Unit 331 District 331 (Region 3)
The steep, high southern Pioneers northwest of Dillon — big-basin elk country under 11,000-foot peaks, working back toward objective.
Pioneer Mountains — Region 3 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,362
sq mi
Public land
80%
approx.
Elevation
6,000–11,150
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
District 331 covers the southern Pioneer Mountains northwest of Dillon, bounded on the north by the Big Hole River near Wise River. The Pioneers are steep, rugged, and heavily timbered, with granite peaks above 11,000 feet, wide alpine basins, and long timbered canyons draining to the foothills. It is a big-game district built around elk, with mule deer on the open ground and whitetail in the bottoms. Elk here took a hit from hard winters, wolves, and over-harvest and have sat below population objective — one of the few southwest Montana units in that spot — though it remains a scenic, largely public backcountry hunt close to Dillon.
Terrain
Steep, glaciated mountains with high granite peaks and large alpine basins up top, dropping through long timbered canyons to sage-and-grass foothills.
Cover: Heavy lodgepole and Douglas-fir timber on the slopes, whitebark pine and alpine meadow near the peaks, sagebrush and grass parks in the foothills, and willow along the drainages.
Landmarks: Tweedy Mountain (11,154 ft) · Torrey Mountain · Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway · Crystal Park · Wise River / Big Hole River · Elkhorn Hot Springs
Access
Overwhelmingly Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, so public access into the high country is excellent, with the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway (Hwy 73) forming the spine and Forest Service roads reaching the trailheads. Private ranch ground clusters in the lower foothills and along the Big Hole; some parcels enroll in FWP's Block Management program, and state trust (DNRC) land is open with a conservation license.
Managers: USFS Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF, MT DNRC state trust, BLM, private ranch (foothills) + Block Management
Access points: Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway (FS 73 / Hwy 73) · Wise River corridor · Grasshopper Creek Road · Birch Creek Road · trailheads off the byway into the high basins
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityThe centerpiece species and part of the Pioneer elk unit, but the herd has run below objective from tough winters, wolves, and harvest, so age class and trophy quality are down; opportunity remains in the big timbered basins.
- →Hunt hard, high, and away from roads — pressure out of Dillon concentrates near access
- →Glass alpine basins and timber edges at first light
- →Work the September rut before snow moves elk off the peaks
- →Some elk shift to HD 329 to winter, so distribution changes through the season
Mule Deer
common opportunitySolid mule deer on the foothill sage, high basins, and rocky rims; a good general-season opportunity.
- →Glass foothill sage and rock rims at dawn and dusk
- →Climb into high basins for mature bucks in early season
- →Hunt the timber-to-park transitions
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityHolds in the Big Hole and creek bottoms of the lower foothills, well behind mule deer in numbers.
- →Still-hunt willow and cottonwood bottoms
- →Hunt ag and private edges during the November rut where Block Management allows
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bear scatter through the timbered slopes and berry basins; an incidental spring/fall tag.
- →Glass green-up avalanche chutes in spring
- →Key on huckleberry and moist north slopes in fall
Moose
limited opportunityShiras moose scatter through the willow drainages and wet basins; a coveted limited-permit species.
- →Hunt willow flats and beaver-pond complexes
- →Glass wet meadows at dawn and dusk
Pro tips
- →Get away from the byway and the road-accessible drainages — pressure out of Dillon is real
- →Hunt elk early in the rut before snow relocates the herd, some of it into HD 329
- →Expect below-objective elk numbers and lower age class; manage expectations and hunt for opportunity
- →The Scenic Byway is the key artery, but plan for it to close with heavy snow
- →Use state trust and any Block Management foothill parcels to bridge private ground along the Big Hole
Watch out for
- !Steep, high-elevation terrain above 11,000 ft — deep snow arrives early and travel gets serious
- !Heavy hunting pressure near Dillon and the accessible drainages
- !Below-objective elk herd; wolves are present and affect distribution
- !Private ranch ground in the foothills and along the Big Hole — know boundaries and use Block Management legally
- !Unreliable cell coverage and long distances to services
Logistics
Dillon is the main hub for fuel, groceries, and lodging; Wise River has a store, bar, and limited services along the Big Hole. The Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway gives good vehicle access to trailheads but closes to travel with heavy snow. Cell coverage is unreliable off the highways — carry a paper map, GPS, and satellite messenger.
Nearest towns: Dillon, Wise River, Melrose, Wisdom
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT — Montana Hunt District 331 Unit Profile · MTFWP Harvest Quota Status — District 331 · MTFWP Region 3 Hunting Forecasts (Anaconda Leader)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 331 in Montana?
- Unit 331 (District 331 (Region 3)) covers about 1,362 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,000 to 11,150 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 331?
- Approximately 80% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF, MT DNRC state trust, BLM, private ranch (foothills) + Block Management. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 331?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Moose. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Montana agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 331 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.