Unit 340 District 340 (Region 3)
Public-land Highlands between Butte and Dillon — general-tag elk over objective, but you'll share the road with a crowd.
Highland Mountains — Region 3 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
852
sq mi
Public land
48%
approx.
Elevation
5,300–10,200
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
District 340 covers the Highland Mountains in southwest Montana, a compact but rugged range rising between Butte and Dillon east of the Big Hole valley. Nearly half the district is public — Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and BLM — which makes it a magnet for general-tag elk and deer hunters. The range runs from gentle, long ridges in the north to steep, rocky basins topping 10,000 feet in the south. The elk herd sits over population objective and hunts on a general tag, but the district has never been managed for trophy quality, so this is an opportunity hunt with high pressure. Getting away from the dense road network is the key to success.
Terrain
A self-contained mountain range: gentle long ridges and forested benches in the north giving way to steep, rocky alpine basins and creek-cut canyons above 10,000 feet in the south.
Cover: Douglas-fir, lodgepole pine, and spruce timber on the slopes, sagebrush and grass parks on the lower benches and ridges, and open alpine rock and meadow at the highest elevations.
Landmarks: Highland Mountains · Table Mountain · Red Mountain · Moose Creek · Big Hole valley (west edge)
Access
About half public, dominated by Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest with substantial BLM on the lower flanks — excellent general-access hunting on a general tag. Private ranchland rings the range on the valley margins, and several parcels are enrolled in FWP's Block Management program to add free public access to elk and deer. Good densities of roads and motorized trails reach much of the range, so the challenge is escaping pressure, not finding a way in.
Managers: USFS Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF, BLM, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust
Access points: Interstate 15 corridor (Butte–Dillon) · Moose Creek Road · Fish Creek and Highland Road access · Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF roads and motorized trails · BLM two-tracks on the lower flanks · Block Management sign-in boxes on enrolled ranches
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant opportunityThe district's headline draw — an elk herd over population objective, huntable on a general tag, with stable, strong numbers and good calf crops. Quality is opportunity-grade, not trophy, and pressure is intense.
- →Hike well beyond the road network to reach undisturbed elk
- →Push into the steep southern basins where pressure thins
- →Glass timber-edge parks and sage benches at first and last light
- →Hunt north-slope timber pockets for security cover once shooting starts
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer are well distributed across the range's open ridges, sage benches, and alpine basins; solid numbers but few standout bucks under general-tag pressure.
- →Glass high open ridges and alpine basins in early season
- →Climb into the steep southern country for less-pressured bucks
- →Still-hunt sage-and-timber transitions during the rut
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityWhitetail hold the lower creek bottoms, ag edges, and valley-margin cover on the flanks of the range rather than the high country.
- →Hunt brushy creek bottoms and irrigated valley edges
- →Focus lower elevations and Block Management valley ground
- →Key on the November rut along field-and-cover margins
Pronghorn
limited opportunityPronghorn use the open sage flats and grassland on the lower margins of the district near the valleys rather than the mountain core.
- →Glass open sage benches on the valley fringes
- →Spot-and-stalk with terrain and wind
- →Hunt the lower, drier ground away from the timber
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear work the timbered slopes, berry brush, and green-up openings through the range; no grizzlies in this island range.
- →Glass green-up openings and burns in spring
- →Key on berry brush and north-slope timber in fall
Cougar
common qualityLions follow the strong deer and elk numbers through the timbered basins; a winter track-and-snow pursuit.
- →Cut roads and ridgelines for fresh tracks after snow
- →Work the deer wintering areas on the lower slopes
Pro tips
- →Success here is about escaping pressure — hike past the road network into the steep southern basins
- →Hunt the elk rut with archery gear in September before the general-season crowd arrives
- →Use ATVs and forest roads to reach trailheads, then climb into undisturbed timber and alpine
- →Set expectations for opportunity-grade bulls and bucks, not trophies — this is a numbers-and-access district
- →Watch high-country weather; early snow both helps concentrate game and closes the steep upper basins
Watch out for
- !Extremely high hunting pressure in the National Forest, especially the accessible northern ridges
- !Steep, rugged southern basins above 10,000 feet demand fitness and can turn dangerous with early snow
- !Private ranchland rings the range — verify boundaries before hunting the valley margins
- !Early high-elevation snow and cold; be prepared for winter mountain driving and weather
- !Dirt and two-track roads on the lower flanks turn greasy and impassable when wet
Logistics
Butte to the north and Dillon to the south both offer full services, lodging, and fuel, with Interstate 15 running the west edge of the range for fast access. Forest and BLM roads and motorized trails reach deep into the Highlands, so a truck or ATV gets you close nearly everywhere — the effort is in the boots-on-the-ground climb past other hunters. The steep southern basins demand real fitness and good boots.
Nearest towns: Butte, Dillon, Melrose, Divide, Feely
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: MT FWP Hunt Planner · GOHUNT — Montana Hunt District 340 Unit Profile · Public Lands Interpretive Association — Montana Hunting District 340 · FWP Region 3 Hunting Forecasts — The Anaconda Leader
FAQ
- How big is Unit 340 in Montana?
- Unit 340 (District 340 (Region 3)) covers about 852 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,300 to 10,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 340?
- Approximately 48% 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 340?
- 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 340 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.