District 120, Montana

Steep, heavily forested mountain terrain ranging from approximately 2,900 to 6,000 feet in elevation. About 80 percent of the area has slope equal to or less than 22 degrees according to HuntScore terrain data. Low-lying valley floors along the Thompson River corridor and Flathead Lake shore transition to forested ridgelines and timbered drainages. No alpine zone is recorded in the FWP landcover data.

The district boundary runs from where the Thompson River County Road meets US Highway 2, south along Thompson River County Road to Shroder Creek Road and USFS Trail 137, east along said road and trail to USFS Trail 132, southeasterly to USFS Trail 290, along that trail to the Flathead Indian Reservation boundary, east to Flathead Lake, north and east along the lake shore to the Somers Fishing Access site and US Highway 93, north along US-93 to Rocky Cliff Road, west along Rocky Cliff Road to Foys Canyon Road, south/west/north along Foys Canyon Road to Whalebone Drive, west to Dern Road, west along US Highway 2 back to the Thompson River County Road. National Forest lands (Flathead NF, primarily Whitefish Ranger District) account for 19.2 percent; Montana State Trust Lands 6.3 percent; USFWS 0.9 percent. Private land makes up 71.9 percent. The Flathead Ridge Ranch Block Management Area provides free public access to more than 103,000 acres of private land; hunters must obtain a permission card from the FWP Kalispell office (406-752-5501) or sign-in boxes on the property. The Smith Valley Weapons Restriction Area between Smith Lake Road and US Highway 2 is restricted to archery equipment, shotgun, traditional handgun, muzzleloader, or crossbow only (per 2026 HD 120 Check Restricted Area). Road closures by both public agencies and private landowners affect access in places.

Forest and woodland cover 75.1 percent of the district (370.3 sq mi). Dominant cover types include dense conifer — primarily lodgepole pine, western larch, Douglas-fir, and mixed spruce-fir — with scattered logged clearcut areas that provide early-successional browse. Shrubland, steppe, and savanna account for 8.2 percent (40.2 sq mi), primarily on drier aspects and lake-facing slopes near Flathead Lake. Grassland makes up 4.2 percent (20.6 sq mi). Riparian and wetland corridors follow the Thompson River and lake shore (3.3 percent). Human land use areas (towns, roads) cover 6.8 percent.

White-tailed deer are the predominant big game species and the primary hunting opportunity. The 2026 spring survey recorded the highest fawn recruitment in Region 1 for HD 120 at 54 fawns per 100 adults, indicating a stable or increasing population. Mule deer are present but represent less than 5 percent of the deer harvest, tending toward drier ridgelines. Elk herds in HD 120 are small and scattered throughout dense timber; the district is part of the Salish Elk Management Unit and no aerial survey data is available due to forest density. The 2024 elk harvest was 48 total (42 antlered, 6 antlerless); 2023 produced the highest recorded antlered bull harvest in the modern data series at 66 antlered (75 total). Black bears are present across the district as part of Bear Management Unit 120. Mountain lions occur in the forested terrain. Grizzly bears are present in northwestern Montana generally and cannot be hunted. No mountain goat, bighorn sheep, or pronghorn habitat is identified in this lowland/mid-elevation timbered district.

1. All season dates reflect 2026 FWP regulations (valid through Feb 28, 2027), not 2024. Verify current-year dates annually. 2. Deer B-license 120-00 quota is 75 for 2026 (range 5–300); apply by June 1 via MyFWP. Quota may be adjusted annually. 3. Elk harvest reported_harvest (48) is the 2024 total from the FWP Region 1 Elk Annual Report (42 antlered, 6 antlerless). No elk B-license was offered in HD 120 in 2026. 4. WTD recruitment: 2026 spring survey showed HD 120 had the highest fawn recruitment in Region 1 at 54 fawns per 100 adults — population is stable or increasing. 5. Bear inspection: Region 1 hunters do NOT need physical inspection; must submit both premolar teeth within 10 days. 48-hour phone/MyFWP reporting required. 6. Boundary verified against 2026/2027 legal descriptions: Flathead and Lincoln Counties, Thompson River County Road / US-2 / USFS Trails 137-132-290 / Flathead Indian Reservation / Flathead Lake / US-93 / Rocky Cliff Road / Foys Canyon Road / Whalebone Drive / Dern Road. 7. Public land: USFS 19.2%, State Trust Lands 6.3%, USFWS 0.9% = ~27% total public. Private 71.9%. 8. Flathead Ridge Ranch BMA: 103,000+ acres, permission card required from FWP Kalispell office 406-752-5501 or sign-in boxes on property.