Unit 343 District 343 (Region 3)
Steep, over-hunted Divide country at MacDonald Pass — boot leather and research beat the Helena crowd.
Continental Divide West of Helena — Region 3 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
246
sq mi
Public land
47%
approx.
Elevation
5,000–7,600
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
District 343 sits on the Continental Divide just west of Helena, taking in the high, timbered country around MacDonald Pass, Rimini, and the upper Tenmile Creek drainage. Roughly half public and half private, it is steeper day-hunt terrain of Douglas-fir and lodgepole ridges cut by creek bottoms, with the Divide crest forming the spine of the unit. Hunters chase whitetail deer in the bottoms, mule deer on the open higher slopes, and elk that summer here and then migrate east over the Divide to winter range once rifle season closes. It sees heavy competition and low success from its proximity to Helena, but honest research and legwork still turn up quality hunting.
Terrain
Steep, timbered Continental Divide mountains cut by creek drainages; the Divide crest runs through the unit near MacDonald Pass, with brushy bottoms rising to fir-and-lodgepole ridgelines.
Cover: Douglas-fir, lodgepole pine, and spruce on the ridges and north slopes, with brushy willow-and-alder creek bottoms, aspen pockets, and scattered open grassy parks and old cuts.
Landmarks: MacDonald Pass · Continental Divide · Tenmile Creek · Rimini · Highway 12
Access
Close to an even public/private split. The Helena National Forest covers much of the higher Divide country and is fully open, while private ground fills the lower valleys and creek mouths — several landowners enroll in FWP's Block Management program to add free public access. The road network is dense (Highway 12 over MacDonald Pass, the Rimini and Tenmile roads, and a web of forest spurs), which makes for easy day-hunting but hard-won solitude. Bring both paper and digital ownership maps.
Managers: USFS Helena-Lewis & Clark NF, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust
Access points: Highway 12 over MacDonald Pass · Rimini Road · Tenmile Creek Road · Helena NF forest roads off the Divide · Block Management sign-in boxes on enrolled parcels
Species notes
Whitetail Deer
common opportunityWhitetail hold the brushy creek bottoms and lower private edges — the more reliable deer where cover and water meet the valleys.
- →Still-hunt willow-and-alder creek bottoms during the November rut
- →Glass lower private and Block Management edges at first and last light
- →Watch for CWD sampling requirements in the Helena-area management zone
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer favor the open higher slopes, ridgelines, and grassy parks; steep terrain and heavy pressure keep buck quality modest but the country is huntable on foot.
- →Climb above the road-accessible timber to open ridges and parks
- →Glass high slopes and old cuts at dawn
- →Use the steep terrain to escape roadside pressure
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityElk summer in the district's timber but a large share migrate east over the Continental Divide to winter range once rifle season ends, which anchors the herd near objective — timing and weather drive the hunt.
- →Hunt the timbered Divide benches and dark north slopes early
- →Push into the roadless pockets between forest spurs for undisturbed elk
- →Key on migration routes toward the Divide crest as weather builds
- →Cover ground on foot away from the dense road network
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear work the berry brush, aspen, and green-up openings through the Divide timber — a solid spring and fall opportunity.
- →Glass green-up avalanche and cut openings in spring
- →Key on huckleberry and chokecherry brush in fall
- →Confirm species carefully — grizzlies use the MacDonald Pass corridor
Cougar
common qualityLions track the deer through the steep timber and drainages; a winter hound-and-snow pursuit.
- →Cut the Divide roads and ridgelines for fresh tracks after snow
- →Follow deer wintering areas in the lower drainages
Pro tips
- →Do your homework and out-walk the Helena crowd — the roadless pockets between forest spurs hold the undisturbed game
- →Hunt elk on the timbered Divide benches early, then key on migration lines as snow builds
- →Carry tire chains and expect early, heavy snow on MacDonald Pass
- →Line up Block Management permission to reach the lower private valley cover
- →Run current ownership layers on GPS — the public/private split is nearly even and interwoven
Watch out for
- !Heavy competition and historically low success from close Helena pressure
- !Dense road network makes solitude hard — you must walk to escape other hunters
- !MacDonald Pass / Elliston is a documented grizzly movement corridor — carry bear spray and confirm bear ID before shooting
- !Early, heavy Divide snow and winter driving conditions — chains recommended
- !Steep terrain and an even public/private checkerboard demand careful boundary navigation
Logistics
Helena is a short drive east with full services, and Highway 12 over MacDonald Pass puts the heart of the district within a quick commute — this is prime day-hunt country. The dense forest-road network means you can reach most of the unit by truck, but that same access is why solitude is scarce; plan to walk beyond the roads. Snow comes early on the Divide, so carry tire chains and be ready for winter driving.
Nearest towns: Helena, Elliston, Rimini, Unionville
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 343 Unit Profile · Biologists seeing more grizzly bears north and south of Helena — Helena Independent Record
FAQ
- How big is Unit 343 in Montana?
- Unit 343 (District 343 (Region 3)) covers about 246 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,000 to 7,600 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 343?
- Approximately 47% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Helena-Lewis & Clark NF, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 343?
- Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, 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 343 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.