Unit 406 District 406 (Region 4)
Open Front-country prairie and river-bottom whitetails east of the Blackfeet Reservation
Rocky Mountain Front Prairie — Region 4 (North-Central Montana) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
706
sq mi
Public land
9%
approx.
Elevation
3,400–4,600
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
District 406 sprawls across the plains of Pondera and Teton County on the prairie skirt of the Rocky Mountain Front, southeast of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. This is deer-and-antelope country first: whitetails hold in the cottonwood bottoms of the Marias, Two Medicine and Birch Creek drainages, mule deer and pronghorn work the open grass and coulees, and elk are scarce out on the flats. The district is overwhelmingly private ranchland, so access hinges on Block Management, walk-in and a few public tracts rather than big blocks of federal ground.
Terrain
Rolling short-grass prairie and cultivated benchland between roughly 3,400 and 4,600 feet, cut by the coulees and cottonwood bottoms of the Marias, Two Medicine and Birch Creek drainages, rising gently toward the Front foothills on the west edge.
Cover: Short-grass prairie, sagebrush flats and dryland wheat, with dense cottonwood galleries, willow and brush along the river and creek bottoms; scattered coulees and cutbanks break up the open ground.
Landmarks: Marias River · Two Medicine River · Birch Creek · Marias River Wildlife Management Area · Lake Frances / Valier · Rocky Mountain Front foothills (west edge)
Access
This is heavily private prairie ranchland — federal public land is minimal. Access is built around FWP Block Management Areas, walk-in and scattered DNRC state trust sections rather than open forest. The Marias River WMA offers prime bottom-land whitetail hunting but is a draw-permit access area. Knock on doors early, line up Block Management enrollments before the season, and respect the Blackfeet Reservation boundary to the northwest (tribal land, separate permission).
Managers: private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust, Marias River WMA (limited draw access)
Access points: US-89 through Dupuyer and the Front · MT-44 / MT-358 to Valier · county gravel roads off Conrad and Cut Bank · Marias River WMA (draw permit) · Block Management Areas (FWP maps)
Species notes
Whitetail Deer
common qualityRiver-bottom whitetails are the marquee deer here and the district historically produced heavy bucks; EHD/bluetongue knocked numbers back a few years ago and the herd is still rebuilding, but the cottonwood corridors still hold good deer.
- →Hunt the cottonwood and brush bottoms of the Marias, Two Medicine and Birch Creek at first and last light
- →The November rut is the window to catch mature bucks cruising the bottoms and adjacent ag edges
- →Set up on travel funnels between bedding brush and grain fields
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer work the open prairie, coulees and cutbanks away from the bottoms; numbers and trophy quality have slipped in recent years but the district still offers honest open-country hunting.
- →Glass coulees, cutbanks and rolling grass at dawn from high vantage points
- →Spot-and-stalk bucks bedded in the heads of draws through midday
- →Cover ground — prairie muleys are spread thin across big private blocks, so pattern them where you have access
Pronghorn
common qualityPronghorn are a genuine strength of this district, scattered in strong numbers across the open grass and sage of the plains.
- →Glass big open flats and benches, then plan a stalk using terrain rolls and coulees
- →Watch fence lines and water sources in dry early-season weather
- →Judge horns carefully at distance with a spotting scope before committing to a long stalk
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited opportunityElk are scarce out on this prairie and mostly transient off the Front; deer and antelope vastly outnumber them, and elk hunting is opportunistic rather than a draw here.
- →Focus on the western foothill edge closest to the Rocky Mountain Front
- →Watch river bottoms and coulees that elk use as travel and security cover
- →Treat elk as a bonus while hunting deer and antelope
Cougar
limited opportunityMountain lions follow the deer into the river-bottom and coulee cover; a low-density winter tracking hunt tied to snow.
- →Cut tracks along the river bottoms and brushy coulees after fresh snow
- →Focus near concentrations of wintering deer
- →Best odds with hounds on a good tracking snow
Pro tips
- →This is a private-land district — your season is made or broken by Block Management enrollment and door-knocking done well before opening day.
- →The river bottoms are the whitetail engine; hunt the cottonwoods hard during the November rut.
- →Antelope are the strongest, most accessible opportunity here — build the trip around them and deer.
- →Carry tire chains, a shovel and recovery gear; the lightest rain can strand you on gumbo two-tracks.
- →Know exactly where the Blackfeet Reservation boundary lies to the northwest — that is tribal land requiring separate permission.
Watch out for
- !Overwhelmingly private ground — confirm boundaries, secure permission, and lean on Block Management; trespass is easy on unmarked ranch land.
- !Rocky Mountain Front grizzlies increasingly range out onto this prairie and river bottoms near Dupuyer, Valier and Conrad — carry bear spray, keep a clean camp, and handle downed animals promptly.
- !Gumbo roads become impassable when wet; a single storm can end vehicle travel.
- !Long distances, thin cell coverage and few services — fuel up and tell someone your plan.
- !Marias River WMA access is by draw permit only — don't assume open entry.
Logistics
Stage out of Conrad, Valier, Choteau or Cut Bank for fuel, food and lodging along the US-89/I-15 corridor. Roads are mostly county gravel and two-track through ranch country; distances between towns are long and cell coverage is thin once you leave the highways. Line up access and Block Management enrollment before you arrive.
Nearest towns: Valier, Dupuyer, Conrad, Choteau, Cut Bank, Shelby
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 406 map (GIS) · MTFWP 2026/2027 Legal Descriptions (Deer/Elk/Antelope) · GOHUNT Montana Unit Profile — HD 406
FAQ
- How big is Unit 406 in Montana?
- Unit 406 (District 406 (Region 4)) covers about 706 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,400 to 4,600 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 406?
- Approximately 9% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust, Marias River WMA (limited draw access). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 406?
- Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Rocky Mountain Elk, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Montana agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 406 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.