Unit 525 District 525 (Region 5)
Big-country backcountry elk in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness above the Boulder River — general-tag mountain hunting with wolves and grizzlies in the mix.
Boulder River / Absaroka-Beartooth — Region 5 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,632
sq mi
Public land
55%
approx.
Elevation
4,500–11,200
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
District 525 is a vast southern-Montana unit that climbs from the ranch valleys around Big Timber and McLeod up the Boulder River into the Custer Gallatin National Forest and the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. It offers classic public-land backcountry elk and mule deer hunting on a general tag across most of its area, with a limited-draw pocket in the southeast corner. Wolves have thinned the high-country elk in recent years, so quality has slipped, but the wild country, mule deer, black bear, and mountain game keep it a marquee mountain district. Land ownership is a hard split between big public forest up high and private ranches guarding the valley bottoms.
Terrain
Steep, glaciated mountains and timbered ridges rising from the Boulder River valley to alpine peaks and cirques along the crest of the Absaroka-Beartooth; foothill basins and ranchland at the north end.
Cover: Sagebrush and grass basins and hay meadows in the valleys; dense lodgepole, fir, and spruce timber on the slopes; alpine krummholz, rock, and tundra above treeline; willow and cottonwood along the Boulder.
Landmarks: Boulder River · Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness · Custer Gallatin National Forest · Natural Bridge Falls · McLeod · Boulder River road corridor (Main Boulder)
Access
The upper district is enormous public forest and designated wilderness — outstanding walk-in and horseback backcountry access via the Boulder River corridor and trailheads. The catch is the valley: private ranches control the lower Boulder and the foothill benches, and some of the best low-elevation deer and elk ground sits behind gates. A few ranches enroll in FWP Block Management, and DNRC state-trust sections add scattered access; the wilderness is foot-and-stock only.
Managers: USFS Custer Gallatin NF, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust
Access points: Main Boulder River Road south from Big Timber and McLeod · Custer Gallatin NF trailheads into the Absaroka-Beartooth · West Boulder / East Boulder drainages · Block Management sign-in boxes (per current roster)
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityThe headline species — general-tag elk range the timber and high basins, but wolf predation has cut numbers and trophy quality across the wilderness in recent years. A true backcountry hunt.
- →Get deep off the trailheads and away from road pressure
- →Hunt timber pockets and high basins early, then follow elk to lower winter range as snow builds
- →Be ready for a horseback or heavy-pack backcountry effort
- →Watch the general-vs-limited-draw boundary in the southeast corner
Mule Deer
common qualityMuleys use the foothill basins, timbered slopes, and high open ridges; mid-to-low elevation ground pays off once early snow pushes deer down.
- →Glass high open ridges and burns in early season
- →Drop to foothill basins and sage benches as snow falls
- →Understand private-vs-public lines on the good low-elevation ground
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityWhitetail hold in the Boulder River bottoms and ranch ag edges at the north end of the district — a valley-floor hunt where you have access.
- →Still-hunt cottonwood bottoms during the November rut
- →Watch ag-to-cover travel at first and last light
- →Focus on BMA and permission bottomland
Black Bear
common qualityBlack bear are well distributed through the timber and berry country of the forest and wilderness — a solid spring and fall opportunity, but grizzlies share the ground.
- →Glass green-up avalanche chutes and openings in spring
- →Key on berry patches and mast in fall
- →Identify your bear with absolute certainty — grizzlies are present
Mountain Goat
limited trophyThe Absaroka-Beartooth high country holds mountain goats — a coveted limited-permit alpine hunt on the rock and tundra above treeline.
- →Glass cliff bands, cirques, and alpine benches
- →Plan a physical high-country pack hunt
- →A once-in-a-lifetime caliber tag — scout the peaks hard
Moose
limited qualityShiras moose scatter through the willow bottoms and wet drainages of the Boulder country — a prized limited-permit species.
- →Hunt willow flats, beaver complexes, and wet meadows at dawn and dusk
- →Cover the river and creek bottoms methodically
Cougar
common qualityHealthy lion numbers track the deer and elk herds; a winter hound-and-snow pursuit through the timbered country.
- →Cut ridgelines and roads for fresh tracks after snow
- →Hunt near deer wintering areas
Pro tips
- →This is a backcountry hunt — the farther you get from the Boulder Road trailheads, the better your elk odds
- →Snow timing is everything: early snow drops deer and elk toward the private valley, so know exactly where the public ends
- →A mountain goat or moose tag here is a trophy prize — put in and scout the alpine and willow bottoms
- →Wolves have reshaped the elk herd; temper trophy expectations and hunt hard and deep
- →Carry bear spray and confirm every bear — this is grizzly country
Watch out for
- !Grizzly country — grizzlies have expanded into the Boulder River / Absaroka-Beartooth; carry spray, hunt alert, and be certain of your bear
- !Private ranches lock up the lower Boulder valley and the best low-elevation ground — verify boundaries and use Block Management legally
- !High-country weather turns deadly fast; early snow can trap you off the trailheads
- !Wilderness is foot-and-stock only — no motorized or mechanized travel
- !Wolf predation has reduced elk numbers and quality across much of the district
Logistics
Big Timber is the supply hub off I-90 for fuel, groceries, lodging, and licenses; McLeod up the Boulder has a store and lodge but little else. Cell service dies quickly up the drainage — carry a satellite messenger, paper maps, and GPS. The Main Boulder Road is the spine into the country; higher trailheads demand real backcountry logistics, and horses help enormously in the wilderness.
Nearest towns: Big Timber, McLeod, Columbus, Livingston
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT Montana Unit 525 profile · MTFWP Region 5 elk HD justification (HD 525) · USFS Custer Gallatin National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 525 in Montana?
- Unit 525 (District 525 (Region 5)) covers about 1,632 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,500 to 11,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 525?
- Approximately 55% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Custer Gallatin NF, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 525?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Mountain Goat, Moose, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Montana agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 525 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.