Unit 580 District 580 (Region 5)
The north and east face of the Crazies — a soaring island range that holds Montana's strongest mountain-goat herd, growing elk, and a brutal private-land access puzzle.
Crazy Mountains — Region 5 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,128
sq mi
Public land
22%
approx.
Elevation
4,000–11,200
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
District 580 covers the north and east sides of the Crazy Mountains between Big Timber and Harlowton, from above timberline in true alpine goat country down to the surrounding prairie. It is a dramatic island range topping out above 11,000 feet, with elk numbers that have more than doubled over the last decade and the largest mountain-goat population of any hunting district in Montana. The catch is access: the mountain is a notorious checkerboard of Custer Gallatin National Forest and private land, much of it landlocked, and gaining entry to the good country can be very difficult. This is a district where a landowner relationship, a Block Management ranch, or a legal corner-crossing route can make or break the hunt.
Terrain
A steep, glacially carved island range rising from prairie foothills through timbered drainages to alpine cirques, granite peaks, and lakes above 11,000 feet.
Cover: Grass and sagebrush foothills grading into Douglas-fir and lodgepole on the mid-slopes, then subalpine fir, whitebark pine, and open alpine tundra and talus up high.
Landmarks: Crazy Peak (11,214 ft) · Sweet Grass Creek · Big Timber Creek · Cottonwood Creek · Half Moon Campground · Custer Gallatin National Forest · Shields River valley (west)
Access
This is a mostly-private district — roughly a fifth is public — and the national forest is heavily checkerboarded with private sections, leaving much of the good high country effectively landlocked. Gaining permission on the surrounding ranches is difficult and some draw-area landowners charge substantial trespass fees. Block Management enrollment and legally maintained trailheads (such as the Big Timber Creek / Half Moon side) are the realistic public routes in. Study land-ownership maps carefully before you apply and before you set foot off a known-legal trail.
Managers: private ranch + Block Management, USFS Custer Gallatin NF, MT DNRC state trust
Access points: Big Timber Creek Road / Half Moon trailhead · Sweet Grass Creek drainage · Cottonwood Creek · Custer Gallatin NF trailheads on the east face · Block Management ranches at the foothills · DNRC state trust sections (recreation permit)
Species notes
Mountain Goat
common trophyThe signature species: the Crazies host the largest mountain-goat population of any hunting district in Montana. A rare, once-in-a-lifetime draw tag and a true alpine trophy.
- →This is a coveted special draw — if you hold the tag, get above timberline and glass the cirques, talus, and cliff bands
- →Plan a physically demanding backcountry hunt with camp high near the goats
- →Locate billies from a distance and plan a careful stalk on stable rock
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityElk have roughly doubled here over the last decade and are the district's headline big-game opportunity — but the herd lives largely on private and landlocked forest ground, making access the real challenge.
- →Secure access first — a Block Management or permission ranch is often the difference-maker
- →Hunt the timbered drainages and forest-meadow edges of the east face
- →Bugle the dark timber during the September rut where you have legal access
- →Push high and remote via legal trailheads to reach elk that pressure has pushed off private edges
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer are scattered through the foothills, timbered drainages, and high basins; numbers have run down in recent years but mature bucks hold in the rough high country.
- →Glass the open foothill faces and high basins at dawn and dusk
- →Hunt the timberline edge for bucks holding above pressure
- →Focus on legal-access drainages and Block Management ground
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityWhitetail concentrate in the lower creek bottoms and ag edges around the range rather than up the mountain.
- →Hunt the Sweet Grass Creek, Big Timber Creek, and Shields-area bottoms during the November rut
- →Work Block Management and permission ag ground at the foothills
Moose
limited qualityA small Shiras moose population uses the willow bottoms and wet subalpine drainages — a very limited, coveted draw when offered.
- →Glass willow flats and beaver complexes in the high drainages at first and last light
- →Work wet timbered basins where you hold a tag and legal access
Black Bear
common qualityBlack bear are well distributed through the timbered drainages and berry country of the range.
- →Glass green-up on avalanche chutes and south slopes in spring
- →Key on berry patches and mast in the fall timber
Pro tips
- →Access is the whole game here — line up a Block Management ranch, permission, or a proven legal trailhead before you invest in the hunt.
- →Carry current land-ownership maps; the Crazies checkerboard is infamous for landlocked public sections and trespass disputes.
- →If you draw the goat tag, treat it as a serious alpine backcountry hunt and camp near the goats.
- →The elk are here and growing — reaching them legally is the challenge, not finding them.
- →Watch the weather on the high country; early snow can close alpine access overnight.
Watch out for
- !Mostly private land with a heavily checkerboarded, partly landlocked national forest — trespass risk is real; verify boundaries.
- !Some draw-area landowners charge substantial trespass fees; confirm access terms in advance.
- !Steep alpine terrain, talus, and cliff bands demand mountaineering caution.
- !Early and heavy mountain snow can shut down high access quickly.
- !Foothill roads turn slick when wet.
Logistics
Big Timber is the hub for fuel, supplies, and lodging, with Harlowton serving the north end. Come with detailed land-ownership maps (paper and a GPS app) — access, not game, is the hardest part of this district. High-clearance vehicles help on the foothill roads, and any hunt off the front is a steep, physically serious mountain effort. Backcountry goat or elk hunts warrant a spike camp and solid weather gear.
Nearest towns: Big Timber, Harlowton, Melville, Livingston
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: MTFWP Hunt Planner · GOHUNT — Montana Unit 580 Profile · Montana's Yellowstone Country — Hunting the Crazy Mountains
FAQ
- How big is Unit 580 in Montana?
- Unit 580 (District 580 (Region 5)) covers about 1,128 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,000 to 11,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 580?
- Approximately 22% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: private ranch + Block Management, USFS Custer Gallatin NF, MT DNRC state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 580?
- Mountain Goat, Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Moose, 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 580 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.