Unit 652 District 652 (Region 6)
Small, rugged Breaks unit of trophy-class mule deer and permit elk on the CMR
Missouri River Breaks & CMR Refuge — Region 6 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
288
sq mi
Public land
60%
approx.
Elevation
2,200–3,500
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
District 652 is a compact hunting district in the heart of the Missouri River Breaks north of Jordan, taking in badland breaks, coulees, and pine-and-juniper ridges above the Big Dry Arm of Fort Peck Reservoir, much of it inside or bordering the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (CMR). It is classic Breaks big-game country — quality, sometimes trophy-class mule deer in the rough terrain, elk managed by special permit as part of the Missouri Breaks elk complex, and whitetail in the wetter bottoms. The CMR and surrounding BLM make this an unusually public unit for eastern Montana, though the country is remote and physically demanding. Mule deer hunting on the refuge portion closes earlier than the general season, so timing matters.
Terrain
Steep, eroded Missouri Breaks badlands — sharp clay ridges, deep coulees, and timbered draws dropping to the Big Dry Arm and Fort Peck Reservoir.
Cover: Ponderosa pine and Rocky Mountain juniper on the ridges and north slopes, big sagebrush and greasewood in the draws, shortgrass prairie on the tablelands, and cottonwood/brush in the wetter bottoms.
Landmarks: Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge · Big Dry Arm of Fort Peck Reservoir · Missouri River Breaks · Pine-and-juniper breaks ridges · Fort Peck Reservoir shoreline
Access
A large share of the district is public — the CMR refuge plus surrounding BLM and state trust give broad walk-in access, supplemented by Block Management on the private fringes. This is one of the more accessible corners of eastern Montana, but the refuge has its own access rules and the mule deer season on the CMR ends earlier than the surrounding general season. Roads into the Breaks are primitive; much of the best hunting is a long walk from a two-track.
Managers: USFWS Charles M. Russell NWR, BLM, MT DNRC state trust, private ranch + Block Management
Access points: CMR refuge roads and trailheads off the Big Dry Arm · BLM two-tracks north of Jordan · Fort Peck Reservoir / Big Dry Arm boat and shoreline access · Block Management Area sign-in boxes on the private edges
Species notes
Mule Deer
common trophyThe marquee species — the Missouri Breaks are famous for mature mule deer bucks holding in the rough, remote pine-and-clay terrain. Numbers swing with winters and drought but the trophy potential is real.
- →Glass ridge points, coulee heads, and timbered north slopes at first and last light
- →Backpack or day-hike deep into the roadless breaks away from vehicle access
- →Hunt the November rut when big bucks move and become visible
- →Be mindful that mule deer season on the CMR closes early — plan around it
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited qualityElk are part of the Missouri Breaks elk complex and are hunted here by limited special permit; drawing a tag is the hard part, but bulls in the Breaks can be very good.
- →Apply for the limited Breaks elk permit well ahead of deadlines
- →Locate herds using the pine ridges and refuge coulees
- →Hunt water and timbered draws during the September archery rut
- →Cover ground on foot — elk shift between private and public with pressure
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityWhitetail hold in the brushier bottoms and wetter draws near the reservoir and creeks, secondary to mule deer here.
- →Hunt cottonwood and brush bottoms at dawn and dusk
- →Watch draws with water and dense cover
Pronghorn
limited opportunityPronghorn range the sage tablelands and prairie benches on the breaks fringe rather than in the roughest terrain.
- →Glass the open tablelands and flats above the breaks
- →Spot-and-stalk using terrain folds on the benches
Pro tips
- →This is trophy mule deer country — hunt hard, deep, and on foot in the roughest breaks for a mature buck
- →Elk are draw-only here; put in for the limited Missouri Breaks permit early
- →Confirm the CMR refuge's earlier mule deer closing date and plan your dates around it
- →Leverage the huge public footprint (CMR + BLM) but respect refuge-specific rules
- →Be ready to pack meat and antlers a long way over broken terrain
Watch out for
- !CMR refuge has its own access rules and an earlier mule deer season closure than surrounding districts
- !Gumbo clay roads become impassable when wet — a rainstorm can trap you for days
- !Remote, rugged, no-service country — carry fuel, water, navigation, and recovery gear
- !Steep breaks terrain and long meat-pack-outs demand real fitness and planning
Logistics
Jordan is the closest town for fuel and basic supplies but is small and remote — stock up in Glasgow or before heading in. This is deep Breaks country with primitive roads, no cell service, and long distances to help. Carry extra fuel, water, recovery gear, and be prepared to pack game long distances out of the breaks.
Nearest towns: Jordan, Fort Peck, Circle
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: MTFWP Region 6 (Northeast Montana) · Hunting at Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS) · Fall Elk Distribution in the Missouri River Breaks (MTFWP) · MTFWP Deer/Elk Hunting District Maps
FAQ
- How big is Unit 652 in Montana?
- Unit 652 (District 652 (Region 6)) covers about 288 square miles, ranging from roughly 2,200 to 3,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 652?
- Approximately 60% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFWS Charles M. Russell NWR, BLM, MT DNRC state trust, private ranch + Block Management. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 652?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, 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 652 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.