Unit 350 District 350 (Region 3)
Over-objective elk and river-bottom whitetails in the low mountains and ranch valleys between Butte and Boulder.
Boulder–Whitetail Country — Region 3 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
357
sq mi
Public land
40%
approx.
Elevation
4,800–9,000
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
HD 350 covers the Whitetail and Bull Mountain country of Silver Bow and Jefferson counties, the low forested ranges and ranch valleys strung between Butte, Whitehall and Boulder in southwest Montana. It is a mixed public-private district where timbered Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest ridges meet a heavily private valley floor of ag ground and cattle ranches. Elk have run over the FWP population objective here, and the mix of accessible forest, state trust parcels and Block Management gives it more public opportunity than the ranch-locked valleys to the south.
Terrain
Broad ranch valleys along the Boulder River and Whitetail Creek rising into low, rounded timbered mountains — the Bull Mountains and the fringe of the Highlands.
Cover: Sagebrush-grassland and irrigated hay and ag land on the valley floors; Douglas-fir, lodgepole and ponderosa on the mountain slopes; willow and cottonwood along the Boulder River and creek bottoms.
Landmarks: Boulder River · Whitetail Creek · Bull Mountain · Highland Mountains (fringe) · Interstate 15 corridor · Boulder–Whitetail Road
Access
The timbered mountains are largely public Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest with scattered BLM and DNRC state trust parcels open to hunting, but the valley bottoms and lower foothills — where elk feed and whitetails live — are dominated by private ranches. Block Management Areas open some of that private ground to free public hunting; secure BMA permission or landowner access to reach the low-country game.
Managers: USFS Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust, BLM
Access points: Boulder–Whitetail Road · I-15 exits at Boulder and Basin · Forest roads off the Boulder River · Whitetail Creek Road · DNRC and BMA parcels on the valley fringe
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityElk have run over FWP population objective in this district, using the timbered Bull Mountain and Highland fringe ridges and dropping to private valley ag ground to feed. Public forest holds huntable bulls, but the biggest concentrations often sit on private land.
- →Hunt the timber–ag transition on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge fringe at dawn and dusk
- →Glass low forested ridges and park edges where elk bed
- →Chase Block Management access to reach elk that feed on private valley ground
- →Push into steeper Highland timber to find bulls off the road system
Whitetail Deer
common qualityWhitetails are the district's namesake, thick in the Boulder River bottoms, Whitetail Creek and the irrigated ranch valleys. Good bucks live in the cottonwood and willow riparian cover.
- →Hunt cottonwood bottoms and brushy creek edges along the Boulder River
- →The November rut pulls bucks into the riparian corridors
- →Work Block Management ground along the valley floor for the best whitetail cover
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer use the open sage slopes, timbered ridges and mountain parks above the valley, offering the most accessible public deer hunting in the district.
- →Glass open foothill and mountain slopes early and late
- →Work the sage-to-timber transition on the public forest
- →Hunt higher into the Bull Mountains and Highland fringe for bucks away from the roads
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears inhabit the timbered drainages and mountain slopes; spring green-up and fall berry crops concentrate them on the huntable public forest.
- →Glass green-up on south-facing slopes in spring
- →Check berry patches and mast in the fall timber
- →Focus on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge drainages rather than the private valley
Cougar
common opportunityMountain lions follow the deer through the timbered mountains; a winter tracking-snow pursuit in the Bull Mountain and Highland drainages.
- →Cut tracks on forest roads after fresh snow
- →Focus on deer-wintering slopes and timbered draws near the valley edge
Pro tips
- →Split your effort — public forest for accessible deer and elk, Block Management and landowner permission for the game on the private valley
- →Line up Block Management access before the season to reach the low-country elk and whitetails
- →Time whitetail hunting to the November rut in the Boulder River bottoms
- →Snow on the Highland and Bull Mountain ridges pushes elk down — hunt the timber-to-ag transition after a storm
- →Watch property lines carefully in the patchwork of forest, DNRC, BLM and private ranch
Watch out for
- !Valley bottoms and foothills are heavily private — do not assume walk-on access to the ag ground where elk feed
- !Verify boundaries in the mix of Beaverhead-Deerlodge, BLM, DNRC and private ranch land
- !Snow closes higher forest roads and can strand vehicles late in the season
- !Grizzlies remain uncommon in this part of southwest Montana but are slowly expanding — carry bear spray and be alert in the backcountry timber
Logistics
Boulder anchors the north end and Whitehall and Butte the south, all with lodging, fuel and services; Butte has the nearest airport. The I-15 corridor runs through the district and forest roads reach the mountain public land, so travel is easy and everything is close. Base in Boulder or Whitehall for valley hunting, Butte for the Highland fringe.
Nearest towns: Boulder, Whitehall, Butte, Basin
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: FWP Deer/Elk Hunting District 350 — Whitetail-Bull Mountains (map) · FWP 2025 Elk Count (HD 350 over objective) · Montana Hunt District 350 Unit Profile — GoHunt
FAQ
- How big is Unit 350 in Montana?
- Unit 350 (District 350 (Region 3)) covers about 357 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,800 to 9,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 350?
- Approximately 40% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust, BLM. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 350?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, 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 350 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.