Unit 575 District 575 (Region 5)
A rugged, dry desert-mountain island of limestone canyons, wild horses, and hard-earned Pryor mule deer and bighorns south of Billings.
Pryor Mountains — Region 5 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
819
sq mi
Public land
55%
approx.
Elevation
4,000–8,800
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
District 575 is the Pryor Mountains, an isolated, arid limestone range rising abruptly out of the plains between Billings and the Wyoming line, hemmed by Bighorn Canyon on the east and the Crow Reservation on the north and east. It climbs from roughly 4,000-foot sagebrush benches into juniper and Douglas-fir high country near 8,800 feet, cut by deep, waterless canyons. The range is best known for its BLM Wild Horse Range, but it also holds a genuine public-land mule deer, bighorn sheep, and elk hunt on Custer Gallatin National Forest and BLM ground. Water and access are the limiting factors — this is remote, rough, four-wheel-drive country where preparation matters more than in almost any other Region 5 district.
Terrain
An isolated desert mountain range of tilted limestone plateaus and steep, dry canyons rising out of sagebrush plains; the high country holds timber and cool parks while the flanks are bone-dry benches and slickrock.
Cover: Sagebrush, grass, and juniper on the lower benches grading into limber pine, Douglas-fir, and open parks on the higher plateaus; caves, ice caves, and exposed limestone throughout.
Landmarks: East Pryor Mountain · Big Pryor Mountain · Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area · Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range · Sage Creek · Crooked Creek · Burnt Timber Ridge · Demijohn Flat
Access
The mountain core is a checkerboard of Custer Gallatin National Forest and BLM, including the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, which is open to hunting. Access is via a handful of rough, primitive roads that demand high-clearance four-wheel-drive and turn to greasy gumbo when wet. The Crow Reservation borders the district on the north and east and is closed to non-tribal hunters — carry maps and know the line. Private ranchland rings the base, with some parcels in FWP Block Management; DNRC state trust sections open with a conservation/recreation permit.
Managers: USFS Custer Gallatin NF, BLM, NPS Bighorn Canyon NRA, private ranch + Block Management, Crow Reservation (tribal — separate)
Access points: Sage Creek Road (west side) · Crooked Creek Road / Bighorn Canyon side · Burnt Timber Ridge Road (to East Pryor) · Custer Gallatin NF trailheads on the high plateau · BLM Wild Horse Range roads · Block Management ranches at the range base
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityThe bread-and-butter hunt. Pryor mule deer are scattered but hold across the benches, canyon rims, and high timber; bucks that survive the dry country can carry good mass, though overall numbers ebb with drought.
- →Glass canyon rims and juniper-sage benches at first and last light
- →Hunt the transition between the high timbered parks and open limestone faces
- →Get well off the few roads on foot — pressure concentrates near vehicle access
- →Carry water; deer key on the scarce springs and shaded north slopes
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyThe Pryors hold a bighorn population and are a coveted once-in-a-lifetime draw when a tag is offered — steep limestone and canyon country made for rams.
- →This is a long-odds special draw; if you hold the tag, scout the limestone rims, Bighorn Canyon breaks, and cliff bands
- →Glass from high vantage points at dawn and locate rams before committing to a stalk
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited opportunityA modest elk herd uses the timbered high country and moves between the forest and reservation ground; opportunity is limited and often permit-driven.
- →Hunt the high Douglas-fir parks and dark timber pockets
- →Elk shift on and off the neighboring Crow Reservation — hunt public timber near the boundary but stay on the legal side
- →Work water and green cover in dry years
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bear are present but sparse in this dry range, using the timbered high country and canyon brush. No grizzly here — the Pryors are an isolated island range well south of grizzly range.
- →Glass the higher timber and canyon brush for feeding bears
- →Key on any berry and mast pockets in the high country
Cougar
common opportunityMountain lions thrive on the Pryor deer herd and the broken limestone canyons that concentrate prey; a winter houndsman's district.
- →Hunt fresh snow along canyon rims and benches
- →Cut for tracks on the primitive roads after a storm and turn hounds loose on a fresh line
Pro tips
- →This is a four-wheel-drive-and-water district — the terrain, not the game, is what turns hunts around here.
- →Carry a current land-ownership map: the Crow Reservation border is closed to non-tribal hunters and the checkerboard is easy to get wrong.
- →Hunt on foot well away from the few roads — the mountain is big and public but pressure clusters at the trucks.
- →Time your access around weather; wet gumbo can strand you for days.
- →Glass, glass, glass — this is spot-and-stalk canyon country, not still-hunting timber.
Watch out for
- !Crow Reservation borders the district on the north and east and is closed to non-tribal hunters — know the boundary.
- !Primitive access roads require high-clearance 4WD and become impassable gumbo when wet.
- !Extremely dry range with scarce water — carry your own and plan for self-recovery.
- !Steep limestone canyons and cliffs demand caution; footing is treacherous.
- !Remote country with little to no cell service — tell someone your plan.
Logistics
Remote and dry — plan to be self-sufficient. Fuel and full supplies in Bridger or Billings before heading up; there are no services in the range. Carry recovery gear, extra fuel, and far more water than you think you need, and check road conditions before committing to the primitive access roads. Cell coverage is poor to nonexistent in the canyons.
Nearest towns: Bridger, Warren, Pryor, Lovell WY, Billings
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: MTFWP Hunt Planner · BLM Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range HMA · Pryor Mountains Wild Horse Range — Wikipedia
FAQ
- How big is Unit 575 in Montana?
- Unit 575 (District 575 (Region 5)) covers about 819 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,000 to 8,800 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 575?
- Approximately 55% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Custer Gallatin NF, BLM, NPS Bighorn Canyon NRA, private ranch + Block Management, Crow Reservation (tribal — separate). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 575?
- Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Elk, 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 575 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.