Unit 515 District 515 (Region 5)
Private prairie and foothill breaks between two rivers northwest of Billings — a Block Management and knock-on-doors elk-and-deer district.
Yellowstone–Musselshell Divide — Region 5 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
2,523
sq mi
Public land
7%
approx.
Elevation
3,400–5,500
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
District 515 sprawls across the rolling divide country north of Columbus and northwest of Billings, hemmed by the Yellowstone River on the south and the Musselshell River drainage to the north. It is overwhelmingly private ag and ranch land — only a sliver is public — so access, not game, is the limiting factor. Elk numbers here have been climbing and now anchor the district's appeal, while mule deer and whitetail have slid off their highs. Success comes down to landowner relationships, the Block Management program, and glassing coulees and river bottoms.
Terrain
Open, rolling shortgrass prairie cut by brushy coulees, sandstone rims, and scattered pine ridges, dropping to cottonwood river bottoms along the Yellowstone and Musselshell.
Cover: Shortgrass and sagebrush prairie with agricultural fields and hay ground; ponderosa pine and juniper on the breaks and rims; cottonwood, willow, and thick brush in the river and creek bottoms.
Landmarks: Yellowstone River · Musselshell River · Rapelje / Lake Basin country · sandstone rims and pine coulees · irrigated ag benches
Access
This is a private-land district — roughly 90%-plus is deeded ranch and farm ground. Public opportunity hinges on FWP's Block Management program, which enrolls a number of area ranches for free public hunting, plus scattered DNRC state-trust sections (open with a conservation/recreation permit) and a few small BLM parcels. Secure permission or a current BMA map before you commit to hunting here.
Managers: private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust, BLM
Access points: I-90 / US-10 corridor and Columbus exits · county roads out of Rapelje and Reed Point · Yellowstone River access sites · Block Management sign-in boxes (per current roster)
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityThe rising star of the district — elk numbers have grown and bulls hold on the larger private ranches and pine-coulee country, often frustratingly out of reach on deeded land.
- →Chase Block Management and landowner-permission ground where elk winter
- →Glass pine ridges and coulee heads at first and last light
- →Learn the private boundaries cold — elk pattern onto refuge ranches fast
Mule Deer
common opportunityPrairie and breaks muleys are present but down from past highs; bucks use the coulees, rims, and sage benches between ag fields.
- →Glass long into the coulees and sandstone breaks at dawn
- →Still-hunt pine pockets and rim edges midday
- →Focus effort on accessible Block Management and state-trust sections
Whitetail Deer
common opportunityConcentrated in the Yellowstone and Musselshell river bottoms and irrigated ag edges; numbers have also declined but the rut still produces.
- →Hunt cottonwood bottoms and brushy creek edges during the November rut
- →Watch ag-field-to-cover travel at dawn and dusk
- →Work river-access sites and BMA bottomland
Pronghorn
common opportunityAntelope range the open sage prairie and ag benches away from the river breaks — a classic spot-and-stalk plains hunt where you can get access.
- →Glass wide-open benches and drive section roads to locate herds
- →Plan long stalks using coulees and terrain folds
- →Lock down private or Block Management access first
Pro tips
- →Do your access homework before the season — this is a permission-and-Block-Management district, not a drive-up-and-hunt unit
- →Elk are the growth story here; find the private and BMA ground they winter on and hunt the edges legally
- →Glass the coulees, pine ridges, and river breaks — the flat prairie hides more game than it looks
- →Pull the current Block Management roster and maps from FWP; enrolled ranches change year to year
- →Carry ownership-layer maps and good optics; knowing exactly where you stand is half the hunt
Watch out for
- !Overwhelmingly private land — trespass is easy to commit; verify boundaries constantly
- !Rattlesnakes are active in early season, sometimes into November
- !Gumbo prairie roads become impassable and slick when wet — plan around storms
- !Public parcels are small and scattered; do not assume access without a BMA sign-in or landowner permission
Logistics
Base out of Columbus or Billings for fuel, lodging, groceries, and licenses; both sit on I-90. Cell service is decent near the interstate and towns but fades on the back prairie. Gravel and two-track ranch roads turn to greasy gumbo when wet — carry recovery gear and mind the weather.
Nearest towns: Columbus, Reed Point, Rapelje, Billings
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT Montana Unit 515 profile · MTFWP Region 5 hunting districts · MTFWP Region 5 information
FAQ
- How big is Unit 515 in Montana?
- Unit 515 (District 515 (Region 5)) covers about 2,523 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,400 to 5,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 515?
- Approximately 7% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust, BLM. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 515?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Pronghorn. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Montana agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 515 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.