Unit 324 District 324 (Region 3)
Big elk numbers on largely public Blacktail high country over the Sage Creek prairies
Blacktail Mountains & Sage Creek — Region 3 (Southwest Montana) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
517
sq mi
Public land
62%
approx.
Elevation
5,100–9,500
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
A district south of Dillon in Beaverhead County built around the Blacktail Mountain Range and the high sage prairies of the Sage Creek country, reaching toward the Snowcrest and lower Ruby. It is majority public land — Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and BLM — and known for holding a large elk population, with whitetails in the northern bottoms and good mule deer on the open Sage Creek high plains. Proximity to Dillon means access is easy and hunting pressure can run high.
Terrain
High sage-grass plains and desert benches around 5,100-6,500 ft rising into the timbered Blacktail Mountains near 9,500 ft in the northern part of the district.
Cover: Sagebrush-grassland and bunchgrass prairie across Sage Creek, willow and riparian stringers along the creeks, Douglas-fir and lodgepole timber with aspen pockets and open grass parks in the Blacktail high country.
Landmarks: Blacktail Mountains · Sage Creek · Blacktail Deer Creek · Snowcrest Range (eastern edge) · high plains south of Dillon
Access
Roughly 62% public — Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF timber in the Blacktail Mountains and extensive BLM across the Sage Creek prairies give strong public opportunity, easily reached by road. Intermingled private ranch holdings block access in places, so check ownership at the boundaries; Block Management opens some private ground to free walk-in. DNRC state trust parcels are also open to hunting with a license.
Managers: USFS Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, BLM, MT DNRC state trust, private ranch + Block Management
Access points: Blacktail Road / Blacktail Deer Creek Road south from Dillon · Sage Creek Road · Forest Service roads into the Blacktail Mountains · BLM two-tracks across the Sage Creek high plains
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant qualityThe headline species — the district holds a large elk population with good numbers throughout, though bulls tend toward average rather than trophy class.
- →Hunt the Blacktail Mountain timber and grass-park edges at dawn and dusk
- →Push into public timber pockets away from the road system to find undisturbed elk
- →Time September archery to the rut for bugling bulls
- →Glass the sage-timber transition where elk feed out of the high country
Mule Deer
common qualityGood mule deer hunting on the open Sage Creek high plains, with bucks using the sage benches, coulees and prairie breaks.
- →Glass wide sage basins and coulee rims at first and last light
- →Spot-and-stalk across the open high plains
- →Hunt the sage-timber edge and high saddles during the November rut
Whitetail Deer
common opportunityWhitetails concentrate in the northern portion of the district in the creek bottoms and ag edges near Dillon.
- →Hunt willow and cottonwood bottoms along Blacktail Deer Creek at first and last light
- →Work the field-timber edges during the November rut
- →Check BMA and private bottomland for the better bucks
Pronghorn
limited opportunityPronghorn range the open Sage Creek high plains in modest numbers, reduced by recent drought and hard winters.
- →Glass the wide sage flats mid-morning
- →Hunt BLM and state prairie ground along Sage Creek
- →Expect low densities and long, patient stalks
Black Bear
common opportunitySpring and fall black bear hunting is good in the timbered Blacktail Mountains, with bears on green slopes in spring and berries in fall.
- →Glass aspen draws, green slopes and old burns in spring
- →Hunt berry-heavy timber and forest openings in early fall
- →Focus on the wetter north-facing basins of the Blacktail
Cougar
common opportunityStrong deer and elk numbers support mountain lions through the Blacktail timber and prairie breaks; a winter tracking pursuit.
- →Cut fresh tracks on FS and BLM roads after new snow
- →Focus on deer-wintering breaks and the timber-prairie edge
- →Most success comes with hounds and a tracking snow
Pro tips
- →This is a strong, largely public elk district — get off the roads into the Blacktail timber to escape the Dillon-area pressure.
- →For mule deer, glass the open Sage Creek high plains rather than the timber.
- →Watch for intermingled private inholdings — verify ownership at the boundaries and use Block Management where available.
- →Time an archery elk hunt to the September rut in the mountain parks.
- →Spring and fall are both good windows for black bear in the Blacktail Mountains.
- →Carry chains and recovery gear for late-season prairie roads.
Watch out for
- !High hunting pressure from the nearby town of Dillon, especially in rifle season.
- !Intermingled private ranch parcels restrict access in places — confirm ownership and don't trespass.
- !Sage Creek prairie and BLM two-tracks turn to impassable gumbo when wet.
- !Grizzly bears are expanding south and west from the Greater Yellowstone into the Snowcrest and adjacent ranges — stay bear-aware and carry spray in the high country.
Logistics
Dillon is right at the district's edge with full fuel, lodging, groceries and I-15 access, making it an easy base. Butte is the nearest large hub. Late-season travel gets tough — carry tire chains, and ATVs help on the BLM two-tracks; gravel and prairie roads turn to gumbo when wet.
Nearest towns: Dillon, Sheridan, Twin Bridges
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: MTFWP Deer/Elk Hunting District 324 (Snowcrest-Lower Ruby) map · GOHUNT — Montana Hunt District 324 Unit Profile · FWP Region 3 Hunting Forecasts (Sheridan/Dillon area) — The Anaconda Leader
FAQ
- How big is Unit 324 in Montana?
- Unit 324 (District 324 (Region 3)) covers about 517 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,100 to 9,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 324?
- Approximately 62% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, BLM, MT DNRC state trust, private ranch + Block Management. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 324?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Pronghorn, 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 324 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.