Unit 702 District 702 (Region 7)
A big, private-locked prairie-and-breaks district north of Forsyth where mule deer and pronghorn are the game and Block Management is the key that opens the gate.
Yellowstone Pine Hills — Region 7 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
2,762
sq mi
Public land
12%
approx.
Elevation
2,500–4,200
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
District 702 spreads across the Yellowstone River corridor and the rolling pine-hill and creek-breaks country of Treasure, Rosebud, Big Horn, and Custer Counties north and west of Forsyth. It is a classic eastern-Montana prairie district — roughly 88 percent private ranch land, with the public ground limited to scattered BLM and Montana DNRC state-trust sections. Mule deer on the breaks and pronghorn on the open flats are the bread-and-butter hunts; a limited-permit elk herd holds in the western half around the base of the Little Wolf Mountains and the Sarpy, Tullock, and Rosebud Creek drainages, but those elk live almost entirely on private land.
Terrain
Yellowstone River bottom and the surrounding rolling prairie, sagebrush flats, pine-studded buttes, and chalky creek breaks rising into the low Little Wolf Mountains on the west.
Cover: Cottonwood and willow river bottoms along the Yellowstone and its tributary creeks, grading into sagebrush-grassland flats, bunchgrass prairie, and ponderosa pine and juniper on the buttes, ridges, and breaks.
Landmarks: Yellowstone River · Little Wolf Mountains · Sarpy Creek · Tullock Creek · Rosebud Creek
Access
This is a private-land district — roughly 88 percent is private ranch ground, and the public land that exists is a scattering of isolated BLM tracts and Montana DNRC state-trust sections. The single most important access tool here is FWP's Block Management program, which opens large blocks of private ranch acreage to free public hunting; check the current Region 7 Block Management maps before the season. State-trust sections are open to hunting with a state-lands recreation permit, and BLM parcels are legal to hunt but often landlocked behind private ground.
Managers: private ranch + Block Management, BLM, MT DNRC state trust
Access points: Region 7 Block Management Areas (check current FWP maps and sign-in boxes) · MT DNRC state-trust sections (state-lands recreation permit required) · scattered BLM tracts along the creek breaks · public access along the Yellowstone River corridor near Forsyth and Hysham · county and ranch roads (respect private boundaries)
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityThe signature hunt — mule deer scattered through the sagebrush breaks, pine buttes, and creek drainages. Numbers swing with the eastern-Montana cycle, but the broken country grows mature bucks for hunters who can get on private or Block Management ground.
- →Glass the heads of coulees and sagebrush breaks at first and last light
- →Work pine-studded buttes and chalky ridges for bedded bucks during the day
- →Hunt the mid-to-late-November rut when bucks move with does in the open
- →Line up Block Management or private permission early — the best mule deer country is private
Pronghorn
common qualityPronghorn are a staple on the open prairie and sagebrush flats of 702 — a spot-and-stalk plains hunt best played on Block Management and state-trust ground.
- →Glass wide-open flats and low rolling ridges from a high vantage
- →Use terrain folds and fencelines to close the distance on a stalk
- →Focus on Block Management ranches and DNRC sections for legal open-country access
- →Be ready for long shots and practice at range before the season
Whitetail Deer
common opportunityWhitetail hold the Yellowstone River bottom and the brushy creek corridors — cottonwood-and-willow ambush country that fills in around the ag edges.
- →Still-hunt cottonwood and willow bottoms along the Yellowstone and feeder creeks
- →Watch ag-field and brush edges at dawn and dusk
- →Hunt the November rut when bucks cruise the river-bottom cover
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited qualityA limited-permit elk herd lives in the western half of the district around the base of the Little Wolf Mountains and the Sarpy, Tullock, and Rosebud Creek drainages — good bulls, but almost entirely on private land and tightly controlled by permit.
- →Concentrate on the western breaks and Little Wolf foothills where the elk hold
- →Secure private permission or a Block Management foothold — public elk access is very thin
- →Glass creek-drainage heads and timbered pockets at first and last light
- →Treat this as a draw-and-scout hunt; know the permit rules before applying
Pro tips
- →This is an 88-percent-private district — your season lives or dies on Block Management sign-ups and private permission, so line up access well before the opener
- →Play the mid-to-late-November rut for the best crack at a mature mule deer buck in the open breaks
- →Pronghorn are the reliable free-range opportunity here; work Block Management and DNRC sections
- →The elk are a private-land, limited-permit affair in the western half — don't count on public elk access
- →Glass, glass, glass — this is spot-and-stalk country where good optics from a high point do most of the work
Watch out for
- !Roughly 88 percent private land — trespass is the top pitfall; know your boundaries and use Block Management and state-trust ground legally
- !Public BLM tracts are often landlocked behind private ranches — verify legal access before you count on them
- !Gumbo and clay roads turn to impassable grease when wet or during a snowmelt — carry recovery gear and watch the weather
- !Cell coverage is thin off the interstate; carry a GPS or satellite messenger
- !Water and services are far apart in this ranch country — fuel up and stock water before heading out
Logistics
Forsyth and Hysham on the Yellowstone are the closest towns for fuel, food, and basics, with Colstrip nearby and Miles City the larger regional hub to the east. Interstate 94 runs the Yellowstone corridor and is the main artery. Cell service is spotty off the highway — carry a paper map or GPS. This is big, thinly populated ranch country, so plan your access and fuel before heading out on the gravel.
Nearest towns: Forsyth, Hysham, Colstrip, Rosebud, Miles City
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-series descriptions) · MTFWP Block Management: Region 7 · MTFWP Deer/Elk/Antelope Legal Descriptions (2026-2027)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 702 in Montana?
- Unit 702 (District 702 (Region 7)) covers about 2,762 square miles, ranging from roughly 2,500 to 4,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 702?
- Approximately 12% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: private ranch + Block Management, BLM, MT DNRC state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 702?
- Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Whitetail Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Montana agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 702 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.