bozeman is 30 minutes west. Paved Hwy 89 runs the valley, and gravel forest roads up Trail Creek and Rock Creek reach the Gallatin front. Higher trailheads mean foot or stock access into the wilderness-quality upper drainages. Cell service fades quickly off the valley.
Nearest towns: Livingston, Emigrant, Pray, Bozeman
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: MTFWP 2024/2025 Legal Descriptions (HD 314 Upper Yellowstone-West) · MTFWP Region 3 Deer/Elk Season Setting Justifications · MTFWP Deer & Elk District Maps
FAQ
- How big is Unit 314 in Montana?
- Unit 314 (District 314 (Region 3)) covers about 542 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,500 to 10,300 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 314?
- Approximately 55% 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 314?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Moose, Mountain Goat, 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 314 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.