Unit 318 District 318 (Region 3)
Public timber and BLM breaks between Butte and Boulder — accessible elk and mule deer along the Continental Divide.
Boulder Mountains — Region 3 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
270
sq mi
Public land
65%
approx.
Elevation
4,900–9,400
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
District 318 sits in the Boulder Mountains of Jefferson County, north of Butte and west of Interstate 15, with the Continental Divide forming its western boundary. Unlike the private-locked valleys to the east, it offers genuinely good public access — thousands of acres of Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest plus BLM ground near the town of Boulder. Rocky_elk and mule_deer are the headline species, with whitetail_deer along the Bison Creek and Boulder River bottoms; bulls hold near the river year-round or up in the timbered basins and slopes on the east side of the Divide. FWP has tracked elk moving between the Elkhorns, these Boulder Mountains, and the Deer Lodge country to the west.
Terrain
Rolling to steep timbered mountains rising from the Boulder River valley and BLM foothill breaks up to the forested crest of the Continental Divide.
Cover: Sagebrush and grass foothill breaks and river bottoms give way to Douglas-fir and lodgepole timber, mixed parks and old burns, and subalpine fir near the Divide.
Landmarks: Boulder River · Bison Creek · Continental Divide · Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest · Boulder Mountains · Town of Boulder
Access
Access is a strength here — large blocks of Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest cover the high country, and BLM parcels near Boulder add foothill and breaks access. Private ranch ground clusters along the Boulder River valley and Bison Creek bottoms, some enrolled in FWP's Block Management program for free public hunting; check current BMA maps. State trust (DNRC) parcels are open with a conservation/recreation permit. A road network reaches much of the timber, but the Divide country still rewards a hike.
Managers: USFS Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF, BLM, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust
Access points: Interstate 15 exits at Boulder and Basin · Boulder River Road and Forest roads west toward the Divide · BLM access points near Boulder · Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF road and trail network
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityElk are the headline species — bulls hold near the Boulder River corridor and in the timbered basins and slopes on the east side of the Continental Divide, and are part of a larger herd that moves between the Elkhorns, Boulder Mountains, and Deer Lodge country.
- →Hunt timbered basins and north-slope pockets on the east side of the Divide
- →Glass parks, burns, and openings at first and last light
- →Work the public timber above the private river bottoms
- →Cover the Forest road network to locate herds, then still-hunt the timber
Mule Deer
common qualityMature mule deer bucks live high toward the Continental Divide, using open slopes, rock, and timber edges before weather pushes them down.
- →Climb toward the Divide and glass open faces and rims at dawn
- →Hunt timber-and-park edges early season
- →Follow deer to lower breaks as snow deepens
Whitetail Deer
common opportunityWhitetail bucks concentrate along Bison Creek and the Boulder River bottoms in the willow, cottonwood, and ag edges — largely private ground.
- →Still-hunt the Boulder River and Bison Creek bottoms during the November rut
- →Use Block Management and public river access
- →Watch field edges at first and last light
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear work the berry brush, green-up slopes, and timbered drainages of the Boulder Mountains.
- →Glass green openings and old burns in spring
- →Key on berry brush and forage in fall
- →Hunt logged edges and drainage bottoms
Moose
limited qualityA few Shiras moose use the willow bottoms and wet drainages; a limited-permit species.
- →Hunt willow flats and beaver-pond complexes
- →Glass wet meadows and drainage heads at dawn and dusk
Cougar
common qualityLions track the deer and elk through the Boulder Mountains; a winter snow-and-hound pursuit.
- →Cut Forest roads and ridgelines for fresh tracks after snow
- →Follow deer wintering areas along the breaks
Pro tips
- →This is one of the more access-friendly Region 3 districts — lean on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF and BLM near Boulder rather than fighting for private permission
- →Hunt the east side of the Continental Divide timber and basins for holding bulls
- →The biggest mule deer bucks live high toward the Divide — climb for them early before they scatter with pressure
- →Work whitetail on Block Management and public access along the Boulder River and Bison Creek
- →Cover ground on the road network to locate herds, then slow down and still-hunt the timber
Watch out for
- !Private ranch ground along the Boulder River and Bison Creek holds the best whitetail habitat — know boundaries and use Block Management legally
- !High Divide roads snow in and turn slick late season; carry recovery gear and chains
- !Elk shift across district and range boundaries between the Elkhorns and Deer Lodge — know exactly which HD you are hunting
- !Not established grizzly range, but dispersing bears are expanding westward in Montana — stay bear-aware and identify carefully
- !Cold, exposed high country near the Divide in late season
Logistics
Boulder is the local stop for basics, with full services in Butte a short drive south on I-15. Forest and BLM roads reach much of the district, but the higher Divide country thins out fast — carry a paper map, GPS, and a satellite messenger, and expect snow on the high roads late season. The I-15 corridor keeps access quick compared with the private valleys to the east.
Nearest towns: Boulder, Basin, Butte, Whitehall
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: GoHunt Montana Unit Profile — District 318 · Boulder Monitor: Where do elk go? (Elkhorns–Boulder Mtns–Deer Lodge study) · MTFWP Deer/Elk Hunting Districts (2026-2027) · USFS Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 318 in Montana?
- Unit 318 (District 318 (Region 3)) covers about 270 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,900 to 9,400 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 318?
- Approximately 65% 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 318?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Moose, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Montana agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 318 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.