Unit 422 District 422 (Region 4)
Big country southwest of Augusta between the Dearborn and Sun rivers — general either-sex elk off the Forest, shoulder seasons, and prairie-to-peak variety.
Rocky Mountain Front — Region 4 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
485
sq mi
Public land
45%
approx.
Elevation
4,300–9,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
District 422 is a large (roughly 485 sq mi) Rocky Mountain Front unit running southwest of Augusta, from ranch-and-ag foothills near the Dearborn River up into the timbered mountains and the edge of the Scapegoat Wilderness on the Helena-Lewis & Clark National Forest. Elk are the marquee draw here — the population runs strong enough that FWP maintains early and late shoulder seasons, with a general either-sex opportunity on private/non-Forest ground and a bucks-only restriction on Forest Service land. Mule deer, whitetail, pronghorn and Front bighorn round out a district that spans open prairie to 9,000-foot peaks. It sits squarely in the Northern Continental Divide grizzly ecosystem, so bear awareness is mandatory.
Terrain
Foothill grassland and river breaks along the Dearborn and Sun corridors on the east, climbing west through limestone reefs and timbered ridges to high peaks on the Scapegoat/Bob Marshall front.
Cover: Rough-fescue and bunchgrass prairie and browse on the foothills, cottonwood and willow river bottoms, Douglas-fir and lodgepole timber on the slopes, and open subalpine parks and scree at elevation.
Landmarks: Dearborn River · Sun River · Scapegoat Wilderness (edge) · Helena-Lewis & Clark National Forest · Bean Lake · Ford Creek · Steamboat Mountain
Access
The western third is public Forest Service land with good foot and road access up the major drainages; the productive foothill-and-prairie eastern portion is dominated by large private ranches. FWP's Block Management program opens significant private acreage along the Front to free public hunting — check the current Region 4 BMA rosters and get maps and permission slips at the Augusta-area sign-in boxes. Scattered DNRC state trust and BLM parcels are open with the appropriate permit. Much of the general either-sex elk opportunity is deliberately steered onto this private/non-Forest ground.
Managers: USFS Helena-Lewis & Clark NF, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust, BLM
Access points: Augusta as the staging town · Ford Creek Road toward Benchmark and the Forest boundary · Bean Lake / Highway 434 corridor · Dearborn River access roads · USFS trailheads into the Scapegoat front
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityThe signature species — a strong Front population managed with early and late shoulder seasons; general either-sex opportunity off the Forest and bucks-only on Forest Service land. Elk shuffle between mountain timber and private foothill ground with weather.
- →Hunt the shoulder seasons on private/Block Management ground when elk drop onto the foothills
- →Glass the timber-meadow edges on the Forest boundary at first and last light
- →Let snow and cold push elk out of the high country toward winter range
- →Line up Block Management or ranch permission early — access is the whole game here
Mule Deer
common qualityFront mule deer run about 11 percent below long-term average but with above-average buck-to-doe ratios and strong fawn survival; bucks hold in the breaks and timbered coulees. Bucks-only on the Forest, either-sex off it.
- →Glass reef faces, coulees and timber pockets on the foothill benches
- →Hunt the higher open ridges early, then follow deer down as storms hit
- →Focus the rut on mixed timber-and-grass draws
- →Watch for CWD sampling requests at the Augusta check station
Whitetail Deer
common opportunityWhitetails hold the river bottoms and ag edges along the Dearborn and Sun corridors; regional numbers are strong and an over-the-counter antlerless B license adds opportunity.
- →Still-hunt cottonwood and willow bottoms at dawn and dusk
- →Watch ag-field and timber edges during the November rut
- →Work Block Management bottomland where public access is limited
Pronghorn
common opportunityAntelope use the open foothill grassland on the eastern, prairie side of the district; a limited-draw opportunity tied to Front antelope numbers.
- →Glass big open benches and grassland flats from vehicle-access two-tracks
- →Spot-and-stalk using terrain folds and coulees for cover
- →Focus water sources and fence-line movement in warm early weather
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyThe Rocky Mountain Front holds premier bighorn along its limestone reefs and canyons; a hard-to-draw, once-in-a-lifetime tier permit hunt rather than a general opportunity.
- →This is a coveted limited draw — apply and scout the reef country thoroughly
- →Glass Castle Reef-style limestone escarpments and canyon rims
- →Hire local knowledge; rams range widely along the Front
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear inhabit the timbered western drainages and avalanche brush. Grizzlies are also present throughout the Front, so every bear must be positively identified before any shot.
- →Glass green avalanche chutes and south-facing slopes in spring
- →Positively identify species — grizzlies share this ground and are protected
- →Carry bear spray and keep a clean camp
Pro tips
- →Access is the entire strategy — build a Block Management and ranch-permission plan before the season
- →Watch the forecast and hunt hard the day snow and cold push elk down
- →Check in at the Augusta biological station and submit deer for CWD sampling when asked
- →Carry bear spray and treat every bear as a possible grizzly
- →Bring chains or wait out wet weather — Front dirt roads become impassable gumbo
Watch out for
- !Grizzly country — this is the NCDE recovery zone; carry spray and identify all bears
- !Large private ranches gate most foothill access outside Block Management
- !Gumbo roads become impassable when wet
- !Sudden Front weather: wind, cold and heavy snow can arrive fast
Logistics
Augusta is the closest services hub with fuel, a store and lodging; Great Falls (about an hour east) is the full-service base for gear, groceries and an airport. Ranch and BMA permission should be arranged before you drive in, and Front roads turn to greasy gumbo when wet.
Nearest towns: Augusta, Choteau, Wolf Creek, Great Falls
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: North-central Montana Big Game Forecast (Region 4) — Montana FWP · Region 4 Elk — FWP Commission December 2025 packet · R4 Check Station Results 2025 — Montana Outdoor
FAQ
- How big is Unit 422 in Montana?
- Unit 422 (District 422 (Region 4)) covers about 485 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,300 to 9,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 422?
- Approximately 45% 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 422?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Pronghorn, Bighorn Sheep, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Montana agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 422 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.