Unit 455 District 455 (Region 4)
A tiny limited-permit trophy district built around the Beartooth Wildlife Management Area's Missouri River winter range.
Beartooth WMA — Missouri River Canyon, Region 4 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
66
sq mi
Public land
70%
approx.
Elevation
3,600–6,800
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
District 455 is a small, tightly-drawn unit wrapped around the Beartooth Wildlife Management Area on the east side of the Missouri River and Holter Lake near Wolf Creek, roughly 40 miles north of Helena in Lewis and Clark and Cascade Counties. The 35,000-acre WMA is managed as critical winter range for elk, mule deer and bighorn sheep, and hunting here is largely permit-only rather than general-tag. Whitetail deer are very abundant on and around the WMA, with FWP actively working to trim antlerless whitetail numbers to favor mule deer. This is a quality-over-quantity district — small footprint, controlled access, and a genuine shot at a mature animal for those who draw.
Terrain
Rugged Missouri River canyon country rising abruptly from the river and Holter Lake into the timbered, rocky western face of the Big Belt Mountains.
Cover: Grass and sage benches and open south slopes on the winter range, laced with rocky bluffs and cliff bands, grading into Douglas-fir and ponderosa timber on the higher and north-facing ground; brushy draws and river bottom along the Missouri.
Landmarks: Missouri River · Holter Lake · Beartooth Wildlife Management Area · Beartooth Mountain · Big Belt Mountains · Wolf Creek
Access
The core of the district is the state-owned Beartooth WMA, which is open to public hunting but carries seasonal use rules (the WMA operates May 15 through Nov 30, with backcountry camping restrictions). Most rifle deer, elk and antelope hunting here is permit-only, so draw a tag before planning. Surrounding the WMA are private ranches and scattered DNRC state-trust parcels; some neighboring private ground may be enrolled in FWP's Block Management program — check current BMA maps. Confirm the specific permit and license requirements for HD 455 before hunting.
Managers: MT FWP (Beartooth WMA), USFS Helena-Lewis & Clark NF, private ranch, MT DNRC state trust
Access points: I-15 Wolf Creek exit · Missouri River Road to Wolf Creek Bridge · Beartooth Road along the east shore of the Missouri and Holter Lake · WMA trailheads and parking areas
Species notes
Whitetail Deer
abundant opportunityWhitetail are very abundant on and around the WMA and river bottoms; FWP has pushed antlerless whitetail harvest here to reduce numbers and benefit mule deer.
- →Work the Missouri River bottom brush and irrigated private edges at first and last light
- →Glass the lower benches and draws where whitetail bed near the river
- →Take advantage of antlerless opportunity where offered to help the mule deer objective
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer use the WMA as winter range and hold on the open sage benches and rocky slopes; a managed, permit-driven herd where mature bucks are the goal.
- →Glass open south-facing benches and rock bluffs at dawn
- →Hunt the transition where timber meets the grassy winter range
- →Be patient for a mature buck rather than shooting the first legal deer in this quality-managed unit
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityThe WMA exists in large part to hold wintering elk; a coveted, largely permit-only elk hunt in a compact district.
- →Locate herds on the WMA winter range and adjacent timber
- →Glass open slopes at dawn and dusk as elk move between feed and cover
- →Plan around the limited-permit structure — this is a draw-and-execute hunt
Bighorn Sheep
common trophyThe rocky Missouri canyon walls hold bighorn sheep — a marquee, very-limited-draw species that the WMA was in part created to protect.
- →Glass the cliff bands and rocky bluffs above the river and Holter Lake
- →Scout rams well before the season if you draw one of the coveted tags
- →Focus on the steep canyon rims where sheep feed and bed
Pro tips
- →Do not plan a general-tag hunt here — most opportunity is permit-only, so apply in the draw first
- →Learn the WMA use dates and camping rules before you go; they are actively being revised
- →If you draw, glass the winter-range benches from the Missouri River Road side to locate animals before committing to a climb
- →Neighboring private ground can be the difference — check Block Management enrollment nearby
- →This is a quality-managed unit; hold out for a mature animal
Watch out for
- !Access is tightly controlled — permit-only for most rifle hunting and WMA seasonal rules apply
- !Steep, rocky canyon terrain demands good boots, glass and fitness
- !Private ranch ground rings the WMA — know the boundaries
- !Black bears are present in the timber; grizzly dispersal into the broader Missouri/Front country is increasingly documented, so stay bear-aware
- !Winter storms and cold arrive fast on this exposed river country
Logistics
Wolf Creek and Craig are tiny riverside stops with limited services; Helena (about 40 miles south) and Great Falls (about 60 miles north) are the full-service hubs for fuel, lodging and gear. I-15 runs right along the Missouri, making the district easy to reach, but the WMA interior is foot- and horse-oriented with limited vehicle access.
Nearest towns: Wolf Creek, Craig, Cascade, Helena, Great Falls
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 455 (Beartooth WMA) map · Beartooth Wildlife Management Area — MTFWP Lands · MTFWP Region 4 white-tailed deer season-setting justifications · Changes Coming To Backcountry Camping Rules On Beartooth WMA — MTFWP
FAQ
- How big is Unit 455 in Montana?
- Unit 455 (District 455 (Region 4)) covers about 66 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,600 to 6,800 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 455?
- Approximately 70% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: MT FWP (Beartooth WMA), USFS Helena-Lewis & Clark NF, private ranch, MT DNRC state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 455?
- Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Bighorn Sheep. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Montana agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 455 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.