Unit 412 District 412 (Region 4)
A cluster of central-Montana island mountains south of Lewistown holding one of the state's premier limited-draw elk herds amid a public-private checkerboard.
Judith & Moccasin Island Ranges — Region 4 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
661
sq mi
Public land
30%
approx.
Elevation
3,600–6,400
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
HD 412 takes in the Judith Mountains and the North and South Moccasin Ranges rising out of the prairie just north and east of Lewistown in central Montana. These forested island ranges sit like timbered reefs above a sea of wheat and grass, holding a well-known bull elk herd that draws hunters from across the state. Elk here are managed tightly on a limited-draw permit, and the district is a genuine checkerboard of BLM, state trust and private ranch ground — quality is high but a tag and access are the hard parts.
Terrain
Isolated forested mountain ranges — the Judiths and the North and South Moccasins — jutting abruptly from surrounding prairie and ag land, topping out near Judith Peak.
Cover: Ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir timber on the higher island ranges, with open grassy parks, sage and juniper on the lower slopes; wheat, hay and native grassland prairie surrounding the mountains and along the Judith River drainages.
Landmarks: Judith Mountains · Judith Peak · North Moccasin Mountains · South Moccasin Mountains · Judith River · Maiden / Gilt Edge (historic mining district) · Lewistown
Access
The island ranges are a patchwork: BLM manages significant blocks in the Judith and Moccasin Mountains, interlaced with private ranch and DNRC state trust sections. Much of the prairie and lower-elevation deer ground is private ag, and FWP Block Management Areas are the key to legally reaching a lot of it — check the current BMA roster before the season. Landlocked public parcels are common, so map ownership carefully.
Managers: BLM, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust, USFS Helena-Lewis & Clark NF
Access points: Lewistown (regional hub, all highways) · Maiden Road / Judith Mountains access · North Moccasin BLM roads · Warm Springs Creek area · Block Management Areas on surrounding ranches
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common trophyThe Judith-Moccasin elk herd is one of central Montana's marquee draws, managed on a limited-entry permit that keeps bull age structure high. Tags are hard to draw, but successful hunters have a real shot at a mature bull in the timbered island ranges.
- →Apply early — this is a limited-draw permit hunt, not over-the-counter
- →Glass the timber-park edges and grassy openings in the Judiths and Moccasins at first and last light
- →Work the transition where elk move between BLM timber and private ag at the mountain base
- →Locate bulls by bugling in the pre-rut, then still-hunt the north-slope dark timber where they hold
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer use the open slopes, sage benches and rough breaks of the island ranges and surrounding prairie coulees, part of the broader Lewistown-area herd managed jointly across neighboring districts.
- →Glass open ridges, sage parks and coulee heads on the mountain flanks at dawn and dusk
- →Hunt the timber-to-prairie transition where bucks bed in cover and feed on the open edges
- →Focus on BLM and Block Management ground to avoid the private-land squeeze
- →The late rut in November brings mature bucks into the open
Whitetail Deer
common qualityWhitetails hold in the Judith River bottoms, creek corridors and irrigated ag and shelterbelt cover around the ranges, with good buck potential where access can be secured.
- →Hunt cottonwood river bottoms and brushy creek corridors along the Judith and its tributaries
- →The November rut is the peak window as bucks cruise the bottoms
- →Chase Block Management and landowner permission for the productive ag-edge cover
Pronghorn
common opportunityPronghorn range across the open prairie and grain-and-grass country surrounding the island mountains, offering classic central-Montana spot-and-stalk on the flats.
- →Glass the open prairie and wheat-grass benches from vehicle-accessible high points
- →Use terrain folds and coulees to close the distance on stalks
- →Focus effort on BLM and Block Management parcels out on the flats
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears occur in low numbers in the timbered pockets of the Judith and Moccasin ranges, a bonus opportunity rather than a primary target in this island-range country.
- →Glass green-up on timbered slopes and drainage heads in spring
- →Check berry and mast pockets in the higher timber during fall
Cougar
limited opportunityMountain lions follow the deer into the timbered island ranges; a winter tracking-snow pursuit in and around the Judiths and Moccasins.
- →Cut tracks on mountain and BLM roads after fresh snow
- →Concentrate on deer-wintering slopes on the range flanks
Pro tips
- →Elk here are a limited-draw permit — build points and apply; you cannot simply buy a tag and hunt them
- →Map BLM, DNRC and private ownership before you go — the island ranges are a true checkerboard with landlocked public
- →Block Management Areas are the key to the surrounding prairie deer and antelope ground; check the current roster
- →Hunt the timber-to-ag transition at the mountain base where elk and deer shuttle at dawn and dusk
- →Base in Lewistown for full services and easy access to all three ranges
Watch out for
- !Genuine public-private checkerboard with landlocked BLM/state parcels — verify legal access before crossing
- !Much of the productive lower ground is private ag requiring permission or Block Management enrollment
- !Gumbo prairie and mountain roads become impassable when wet — carry recovery gear and watch the weather
- !Early-season snow can close higher roads and shift game onto private land
Logistics
Lewistown is the hub — a full-service central Montana town with lodging, fuel, groceries and gear, sitting right at the foot of the district. Paved highways ring the island ranges and gravel and two-track roads climb into the Judiths and Moccasins. Base out of Lewistown and day-hunt the ranges; the limiting factor is untangling public from private, not travel distance.
Nearest towns: Lewistown, Roy, Winnett, Grass Range
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: Montana Elk HD 412 (LandTrust) · Region 4 Deer & Elk Season-Setting Justifications (Montana FWP) · FWP Deer and Elk Hunting Districts (2026 and 2027 Seasons)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 412 in Montana?
- Unit 412 (District 412 (Region 4)) covers about 661 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,600 to 6,400 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 412?
- Approximately 30% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust, USFS Helena-Lewis & Clark NF. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 412?
- 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 412 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.