Unit 700 District 700 (Region 7)
Badlands, junipers, and the CMR shoreline south of Fort Peck — big country, low elk densities, and Block Management as the key that unlocks it.
Missouri River Breaks — Region 7 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
2,789
sq mi
Public land
40%
approx.
Elevation
2,200–3,200
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
District 700 sits on the south side of Fort Peck Reservoir in the northern half of Garfield County, bounded by the Musselshell River on the west, the Dry Arm to the east, and Highway 200 to the south. This is classic Missouri River Breaks country — sage-and-grass prairie giving way to deeply eroded, juniper-choked draws and badlands running down to the reservoir. The Charles M. Russell (CMR) National Wildlife Refuge rings Fort Peck Lake and provides the district's best large block of public access. Elk are present but at low densities and are hard-won; mule deer of the breaks, bottom whitetail, and prairie pronghorn round out the hunting. Public and private are tightly mixed, and FWP Block Management is often the difference-maker.
Terrain
Rolling sage-grass prairie broken by steep, eroded coulees and juniper-timbered breaks that fall to the Fort Peck Reservoir shoreline; relief is modest but the terrain is rugged and dissected.
Cover: Open sagebrush and grassland on the flats, dense Rocky Mountain juniper and ponderosa in the draws and breaks, and cottonwood/willow along the Musselshell and reservoir bottoms.
Landmarks: Fort Peck Reservoir · Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge · Musselshell River · Dry Arm · Missouri River Breaks
Access
The CMR National Wildlife Refuge fringing Fort Peck Lake is the anchor for public hunting and offers large accessible blocks; there is additional scattered BLM and state trust ground (state land open with a recreation permit). Away from the refuge, the district is heavy private ranch — roughly 30% of the Breaks' private acreage is enrolled in FWP Block Management, which opens key ground for free public hunting. Carry a land-ownership map; access to private is the recurring problem.
Managers: USFWS Charles M. Russell NWR, BLM, MT DNRC state trust, private ranch + Block Management
Access points: CMR Refuge access roads off Highway 200 · Fort Peck Reservoir shoreline / boat access · county and BMA ranch roads out of Jordan · Musselshell River corridor on the west
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityThe signature big-game animal of the Breaks — mule deer work the juniper draws, coulees, and sage benches, with good buck potential in a mild-winter cycle.
- →Glass long across the breaks from high points at first and last light
- →Still-hunt juniper draws and coulee heads
- →Hunt the rut in mid-to-late November when mature bucks travel
- →Use the CMR and Block Management ground to reach quality bucks
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited opportunityElk numbers have crept up over two decades but densities stay low and much of the HD is unoccupied; herds are scattered and often on private ground. The archery permit draws far easier than rifle.
- →Scout for scattered herds along the CMR breaks and rougher country
- →Consider the easier-drawing archery permit for a realistic elk hunt
- →Expect to cover big ground to locate small, mobile groups
- →Lean on land-ownership maps — elk often sit on private
Pronghorn
common qualityPronghorn range the open sage-grass prairie and badland flats — a strong plains-antelope district when populations are up.
- →Glass wide from high ground and put on a stalk
- →Focus Block Management and CMR/BLM parcels for legal access
- →Key on water sources during the early-season heat
Whitetail Deer
limited opportunityWhitetail hold in the river and reservoir bottoms and ag edges; opportunity is mostly on private land.
- →Still-hunt cottonwood and willow bottoms along the Musselshell and reservoir arms
- →Watch feed edges at dawn and dusk
- →Secure private or Block Management access to the bottoms
Pro tips
- →The CMR Refuge is your public-access backbone — build a plan around it and the shoreline
- →For a realistic elk hunt, look hard at the easier-drawing archery permit rather than rifle
- →Chase mule deer hard during the November rut — that's when the big breaks bucks show themselves
- →Run a live land-ownership layer; public and private interlock constantly out here
- →A boat dramatically expands reachable CMR ground along Fort Peck Reservoir
Watch out for
- !Elk densities are genuinely low — set expectations, most of the HD is unoccupied by elk
- !Access to private ranch land is the recurring hurdle; Block Management is the workaround
- !Gumbo clay roads become impassable when wet — carry recovery gear and watch the weather
- !Extremely remote with little cell service; travel prepared and self-sufficient
Logistics
This is remote country — Jordan is the small local hub, with limited services; stock up on fuel, water, and supplies before heading in. Roads are long and unimproved, and cell coverage is sparse. A boat opens up CMR shoreline access on Fort Peck Reservoir. Plan for self-sufficiency and long drives to town.
Nearest towns: Jordan, Fort Peck, Winnett, Sand Springs
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: MTFWP Region 7 Elk Management Plan — HD 700 Missouri River Breaks EMU · MTFWP Deer/Elk Hunting District 700 Map · USFWS Charles M. Russell NWR — Hunting
FAQ
- How big is Unit 700 in Montana?
- Unit 700 (District 700 (Region 7)) covers about 2,789 square miles, ranging from roughly 2,200 to 3,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 700?
- Approximately 40% 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 700?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Pronghorn, Whitetail Deer. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Montana agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 700 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.