Unit 413 District 413 (Region 4)
A big redrawn district reaching from the Golden Triangle wheat plains south of Great Falls up into the timbered Little Belt Mountains, with over-objective elk and strong prairie mule deer.
Little Belt Front & Belt Creek — Region 4 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
879
sq mi
Public land
30%
approx.
Elevation
3,300–7,500
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
HD 413 was enlarged in the 2022 district redraw and now sweeps from the ag plains and Belt Creek country south and east of Great Falls up onto the northern flank of the Little Belt Mountains. It pairs open Golden Triangle wheat-and-grass prairie — good pronghorn and mule deer ground — with the forested Little Belt high country that holds an elk herd running well over population objective. The catch is access: much of the productive edge is private ranch land, and the timbered public is a separate hunt from the plains.
Terrain
Rolling wheat-and-grass plains and coulee-cut prairie near Great Falls climbing south into the timbered foothills and higher ridges of the Little Belt Mountains.
Cover: Dryland wheat, hay and native shortgrass prairie with brushy coulees and creek bottoms across the north; ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir and lodgepole timber with grassy parks on the Little Belt foothills and ridges to the south.
Landmarks: Little Belt Mountains · Belt Creek · Highwood Mountains (to the east) · Missouri River (to the north) · Belt · Monarch / Neihart corridor (US 89)
Access
Two access worlds: the Little Belt high country to the south is largely Helena-Lewis & Clark National Forest, open and walkable; the northern plains and foothill edge that hold much of the deer and antelope are dominated by private ranch and wheat ground. FWP Block Management Areas are the main lever onto private ag — access has improved with a newer BMA added on the eastern end of the district. Check the current BMA roster and map the forest boundary before you hunt.
Managers: USFS Helena-Lewis & Clark NF, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust, BLM
Access points: Great Falls (regional hub) · Belt / US 89 corridor into the Little Belts · Belt Creek Road · Helena-Lewis & Clark NF roads and trailheads · Eastern-end Block Management Areas
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityElk in the Little Belt portion of the district have run substantially over population objective in recent surveys, with numbers near Great Falls reported well above target — a strong opportunity herd where public forest and private access line up.
- →Hunt the Helena-Lewis & Clark NF timber and park edges in the Little Belt high country
- →Glass timber-to-park transitions at dawn and dusk and locate bulls by bugle in the early season
- →Work the private-to-forest boundary where elk shuttle between ag and cover
- →Watch for FWP antlerless opportunity and shoulder-season tools aimed at the over-objective herd
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer in the northern plains portions of the district have been doing well and sit above the long-term average across much of the Golden Triangle, while the Little Belt populations are more modest; the open prairie and coulee country is the strength.
- →Glass prairie ridges, coulee heads and sage benches on the northern plains at first and last light
- →Hunt the ag-to-breaks transition where bucks bed in coulees and feed in the open
- →Focus on Block Management and BLM parcels out on the wheat-grass plains
- →The November rut pulls mature bucks into the open
Whitetail Deer
common opportunityWhitetails hold in the Belt Creek and Missouri-tributary bottoms, brushy coulees, shelterbelts and irrigated ag cover across the northern part of the district.
- →Hunt creek bottoms, shelterbelts and brushy field edges along Belt Creek and the drainages
- →Time effort to the November rut when bucks cruise the cover corridors
- →Secure Block Management or landowner permission for the productive ag bottoms
Pronghorn
common opportunityPronghorn range across the open Golden Triangle wheat-and-grass plains in the northern half of the district — classic central-Montana spot-and-stalk on the flats.
- →Glass the open wheat-grass benches from accessible high points
- →Use coulees and terrain folds to close on stalks across the flats
- →Hunt BLM and Block Management ground to reach the open prairie legally
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bears occur in the timbered Little Belt portion of the district, a secondary opportunity in the forested south end.
- →Glass green-up on timbered Little Belt slopes and drainage heads in spring
- →Check berry and mast pockets in the higher forest during fall
Cougar
limited opportunityMountain lions follow the deer into the Little Belt timber and foothill breaks; a winter tracking-snow pursuit in the forested south end.
- →Cut tracks on Little Belt forest roads after fresh snow
- →Focus on deer-wintering foothill slopes along the forest edge
Pro tips
- →Treat this as two hunts — public forest elk in the Little Belts to the south, private-access deer and antelope on the plains to the north
- →The over-objective elk herd means FWP often offers extra antlerless and shoulder-season opportunity — check current options
- →Block Management is the key to the private prairie; a newer BMA has opened access on the district's eastern end
- →Map the Helena-Lewis & Clark NF boundary carefully where it meets private ranch land
- →Base in Great Falls for full services and quick access to both ends of the district
Watch out for
- !Productive plains deer and antelope ground is largely private ag — plan on Block Management or landowner permission
- !Public-private boundary along the forest edge is intricate; verify property lines before crossing
- !Gumbo prairie and ranch roads become impassable when wet — carry recovery gear
- !Early snow in the Little Belts can close higher roads and shift elk onto private land
Logistics
Great Falls anchors the district with full services, an airport, lodging and every kind of gear and supply — the easiest logistics in Region 4. The northern plains are laced with county and ranch roads, and US 89 climbs south through Belt into the Little Belt Mountains. Base in Great Falls or Belt; day-hunt the plains or push up into the forest depending on your quarry.
Nearest towns: Great Falls, Belt, Monarch, Stockett
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: Region 4 Elk Season-Setting (Montana FWP) · Montana's 2023 Hunting Forecast (RMEF) · FWP News: R4 Deer and elk harvest remains above average in north central Montana
FAQ
- How big is Unit 413 in Montana?
- Unit 413 (District 413 (Region 4)) covers about 879 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,300 to 7,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 413?
- Approximately 30% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Helena-Lewis & Clark 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 413?
- 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 413 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.